News Release

Betty Ann Forbes wins 2004 ASM Founders Award

Grant and Award Announcement

American Society for Microbiology

WASHINGTON, DC--APRIL 23, 2004--Betty Ann Forbes, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, will receive the 2004 ASM Founders Distinguished Service Award. Recognizing outstanding professional contributions in a volunteer capacity at the national level, the award honors Forbes for her extraordinary commitment to the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) extending over more than a decade.

This remarkable level of service also accompanies great professional accomplishment. Well known for her expertise in directing large-volume clinical microbiology and diagnostic virology laboratories, Forbes maintains highly productive research and publication programs, focusing most recently on methods of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other pathogens. She is an award-winning teacher of medical students, residents, and postdoctoral-level microbiologists. Elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 1993, she has been a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) since 1990. The ABMM is a component of the Academy that tests the expertise of microbiologists seeking to direct public health or clinical microbiology laboratories.

Immediately upon becoming a Diplomate, Forbes was appointed to the ABMM Examination Board, sitting on several committees responsible for constructing all parts of the examination. As chair of the ABMM Standards and Examination Committee, she worked diligently to ensure that the competencies tested and the entire examination process accurately reflected current clinical practice. Her commitment has been instrumental in ensuring that ABMM Diplomate status remains a respected and widely recognized measure of professional expertise among microbiologists nationwide.

One of Forbes's most vital contributions has been her editorial work for the journal Clinical Microbiology Reviews. During her tenure as editor-in-chief (1997–2002), this journal became one of the most frequently cited microbiology publications in the world. She also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and as a section editor and chapter editor of ASM Press's Manual of Clinical Microbiology.

A graduate of Northwestern University with a B.A. in biology, Forbes received her Ph.D. in medical microbiology and immunology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.

The ASM Founders Distinguished Service Award will be presented at the 104th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), May 23–27, 2004, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of over 42,000 scientists, teachers, physicians, and health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and training in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public to improve health, economic well-being, and the environment.

###


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.