IUSM faculty named ‘health-care heroes’

Caine

Keener

Hal Broxmeyer, chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, received the award in the Advancements in Health Care category. Dr. Virginia Caine, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Disease, was the winning recipient in the Physician category. Dr. Patricia Keener, assistant dean of medical service-learning, was a finalist in the same category.

Broxmeyer, who also is the scientific director of the Walter Oncology Center, is an internationally known researcher and is credited for pioneering the use of stem cells from umbilical cord blood to be used in bone marrow transplantations. Under Broxmeyer’s direction, the center and IUSM have recruited many talented investigators and researchers. He also is the 2002 recipient of the Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award by the Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics for his work in cord cell transplantation.

Caine, who conducts clinical research of infectious diseases, is best known for her role as the director of the Marion County Health Department. In that capacity, she has been in the forefront on such issues as treatment programs for patients with HIV-AIDS, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, prevention of firearm violence and tackling the problems of teen pregnancy, tobacco use and pediatric asthma.

Keener, associate chair of the Department of Pediatrics, has been responsible for originating or spearheading numerous community health initiatives. In 1980, she started Safe Sitter, Inc. in Indianapolis as a resource for child-care/parenting education, a program that has received international acclaim. Keener’s most recent accomplishment was the publication of Caring for Kids, available free to parents and caregivers throughout Indiana.

Lois Bucksot, a clinical specialist with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, was a finalist in the non-physician category. She is credited with helping IUSM’s Drs. Stuart Sherman and Glen Lehman develop a specialized endoscopic procedure that diagnoses and treats disorders of pancreas, liver, bile ducts and gall bladder.

“The people and companies that toil day in and day out in health care frequently don’t get the recognition for their life-saving and life-enhancing work” said Chris Katterjohn, president and publisher of the Indianapolis Business Journal. “Our goal with Health-Care Heroes was to try to correct that in central Indiana.”