University at Buffalo (UB)
Cain and Strauss Receive Spirit Award from Sarnoff Foundation
Published June 7, 2012 This content is archived.
Michael E. Cain, MD, and Harold Strauss, MD, are recipients of the 2012 Stanley J. Sarnoff Spirit Award from the Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation.
The award is given annually to honor members of the Sarnoff community for their commitment to the Sarnoff fellowship program, the society of alumni or the foundation’s overall mission.
Cain Provided Strategic Leadership during Transition
Michael Cain, MD
Cain, vice president for health sciences and dean, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, began volunteering with the foundation in the late 1990s.
He subsequently was appointed to the scientific committee and served on it for five years, ultimately assuming the leadership as chair.
He also was recruited to lead the task force responsible for developing Sarnoff’s first strategic plan.
Cain was appointed to the board of directors in 2006 and became its first new chair in 13 years. Concurrently he has served on the board’s governance committee and has sponsored five Sarnoff fellows.
“It was a huge step for the foundation to develop a formal mission statement and a strategic blueprint for the implementation of the mission,” stated a Sarnoff Foundation release.
“Dr. Cain helped the foundation in a period of transition and growing pains and is an example of dedication, leadership and vision to our fellows and volunteers.”
Strauss Praised for Guiding Committee, Mentoring
Harold Strauss, MD
Strauss, professor and former chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, began his affiliation with the Sarnoff Foundation 20 years ago, while at Duke University.
He sponsored seven students for Sarnoff fellowships, most of whom went on to leadership positions in the foundation.
“He has a long-standing commitment to, and affection for, the Sarnoff Foundation and all that it does for young trainees in cardiovascular medicine,” wrote an individual who nominated Strauss for the award.
“Fittingly, in the spirit of Dr. Sarnoff, who championed lifelong mentoring, Dr. Strauss has served as a mentor to a long list of physicians and investigators throughout the course of his career.”
In addition to his dedication to mentoring students, Strauss served as a member and chair the foundation’s scientific committee from 1994 to 1998.
He is credited with guiding the committee with a steady hand, providing leadership during challenging times and helping set the stage for the foundation’s ensuing growth and success.