The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has named Edward J. Benz, Jr., MD, president of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the 2011 recipient of the Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award for Promotion of Women in Cancer Research and Cancer Medicine.

The national award is given annually to an individual in recognition of his or her sustained support and extraordinary dedication to enhancing the careers of women in cancer science and medicine. Women Faculty Programs at MD Anderson established this award in 2008 in honor of Margaret L. Kripke, PhD, for her unwavering advocacy for and promotion of women in academic medicine and science.

In her nomination letter, Glorian Sorensen, PhD, faculty vice president for faculty development at Dana-Farber, applauded Benz for being "an agent for change in creating an environment where women can flourish and fostering a culture that values the contributions of women." In 2007, Benz created the Office for Faculty Development at Dana-Farber, which Sorensen credits for increasing the number of women leaders at Dana-Farber. Before joining Dana-Farber, he made similar strides at Johns Hopkins.

Susan MacDonald, MD, associate chair of the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said Benz, who was the chairman of the department of medicine prior to coming to Dana-Farber, had a direct and positive impact on her medical career. "I credit Ed with developing my leadership skills and capabilities, which shaped my career immensely. When he left to become president of Dana-Farber, I was given the title of associate chair of the Department of Medicine. No woman in the past 100 years at Johns Hopkins has ever occupied this position."

MD Anderson will bestow the award to Benz on its main campus in Houston on March 24, at which time he will present a lecture titled "Applying Mentorship, Leadership and Power of Position to Enhancing the Career Development of Women Faculty."

Benz is president and chief executive officer of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and director of Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. He also is the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine, professor of pediatrics, professor of genetics, and faculty dean for oncology at Harvard Medical School.

Benz is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Medical School. An internationally recognized hematologist, Benz received his training at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the National Institutes of Health, and the Yale School of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and hematology and is a clinically active internist and expert in inherited anemias and diseases of the red cell.

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