R. Knight Steel Award
R. Knight Steel was the first professor of Geriatrics and first Chief of Geriatrics at the Evans Memorial Department of Medicine. Dr. Steel spent his entire career as a champion for high-quality medical care for older adults, both through clinical care and research. Steel’s contributions to the school were considered so noteworthy that BU established an endowed prize – the R. Knight Steel Award – 25 years ago (1991) in his honor. Each year the geriatrics section selects a resident to receive this award who has demonstrated a “personal commitment to older individuals in need of medical care, and excellence in geriatric clinical medicine.”
This year our recipient is a resident who is pursuing the unique field of Geriatric Oncology, Dr. Sarika Gurnani.
Sarika Gurnani, MD
Sarika is noted to be a “Geriatrics superstar” on both the Geriatrics inpatient service and while working alongside Geriatric Oncologist, Dr. Meredith Halpin, in her longitudinal Oncology clinic. She has demonstrated a real gift for connecting with older adult patients, a strong grasp of the importance of geriatric assessment principles applied to oncology care and has taken the lead on a project looking at a better-tolerated treatment regimen for frail, older men with advanced prostate cancer. Her passion for geriatric oncology combined with her exceptional work ethic, will undoubtedly propel her to ongoing success in this unique field. We are absolutely thrilled that she plans to join our growing community of geriatric oncologists in her future career. And we hope that she decides to stay here with us at BMC!!
Congratulations Sarika!