Commendations & Commencements

Dr. William Cefalu is the new director of NIDDK’s Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases. He comes to NIDDK from the American Diabetes Association, where he served as the chief scientific, medical, and mission officer. Cefalu brings more than 35 years of experience as a physician, organizational leader, and investigator to the post, including more than 25 years of experience with NIH-supported research. He previously served as professor and executive director of the Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, as the principal investigator for two NIH-funded research centers, and as a faculty member at Tulane University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and the University of Vermont College of Medicine.

Dr. Andrew Narva, director of the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP), will leave NIDDK August 31 to begin a doctoral program in urban sustainability. Since joining NIDDK’s Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (KUH) in 2006, Narva served as NKDEP director, as a KUH program director overseeing a portfolio focused on population health and pragmatic trials, and as chair of the federal Kidney Interagency Coordinating Committee. He also served as the chief clinical consultant for nephrology for the Indian Health Service.

Dr. William Eaton was selected to receive the Henry M. Stratton Medal from the American Society of Hematology. Eaton is an NIH distinguished investigator and chief of the Laboratory of Chemical Physics at NIDDK, where he leads biochemical and biophysical research on sickle cell disease pathophysiology and drug therapy.

The ReImagine HHS campaign featured Camille Hoover, NIDDK executive officer, in an eblast about her work developing a tool to analyze employee survey data. Hoover and staff developed the tool to provide detailed analysis and data visualization for the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Managers can use that data to guide improvements in the workplace. The eblast highlighted Hoover’s creation of initiatives that support and recognize staff, as well as her, “you spoke, we listened, things happened,” campaign. Hoover also co-leads the President’s Management Agenda, Cross Agency Priority Subgoal for Improving Employee Performance Management and Engagement, a team composed of senior leaders from agencies across the federal government.

Dr. Caroline Philpott, chief of NIDDK’s Genetics and Metabolism Section in the Liver Diseases Branch, is a 2019 recipient of Duke Medical Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumna Award. The award, to be presented in November, honors Duke University School of Medicine alumni who have made significant contributions to medical education, research, and practice. Philpott is recognized internationally for her groundbreaking work in the biochemistry and cell biology of iron metabolism.

Editor’s note: The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will honor NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers with the ASH Award for Leadership in Promoting Diversity at its annual meeting in December. The award is for his extraordinary commitment to diversity and inclusion in hematology. In addition to serving as the director of NIDDK, Rodgers is chief of the NIDDK Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch and Molecular Hematology Section, where he has worked to achieve broad representation of diverse populations both in the scientific workforce and among those who participate in clinical trials. He also oversees several programs focused on promoting diversity by supporting researchers from underrepresented communities.