Honorary Doctor of Science
University
Medical College of Wisconsin
· May 20, 2022
Bettie Sue Siler Masters, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Biochemistry
1982-1990
Bettie Sue Siler Masters, PhD, the Medical College of Wisconsin’s (MCW) first female department chair, led the department of biochemistry as professor and chair from 1982 to 1990. Dr. Masters is credited for establishing MCW’s joint MD/PhD program (the Medical Scientist Training Program). Dr. Masters also created the Armand J. Quick Award and the Charlie Taketa Memorial Lectureship, memorializing two pioneering leaders in biochemistry at MCW.
Before joining MCW in 1982, Dr. Masters was a professor of biochemistry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Masters left MCW in 1990 to become the first Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor in Chemistry at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio.
Over the course of a 45-year career in academic medicine, Dr. Masters was awarded research grants by the National Institutes of Health totaling $17 million. Dr. Masters’ scientific honors include the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Excellence in Science Award and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Bernard B. Brodie Award. Dr. Masters was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and also served as president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
In 1996, Dr. Masters was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies) – one of the highest honors for an American scientist or physician.
In 2005, Dr. Masters was awarded the Doctorem Medicinae (honorary Doctor of Medicine) from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, one of the oldest and most revered universities in Europe.
Member, National Advisory Committee to the Director of the National Institutes of Health
National
NIH
· July 2002
"The Advisory Committee to the Director provides advice on matters pertinent to the National Institutes of Health mission responsibilities in the conduct and support of biomedical research, medical science and biomedical communications."
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National
AAAS
· 2001
"AAAS Fellows represent some of the most distinguished leaders in science, engineering and innovation..."
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Bernard B. Brodie Award in Drug Metabolism and Disposition
Scholarly Society
American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
· April 2000
The Bernard B. Brodie Award in Drug Metabolism and Disposition was established in honor of this scientist for his outstanding contributions to our understanding of the metabolism of drugs, such as acetanilide and phenacetin, and was the first to determine that the neurohormones, serotonin and norepinephrine, affected brain function. He was the recipient of the Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research in 1967 and was recognized by the National Medal of Science in 1968.
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National
National Academy of Medicine
· September 1996
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies) is one of the three members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. These academies serve as advisors to the nation independent of the government and private corporations.
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Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Excellence in Science Award
National
FASEB
· April 1992
Bettie Sue Siler Masters was the fourth of 32 awardees of this recognition of "outstanding achievement by women in biological science". All awardees must have "contributed significantly to further our understanding of a particular discipline by excellence in research". It is funded by Eli Lilly and Company but all awards are determined by a committee of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
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