Charleston Physician-Scientist Receives Prestigious Stroke Research Mentor Award

Charleston Physician-Scientist Receives Prestigious Stroke Research Mentor Award

In Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Marc Chimowitz received high recognition for his immense contributions to stroke research and mentorship. The American Stroke Association honored Chimowitz with the inaugural Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award at its 2024 international stroke conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Internationally Renowned Stroke Researcher

Dr. Chimowitz is internationally recognized for his leadership in multisite stroke trials, such as WASID, SAMMPRIS and CAPTIVA. These prominent trials have been rolled out through StrokeNet, a clinical trial network funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While his contributions to stroke research are significant, the recent award particularly spotlights his commitment to mentorship and his dedication to fostering the next generation of physician-scientists in stroke research.

Honoring a Legacy

The Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award is named in honor of the late Ralph Sacco, M.D., a past president of both the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association and former director of the University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Chimowitz spoke highly of Sacco, expressing that sharing the NIH StrokeNet Prevention Working Group’s co-leadership duties with Sacco for seven years made the accolade extra meaningful.

Striving for Excellent Mentorship

Beyond his notable stroke research, Chimowitz is a fervent advocate for academic mentorship. Recruited from Emory University to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2008, he was appointed as the associate dean for faculty development in the College of Medicine to create mentoring programs. His leadership roles also extended to the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research (SCTR) Institute, where he was an associate principal investigator and director of the multisite clinical trials team and the KL2 training program.

Fostering Future Researchers

Dr. Chimowitz’s mentorship has effectively fostered numerous clinician-scientists at Emory and MUSC, helping them become successful researchers and leaders in their respective fields. He has developed several innovative mentorship programs that continue to benefit hundreds of junior faculty interested in developing research careers.

Innovations That Continue to Impact

Under Dr. Chimowitz’s direction, the University Mentor Leadership Council established a framework for departmental mentoring plans, which have been successfully implemented across campus. The council also conducts a monthly Tools for Mentors and Mentees series and the Annual SCTR Mentorship Symposium.

As the KL2 program’s director, Dr. Chimowitz initialized mentoring activities across all research career development programs. He also implemented an eight-week grant-writing course for K scholars, started the K to R club to aid K scholars with R01 grant applications, and founded the Society for Research and Translational Early Scientists (SOCRATES).

Signifying Impact on Individual Levels

One of Dr. Chimowitz’s mentees, stroke neurologist-researcher Sami Al Kasab, M.D., emphasized the courage of his mentor to prioritize research integrity over quantity. Independent of these massive contributions, Chimowitz has also personally invested time in mentoring fellows and faculty at MUSC and other institutions in clinical care and research.

National Recognition for Dedication

The American Stroke Association’s prestigious Ralph L. Sacco Outstanding Stroke Research Mentor Award reinforces the recognition and respect accorded to Dr. Chimowitz’s impact. Successfully fostering generations of promising new stroke researchers, this respected physician-scientist’s dedication continues to shape the future of stroke research not only in Charleston but globally.