Pediatric specialists from CDC recognized with 'Sammies'

Peggy Honein, PhD, MPH, and Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, have been awarded 2018 Service to America Medals — or “Sammies” — according to the CDC. The awards recognize the talent and achievements of federal employees based on their service to the public.

The awards will be presented at the 17th annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. today.

“These two top researchers are a shining example of CDC’s commitment to excellence in science,” CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, said in a press release. “Their accomplishments have improved — and are still improving — the health of our families and our nation.”

Yeargin-Allsopp was announced as the winner of the Career Achievement Medal for at least 20 years of research on special health care needs and is currently an epidemiologist and pediatrician. Additionally, she is the associate director for children with special health care needs at the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), where she focuses on a wide range of health care topics including autism and cerebral palsy, according to the agency.

Honein was announced as the recipient of the Science and Environmental Medal for her significant accomplishments as an epidemiologist in the NCBDDD and director of the Division of Congenital and Developmental Disorders. With the CDC, she was able to co-lead the Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force during the agency’s emergency Zika response and oversaw research to gain a more detailed understanding of how Zika affects children while in utero.

“The Service to America Medicals are among the highest achievements of government service, and we are so proud and honored to have two employees receiving these prestigious awards this year,” Colleen Boyle, PhD, MSHyg, director of the NCBDDD, said in the release. “These awards recognize the achievements and dedication of Dr. Yeargin-Allsopp and Dr. Honein, and we hope they will also inspire other talented individuals to pursue a public service career.” – by Katherine Bortz

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.