Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)

Four VA researchers were among the 94 named by President Obama as recipients of this year's Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Announced by the White House September 26, the PECASE is the highest honor conferred by the U.S. government upon young professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. This year's VA recipients are: Tanya Z. Fischer, M.D., Ph.D., VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Christine M. Freeman, Ph.D., VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System; Kristina M. Utzschneider, M.D., VA Medical Center Seattle; and B. Price Kerfoot, M.D., Ed.M., VA Boston Healthcare System. Fischer is being recognized for her groundbreaking research on chronic pain, including the sometimes debilitating pain suffered after burn injuries. Freeman's honor stems from the cutting edge research she has conducted on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, one of the VA's most problematic chronic diseases. Utzschneider is being honored for her novel work on type 2 diabetes and its relationship to obesity and liver disease; three disorders which are on the rise for Veterans and the U.S. population overall. And Kerfoot is receiving the PECASE in recognition of innovative learning mechanisms he developed to help improve learning and retention of core medical concepts for clinicians. Fisher, Freeman, Utzschneider, and Kerfoot will receive their awards at a future White House ceremony.