Appointments and awards
Pier Giulianotti, chief of general, minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, has been named a fellow of the Chinese Society of Surgeons.
The School of Design in the College of Architecture, Design and the Arts has appointed Felicia Ferrone as director of graduate studies in industrial design, and Cheryl Towler Weese as director of graduate studies in graphic design. Feronne, an instructor, owns the product design firm Fferone. Her practice is informed by her early experience as an architect in Milan. Weese, an associate professor, is founder of graphic design firm Studio Blue, which led the design of UIC’s new graphic identity.
Joanna Keel, a postdoctoral research associate in occupational therapy, won second place in the competition for the “Student Researcher of the Year” Award, given by the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Career Development and Transition.
Tracy Banyard, assistant professor of kinesiology, has been named a fellow of the Obesity Society.
Carol Courtney, clinical associate professor of physical therapy, received the John McMillan Mennell Service Award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists at the academy’s annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The award honors exceptional contributions to the role of OMPT in managing musculoskeletal disorders.
Pier Giulianotti, Lloyd M. Nyhus, MD Chair in general surgery and chief of general, minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, has been named a fellow of the Chinese Society of Surgeons. The group makes up the largest branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Guilianotti received the recognition for his contributions to robotic surgery in China. He has made several visits to China to teach surgeons about robotic surgery and demonstrate technique using robotic surgery equipment. He is founder and honorary president of the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association and has trained more than 500 surgeons on basic and complex robotic surgical skills.
Fabricio Balcazar, professor of disability and human development, was invited by StoryCorps, the national initiative to preserve oral histories of everyday people, to interview disability activist Horacio Esparza during the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Washington, D.C. The interview was disseminated nationally and entered into the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Gerardo Jimenez, director of operations in the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, was presented with the U.S. Department of the Army’s Commander’s Award for Public Service. The award is the fourth-highest civilian award given by the U.S. Army. The award recognizes Jimenez’s extraordinary service to the UIC ROTC battalion during difficult times.
