New York, NY - February 12, 2001 - The Partnership for Women’s Health at Columbia University and Honorary Chair Paula Zahn honored leaders from the media, public and private industry at the Partnership’s Annual Gala and Athena Awards ceremony, held at the historical Cosmopolitan Club.

Athena Awards were presented to Myrna Blyth, senior vice president and editor-in-chief, Ladies’ Home Journal and MORE magazines (Journalism); Marie Bass and Joanne Howes, co-founders, Bass & Howes (Communications); the Honorable Dr. Wanda Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Government); Sam Wolgemuth, president, Freedom Communications Inc. (Education); Dr. W. Allen Schaffer, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Strategy and Health Policy, CIGNA HealthCare (Healthcare).

Marie Bass and Joanne Howes with their husbands	Dr. Legato presents Dr. Schaffer with his Athena Award	Sam Wolgemuth thanks the Partnership for his Athena Award	Dr. Legato congratulates Dr. Hill, the Partnership Distinguished Scholar	Dr. Seidman receives the Partnership Original Research Grant

This year, the Partnership presented its first International Athena Award to Professor Leonardo Reisin, Head of Cardiology Services, Barzilai Medical Center Campus, Ben Gurion University, Ashkelon, Israel. Dr. James O. Hill, professor of pediatrics and director, Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences, received the Partnership Distinguished Scholar Award.

The M. Irené Ferrer Award for Original Research in Gender-Specific Medicine, a grant of $60,000 supported by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, was presented to Dr. C. Subah Packer, assistant professor of physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine. The Partnership Original Research Grant 2001, a $200,000 research grant supported by Procter & Gamble Company, was presented to Dr. Stuart Seidman, associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.

Dr. Packer accepts the Ferrer Award	Dr. Leonardo Reisin, the first International Athena Award winner, poses with his wife, Irina, Ambassador David Ivry of Israel, and his wife, Ofra	Dancers enjoy the music of the Joe Holmes Swing Band

The Partnership for Women’s Health at Columbia University, directed by Marianne Legato, M.D., F.A.C.P., is a unique collaboration between academia and the private sector focusing on gender-specific medical research and educational programs for health care professionals and the public. Proceeds from the gala support the M. Irené Ferrer Professorship in Gender-Specific Medicine. Dr. Ferrer is an internationally known physician whose work integrated outstanding research, patient care, and educational achievements in training whole generations of cardiologists. The professorship will honor Dr. Ferrer’s important contributions to medicine.