Louisville, Ky. — Roberto Bolli, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Louisville, has been selected by the American Physiological Society as the 2011 Walter B. Cannon Award recipient, the highest honor the society confers.
This honor is given annually to an outstanding physiological scientist from anywhere in the world, selected by the president-elect of the society. Bolli will present a lecture on the topic of “Physiology in Perspective” during the plenary session of the society’s Experimental Biology meeting in April, 2011, addressing the concepts Cannon discussed in his book, “The Wisdom of the Body.” The lecture will then be published in one of the society’s 14 journals. Bolli was nominated for the award by members of the society.
“When I look at the distinguished list of past recipients of this award, going back to 1983, I am humbled to be included in their company,” Bolli said. “The American Physiological Society’s longstanding tradition of dedication to the physiological sciences – and Dr. Cannon’s contribution to it and to the field of medicine – makes this a real honor and I am very much looking forward to giving this lecture in April.”
Walter B. Cannon was one of the founding fathers of the field of physiology and served as president of the American Physiological Society from 1914 to 1916. One of his books, “The Wisdom of the Body,” examines the mechanisms and potential of the human body.
The American Physiological Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering education, scientific research, and dissemination of information in the physiological sciences. The society was founded in 1887 with 28 members; it now has over 10,500 members. Most members have doctoral degrees in physiology, medicine or other health professions.
The society is governed by an elected council consisting of a president, president-elect, past president, and nine council members.