José Szapocznik, Ph.D., professor and chair of epidemiology and public health, was recognized with a tribute award by the National Hispanic Science Network (NHSN) for founding the organization and leading it for a decade as its chairman.

Dr. Szapocznik, who stepped down as chairman two months ago, received the award on September 30 at the NHSN's annual conference in New Orleans.

Under Dr. Szapocznik's leadership, the NHSN grew into a cutting-edge international science network, honoring its mission of improving the health of Hispanics by increasing the scope and quality of interdisciplinary translational research on drug abuse. Significant funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has helped the organization nurture Hispanic scientists in pursuit of drug abuse research.

Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chair of pediatrics and executive dean for child health, and Judy Schaechter, M.D., associate professor and associate chair of pediatrics, read the children's classic by Ezra Jack Keats to the excited and curious children who used the opportunity to discuss a rarity in South Florida: snow.

The challenge, a collaborative effort between the Miami Dolphins Foundation and UM's Miller School of Medicine, will be held November 20-21 to support research at Sylvester. Cyclists at any skill level can take part. On the first day of the ride, entrants will participate in a 100-mile "Century Ride" from downtown Miami to West Palm Beach, where they can enjoy an end-of-the-ride celebration at City Place. The second day features two options: a 70-mile ride from City Place in West Palm Beach to Sun Life Stadium, or a 30-mile ride from Fort Lauderdale to Sun Life Stadium. For child and pre-teen riders, Dolphins Cycling Challenge will offer various courses on the grounds of Sun Life Stadium.

Three other Miller School programs - microbiology and immunology, physiology and biophysics, and molecular and cellular pharmacology - were among the dozen UM programs that were ranked in the top half of all U.S. programs of their type.

Based on data from 2005 and 2006, the NRC rankings are the first released by the agency in 15 years. In the previous rankings, which were released in 1995 and based on data collected in 1993, six UM doctoral programs were in the top half.