The Sumner J. Yaffe Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Background

The Sumner J. Yaffe Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics was established by the PPA Board of Directors in 2002 to recognize significant and sustained contributions toward the improvement and children’s health through the expansion of the field of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics.

Dr. Sumner J. Yaffe was a graduated from Boston Latin School, and Harvard College (with an interruption during World War II to serve in the Armed Forces). He received his BA in chemistry, then pursued an MA in Pharmacology at Harvard, and his MD from the University of Vermont. He returned to Harvard to complete his pediatric training at Children’s Hospital in Boston. After a Fulbright Scholarship at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, and a fellowship in metabolism at Harvard, he joined the faculty at Stanford University as Director of the Clinical Research Center for Premature Infants. It is here that his interest in neonatal pharmacology grew. In 1963, he moved to SUNY Buffalo as Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology. In 1975, he moved to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to establish the first Division of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology. During his distinguished academic career, he published upwards of 300 scientific articles and books dealing with a wide range of developmental science. His work included studies on the ontogeny of drug metabolizing enzymes, including effects of malnutrition, vitamins, protein intake, and drugs on drug metabolism in the developing fetus and child, bilirubin metabolism, and the excretion of drugs in breast milk. He inspired and mentored countless young pediatric investigators who owe much of their career directions to his teaching.

In 1980, Dr. Yaffe became the Director of the Center for Research for Mothers and Children at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. During his 20 years at NICHD, Dr. Yaffe’s vision for improved pharmacotherapy for children came to fruition. He tirelessly pursued an agenda for increased research in diseases of childhood. He fostered the development of research networks including a neonatal and fetal/maternal medicine network, and most crucial to pediatric and developmental pharmacology, the Pediatric Pharmacology Research Units. The PPRUs were a key to advancement of pediatric pharmacology research, and through The network includes outstanding young investigators studying basic mechanisms of developmental biology, ontogeny of drug metabolism, and joint clinical studies of a wide variety of therapeutic agents. Collaborative studies among the members of the PPRUs generated new knowledge about how most effectively and safely to use new medicines to treat children in need. Even after his formal retirement from NICHD, Dr. Yaffe continued to mentor the PPRU network, and has focused his energies extensively on internationally cooperation and collaboration of pediatric investigators throughout the world.

Dr. Yaffe’s vision of improved therapy for sick children is becoming a reality. He has inspired an entire generation of pediatric clinical pharmacologists to grow the field into a mature and evolving scientific discipline. For more information please read In Memoriam: Sumner J. Yaffe, The Father of Pediatric Pharmacology written by George Giaicoia, MD and Michael Reed, PharmD. (J Pediatric Pharmacol Ther 2011;16(3):162-166)

Eligibility Criteria

The Yaffe Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and sustained lifelong contribution to our understanding of the safe and effective use of medications in children.  The award is open to individual from all aspects of pediatric clinical pharmacy/pharmacology (academic, industrial, or regulatory) who are a minimum of 25 years from their post-graduate training.  The nominees must be well-recognized national/international leaders. The award is not limited to pharmacists or PPA members.

Application Process

• Any PPA member or Yaffe Award Committee member may nominate a person for the Yaffe Award
• Nominees for the award do not need to be a PPA member.
• Nominators should confirm that the proposed nominee is interested in being nominated for the award and will be able to make a presentation at the PPA Annual meeting.
• Nominator should submit a letter describing the nominee’s most important achievements and explaining why the nominee meets the criteria for the award along with a current CV from the nominee.

Nomination should be submitted to the Chair of the Yaffe Committee.  Current Chair: Michael L. Christensen, PharmD, FPPA (mchristensen@uthsc.edu)

Application Portal Opens:

• August 1st

Application Portal Closes:

• November 1st

Selection Criteria:

• Has made outstanding, significant, and sustained contribution to the literature that have promoted the safe and effective use of medications in children.
• Promotion of improving pediatric therapeutic though the training/mentorship of young colleagues, trainees, and students.
• Participation and leadership position in national and international committees that promote the safe and effective use of medication in children.

Selection Committee:

• The Yaffe Selection Committee is composed of senior members of the profession including past Presidents of PPA and past recipients of the Yaffe Award.

Award Recipient Committee:

• 1 hour lecture at the Annual Meeting and a written manuscript based on the lecture submitted to the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Award:

• $1500 honorarium (to support travel expenses) plus annual meeting registration”

Previous Yaffe Award Recipients