Sharon Tollefson
Research assistants honored
Christopher Cannistraci, M.S.
Bonnie Black, R.N.
Three VUMC research assistants received awards for excellence in research at the fourth annual Research Staff Awards luncheon, held last week at the University Club.
Sharon Tollefson won the Edward E. Price Award for Basic Research. Tollefson joined VUMC in 1971 and is a research assistant III in the Division of Infectious Disease. Her expertise in virology research has underpinned dozens of vaccine trials and epidemiological studies at Vanderbilt. She is a co-author on studies published in such journals as Vaccine, Pediatrics and the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Bonnie Black, R.N., received the Vivien Thomas Award for Excellence in Clinical Research. Black has been a research nurse specialist III in Vanderbilt's Autonomic Dysfunction Center since 1994. She has coordinated the research of seven principal investigators and co-authored 28 publications, including one in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Christopher Cannistraci, M.S., won the award for Excellence in Research Contributing to a Multi-investigator Team. Cannistraci is a senior imaging research specialist in the Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science. There he has supported a variety of functional MRI studies directed by collaborating investigators in Psychiatry, Psychology, Linguistics and the Kennedy Center.
“Research may start as a single mind asking a unique question, but the process of discovery is a team effort,” said Jeffrey Balser, M.D., Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Research. “I'm pleased to recognize the valuable contributions these outstanding staff members have made to Vanderbilt's research enterprise.”
The awards included a crystal trophy and a $1,000 check. They were presented by School of Medicine dean Steven Gabbe, M.D., School of Nursing dean Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., and associate dean for Diversity George C. Hill, Ph.D.