BUMC Provost, BUSM Dean Karen Antman, MD, Receives MD Anderson Cancer Center’s 2013 Kripke Legend Award

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center named BUMC Provost and BUSM Dean Karen Antman, MD, as the recipient of the 2013 Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award for Promotion of Women in Cancer Medicine and Cancer Research.

A recognized expert on breast cancer, mesotheliomas and sarcomas, Antman also is widely known as a physician scientist for developing a standard treatment regimen for sarcomas, as well as for her team’s research on blood growth factors. She fought for insurance coverage of patients involved in clinical trials, which resulted in improved relationships between investigative research and the insurance industry.

“Dr. Antman’s accomplishments set a very high bar that signals to women faculty that leadership positions such as hers are obtainable,” said Elizabeth Travis, PhD, MD Anderson associate vice president of Women Faculty Programs. “Walking in Margaret Kripke’s footsteps, she’s an ideal Legend Award recipient.”

The award recognizes scientific and medical leaders who have made extraordinary efforts to hire diverse workforces, promote women to leadership roles, nominate women for awards and otherwise advance their careers. It was established in honor of University of Texas Professor Emerita Margaret Kripke, PhD, a distinguished scientist who achieved many firsts for women at MD Anderson, culminating in her appointment as executive vice president and chief academic officer. Previous winners include Nancy Hopkins, PhD, Amgen, Inc. Professor of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD, president, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and director, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center; and Janet Rowley, MD, Blum-Riese Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, and of Human Genetics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center.

“The Kripke award is a tremendous honor,” Antman said. “Margaret Kripke is a pioneer who opened doors for me and many other women in medicine and science. As president of the American Association for Cancer Research, she gave me the first opportunity to be an AACR program chair, and I’ve always regarded her as a role model.”