Prabhavathi B. Fernandes, PhD Receives 1996 CGS Distinguished Alumni Award

Prabhavathi B. Fernandes, PhD '75 (microbiology), who was the recipient of the 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award, delivered the Distinguished Alumni Lecture, "Scientific Research in the Corporate World," at the College of Graduate Studies (CGS) Alumni Day 1996. The award was presented in recognition of her many scientific contributions and achievements. Dr. Fernandes is vice president for biomolecular screening drug discovery at Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals.

In addition, during the Alumni Award presentation ceremony, Robert M. Metrione, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, received honorary lifetime membership in the CGS alumni association. During his nearly 30-year-long tenure at Jefferson, Dr. Metrione has mentored not only MD students in biochemistry, but has also taught biochemistry to the majority of PhD graduates in all other PhD programs as well.

The celebration of Alumni Day 1996 opened with the annual meeting of the CGS Alumni Association. More than 20 alumni attended the meeting where Steven W. Bass, PhD, '70 (pharmacology) and director of planning and coordination, World Wide Regulatory Affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb, was installed as president of the association by outgoing president Jerome G. Buescher, PhD '81 (microbiology).