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Dr. Steve Blair, Dr. Casey Goldston Giraudy recognized for outstanding achievement at Faculty Awards Ceremony
May 6, 2013
Dr. Steve Blair, 2013 USC Educational
Foundation Research Award
for Health Sciences
Dr. Casey Goldston Giraudy,
2013 John Gardner Inspirational
Faculty Award
Dr. Steven Blair, an Arnold School of Public Health researcher widely recognized as one of the world’s leading experts in the field of exercise science, is the recipient of the 2013 USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Health Sciences.
Blair, a professor of exercise science, epidemiology and biostatistics, was among USC achievers honored May 1 at the Faculty Awards Ceremony at the Hollings Special Collections Library.
An Arnold School faculty member from the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior also received honors at the event. Dr. Casey Goldston Giraudy is the recipient of the John Gardner Inspirational Faculty Award.
Blair was nominated for the award by Exercise Science professor Dr. Greg Hand, the Arnold School’s associate dean for research and practice, and Dr. Larry Durstine, chair of the Department of Exercise Science. Dr. Carl “Chip” Lavie, a cardiologist from the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute in New Orleans and a noted lecturer and reviewer for several medical journals, also submitted a letter of support.
In recommending Blair for the award, Hand said his colleague’s research funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations has totaled more than $25 million.
Durstine wrote that Blair’s studies have “found new scientific information that will help ‘bridge the gap between science and application,’ and thus his work has had a tremendous impact on improving health care.”
Lavie described Blair as “probably the biggest name worldwide in the area of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and, in fact, in many circles he is considered the ‘Father’ of Aerobic Fitness.”
During the awards ceremony USC Provost Dr. Michael Amiridis said, “There is no health science investigator at the University of South Carolina who has had more impact in their field than Dr. Steve Blair.
“He is one of the most highly cited researchers in the field of exercise science with over 30,000 citations to his credit from his almost 500 research articles. His most highly cited article has been referenced more than 1,600 times.”
Amiridis said Blair has been a “scientific ambassador for USC. But most importantly, he has been a mentor to faculty, staff and students both at USC and at other institutions around the world.”
Responding to the accolades, Blair said, “I feel very honored to be the 2013 recipient of the Education Foundation Health Sciences Research Award. I hope that our work has helped contribute to public health initiatives and to improved health of populations.
“The award would not have been possible without the great work of my graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and colleagues. I am extremely lucky to have such an outstanding group of collaborators, and I am grateful to all of them,” he said.
Blair joins other current and former Arnold School faculty who have been recognized with the Education Foundation health award, one of the university’s premier honors for innovative research or creative achievement.
Other Arnold School winners of the Health Science award include: Dr. Russ Pate, 1996; Dr. Tom Chandler, 1998; Dr. Marjorie Aelion, 2002; Dr. Alan Decho, 2003; Dr. Beth Mayer-Davis, 2004, Dr. Mark Davis, 2009 and Dr. Sara Wilcox, 2010.
Goldston Giraudy, an instructor and the Academic Programs coordinator, teaches Emergency Preparedness and University 101. “She is an inspiration for her students and encourages them to become and stay involved with student organizations, cultural events, and community service and then to reflect upon and make meaning of their experiences,” Amiridis said.
The Gardner award is presented each year by University Housing and University 101 Programs to a faculty member who demonstrates a devotion to educating students by encouraging them to intentionally select and participate in meaningful experiences within and beyond the classroom.
The awards ceremony also included presentations to winners of the Russell Research Award, established by former USC President and Federal Judge Donald S. Russell in 1957.
Each award consists of a $3,000 prize and a certificate of recognition.
