American Society of Hematology Presents 2010 Public Service Award to Senator Sherrod Brown and Outstanding Service Award to Erik Fatemi

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will honor Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) with the 2010 ASH Award for Public Service and Erik Fatemi, Majority Clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), with the Award for Outstanding Service in recognition of their dedication to championing health care and research issues.  These awards will be officially announced at the 52nd ASH Annual Meeting taking place December 4-7 in Orlando.

Sen. Brown is a long-time supporter of health care issues, including funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and providing insurance coverage for clinical trials.  He led the effort to include a provision requiring coverage of routine patient costs associated with clinical trial participation in the final health reform bill.  Appointed to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee early this year by the Senate Democratic leadership, he will play a prominent role in establishing annual funding levels for federal programs including the NIH.

Fatemi, a professional staff member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies since 2001, has tirelessly advocated for biomedical research over the last decade. He has worked on funding issues for the NIH and on policy related to overturning federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.  

"The Society is very grateful to Sen. Brown and Mr. Fatemi for their efforts in support of Congressional policies that promote better care of patients," said Hal E. Broxmeyer, Ph.D., President of ASH and Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "Without such dedicated champions of biomedical research funding, the scientific discoveries that lead to better treatments and cures for deadly diseases might not be possible."

The 2010 Public Service and Outstanding Service Awards will be formally announced prior to the Plenary Scientific Session on Sunday, December 5, at 1:30 p.m. in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.  

Established in 1997, the ASH Public Service Award is given out annually to an elected public official who has demonstrated unparalleled leadership on issues of importance to hematology research and/or practice.  The ASH Outstanding Service Award is presented each year to an individual in the private or public sector who has displayed effective "behind-the-scenes" leadership in areas relevant to the mission of the Society.    

The American Society of Hematology (www.hematology.org) is the world's largest professional society concerned with the causes and treatment of blood disorders. Its mission is to further the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting blood, bone marrow, and the immunologic, hemostatic, and vascular systems, by promoting research, clinical care, education, training, and advocacy in hematology. Blood, the official journal of the American Society of Hematology, is the most cited peer-reviewed publication in the field. Blood is issued to Society members and other subscribers weekly, available in print and online at www.bloodjournal.org. Follow ASH on Twitter at ASH_hematology.

SOURCE American Society of Hematology