SAN FRANCISCO, CA—April 2, 2008—Melanie Ott, MD, Ph.D., Associate Investigator in the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI), has received the 2008 Chancellor's Award for Public Service in the faculty/academic category and the 2008 Thomas N. Burbridge Award. The Chancellor's Award is in recognition of Dr. Ott's key role in developing Gladstone's successful outreach program to local high school minority students, which familiarizes them with career possibilities in science and medicine. The Burbridge Award is given in recognition of contributions to equal education, employment opportunities and social justice. Dr. Ott will be recognized at a special luncheon in early May as part of UCSF's Founder's Day activities.
“Melanie is a leader among many outstanding scientists and students here at Gladstone who are not only dedicated to their research, but have a sense of responsibility to the community,” said GIVI Director Warner Greene, M.D., Ph.D. “I am extremely proud that she's been recognized by the Chancellor for her educational outreach efforts.”
Dr. Ott was cited for her role in expanding Gladstone's participation in the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC). For 20 years, the NSLC has provided high-achieving high school juniors from around the world with a ten-day “immersion” experience that focuses on career paths in science and medicine, as well as 11 other career tracks. Unfortunately, participation by minority students was limited by the high tuition costs.
In 2005, Dr. Ott and Gladstone approached the NSLC with a novel idea. Gladstone would provide stimulating half-day science orientations for the NSLC participants, complete with “science in action” exhibits and a lively, informative panel discussion of different career paths in science and medicine. In exchange, the NSLC would increase their class size, offering full scholarships to allow underprivileged minority students from San Francisco public high schools to participate. NSLC agreed to offer seven minority scholarships in 2005. This first year proved so successful for these minority students and the NSLC that the number of scholarships was increased to 16 in 2006 and to 21 in 2007. Further, the NSLC has used the Gladstone example as a model to revamp its 11 other leadership tracks to include similar full scholarship opportunities for underprivileged minority students. Thus, approximately 300 underprivileged minority students will be able to participate each summer in the NSLC programs.
“I accept this award as a recognition of a truly outstanding effort that includes everybody at Gladstone and has reached so many incredible students,” Dr. Ott said. “I share it with my fellow committee members of the Student Outreach Committee and all of Gladstone who have helped to make this program a success. I am very proud to accept this recognition for Gladstone.”
About the Gladstone Institutes
The J. David Gladstone Institutes, an independent, non-profit biomedical research organization affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is dedicated to the health and welfare of humankind through research into the causes and prevention of some of the world's most devastating diseases. Gladstone is comprised of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease. More information can be found at www.gladstone.ucsf.edu.
