Department of Internal Medicine Fuortes Receives Brody Award for Faculty Excellence  Laurence J. Fuortes, M.D., M.S. Professor of Medicine and Occupational and Environmental HealthAssociate Director, Employee Health Clinic
5/20/2009 The University of Iowa has named Laurence Fuortes, professor of internal medicine and occupational and environmental health as one of this year's recipients of the Michael J. Brody Award for Faculty Excellence in Service to the university and the state of Iowa. The recipients will be formally honored during the faculty and staff awards banquet in October. The Brody Award is named in honor of the late Michael J. Brody, president of the UI Faculty Senate from 1986 to 1987. It recognizes outstanding faculty who have made exceptional contributions to the UI and the community. Those who nominated the winners noted their many contributions to teaching, research and outreach. Fuortes, professor of medicine in the Carver College of Medicine and occupational and environmental health in the College of Public Health, has served since 2001 as director of two programs -- the Burlington Atomic Energy Commission Plant Former Worker Program and The Ames Laboratory Former Worker Program -- aimed at helping Iowans who were exposed to toxic substances while researching and manufacturing atomic weaponry for the U.S. government during World War II and beyond. The programs provide medical screenings for these former munitions workers and also help them file claims for assistance. Fuortes has located, screened and assisted more than 1,700 former nuclear weapons workers in Iowa, many of whom have little or no insurance and limited access to health care professionals. Fuortes, an advocate for the rights of the former munitions workers, has testified before Congress regarding issues such as funding and improvements to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICP) law and the health risks caused by exposure to radiation and toxic substances. In addition to his work with the Former Worker programs, Fuortes is volunteer medical director for the Proteus Migrant Health Project, which serves migrant workers in Iowa who have limited access to health care. |
