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Federal Times
A commitment to public service, a broad understanding of issues and an innovative approach to problem-solving are characteristics that define this year’s recipients of the National Public Service Awards and the Rosslyn S. Kleeman Keeper of the Flame Award.
The American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration established the National Public Service Awards in 1983 to honor individuals whose accomplishments are models of public service inside and outside the work environment. Three federal employees and one federal retiree are among this year’s winners. Here are their stories.
Peter Blumberg
Peter Blumberg’s job at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is to study the causes and treatment of cancer, inflammation and pain. But he gave himself another challenge — to open the world of his work to deaf scientists.
At large scientific lectures, Blumberg noticed there were no deaf students. He saw the opportunity for a partnership with Gallaudet University in Washington and began recruiting students and contacting faculty to let them know about opportunities at NCI and with his group. He is chief of molecular mechanism of tumor promotion in NCI’s Laboratory of Cancer, Biology and Genetics, on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Md.
Six students and one professor have trained at NCI over the past two years, and Blumberg expects two new students in September.
“I saw the impact and the change in views of other scientists who recognized that these were good scientists,” Blumberg said.
The students come to NCI as part of the NIH post-baccalaureate program. The program is open to all students who have graduated from college in the sciences and wish to get a year or two of research before continuing their studies.
“In the tasks … that we do,” Blumberg said, “you have to be good at the work. Hearing is not an issue.”
That was one of the lessons from the program, he said. The deaf scientists now serve as role models for the deaf community and have continued their research and education, contributing to papers and working toward advanced degrees.
Blumberg taught himself sign language in order to better communicate with the deaf scientists.
“Learning the language went just fine,” he said. “Cancer is a very tough problem. If you’re not put off by working at a difficult task such as cancer, what is another language?”
Blumberg’s National Public Service Award also recognizes his groundbreaking cancer research.
“We’re actually making a difference,” Blumberg said. “We’re not there yet — but we’re making a difference.”
Blumberg, whose doctorate is in biochemistry and molecular biology, has worked at NCI since 1981. “I was thrilled to win the award,” Blumberg said. “One of the things I’ve liked is that I’m working for the American people — it’s inspiring to work for the American people.”
A commitment to public service, a broad understanding of issues and an innovative approach to problem-solving are characteristics that define this year’s recipients of the National Public Service Awards and the Rosslyn S. Kleeman Keeper of the Flame Award.
The American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration established the National Public Service Awards in 1983 to honor individuals whose accomplishments are models of public service inside and outside the work environment. Three federal employees and one federal retiree are among this year’s winners. Here are their stories.
Peter Blumberg
Peter Blumberg’s job at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is to study the causes and treatment of cancer, inflammation and pain. But he gave himself another challenge — to open the world of his work to deaf scientists.
At large scientific lectures, Blumberg noticed there were no deaf students. He saw the opportunity for a partnership with Gallaudet University in Washington and began recruiting students and contacting faculty to let them know about opportunities at NCI and with his group. He is chief of molecular mechanism of tumor promotion in NCI’s Laboratory of Cancer, Biology and Genetics, on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Md.
Six students and one professor have trained at NCI over the past two years, and Blumberg expects two new students in September.
“I saw the impact and the change in views of other scientists who recognized that these were good scientists,” Blumberg said.
The students come to NCI as part of the NIH post-baccalaureate program. The program is open to all students who have graduated from college in the sciences and wish to get a year or two of research before continuing their studies.
“In the tasks … that we do,” Blumberg said, “you have to be good at the work. Hearing is not an issue.”
That was one of the lessons from the program, he said. The deaf scientists now serve as role models for the deaf community and have continued their research and education, contributing to papers and working toward advanced degrees.
Blumberg taught himself sign language in order to better communicate with the deaf scientists.
“Learning the language went just fine,” he said. “Cancer is a very tough problem. If you’re not put off by working at a difficult task such as cancer, what is another language?”
Blumberg’s National Public Service Award also recognizes his groundbreaking cancer research.
“We’re actually making a difference,” Blumberg said. “We’re not there yet — but we’re making a difference.”
Blumberg, whose doctorate is in biochemistry and molecular biology, has worked at NCI since 1981. “I was thrilled to win the award,” Blumberg said. “One of the things I’ve liked is that I’m working for the American people — it’s inspiring to work for the American people.”