'Oscars of Public Service'
NIH’ers Among Sammies Finalists
Photo: ERNESTO DEL AGUILA/NHGRI
The Partnership for Public Service has named members of the National Human Genome Research Institute-funded Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) Consortium and the National Cancer Institute’s Dr. Eric “Rocky” Feuer as finalists for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
Known as the “Sammies,” the awards are considered the Oscars of public service. According to the partnership, they honor exceptional public servants who keep our nation running and moving forward.
Dr. Adam Phillippy, Dr. Sergey Koren and Dr. Arang Rhie of NHGRI are finalists for the Science, Technology and Environment Medal, which recognizes significant contribution in such areas as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, digital services, economics, energy, information technology, meteorology, resource conservation and space.
The team leads the T2T Consortium, a group of more than 300 international scientists. They “conducted the first complete assembly of the human genome, sequencing the most difficult, final part of our genetic makeup, advancing our understanding of our biological blueprint and opening up scientific frontiers that could revolutionize the treatment of a multitude of diseases.”
Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang
Feuer is a finalist for the Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal, which recognizes career federal employees who have led significant and sustained achievements during 20 or more years of service in government. Feuer is chief of the Statistical Research and Applications Branch in NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences’ Surveillance Research Program.
He “built a sophisticated system using statistical analysis to better understand and interpret national cancer trends, leading to significant prevention, screening and treatment options that have saved countless lives.”
In addition, the NIH’ers are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award, which is based on online voting results. Vote at: https://servicetoamericamedals.org/peoples-choice-award through June 30.
Sammies are named after partnership founder Heyman, who was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s call to service in his inaugural address in 1961. To learn more about the awards and the other finalists, visit https://servicetoamericamedals.org/honorees/.