GIM Faculty & Staff Win BMC Research Awards
The BMC Health System Research Awards recognize individuals and teams across the health system for their expertise, commitment to their fields, and contributions to advancing science. The winners below from GIM have demonstrated a dedication to research excellence and supporting future research and researchers.
Early Career Research Award
Simeon Kimmel, MD, MA — Dr. Kimmel is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in GIM. He is an infectious disease and addiction medicine specialist and the Medical Director of Project TRUST. His research focuses on improving retention in treatment with medications for opioid use disorder following serious injection-related infections as well as the integration of addiction and harm reduction services with infectious disease care.
Outstanding Research Professional Award
Natalia Gnatienko, MPH — Ms. Gnatienko is a Clinical Research Director who oversees several research initiatives within the Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit in GIM. She mostly works on studies conducted internationally at the intersection of substance use and HIV.
Sarah Kosakowski, MPH — Ms. Kosakowski is the Associate Director of Research Operations in the CARE Unit, overseeing a large research program focused on opioid overdose prevention, safer prescribing, and post-overdose outreach.
Excellence in Community Engaged Research Award
Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) — Launched last year, the Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP) Addiction Research Consultation Service provides consultations to help researchers make their addiction research relevant, inclusive, and impactful for Black people. This service, developed by the Grayken Center’s substance use disorder and anti-racism (SUDA) research group, is inherently interdisciplinary, bringing together people with lived experience and experts in addiction medicine, primary care, anti-racism work, and community engagement.
In addition, Natalia Morone, MD, MS, a Professor of Medicine in GIM, was inducted into the Research Excellence Society, recognizing those whose work reflects exceptional promise, impact, and dedication to advancing research across the institution.
