Magazine, articles nab awards

Two writers from the medical school's Office of Communication & Public Affairs have received national recognition from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, known as CASE, and Stanford Medicine magazine has received an honorable mention from the American Association of Medical Colleges.

Writer Tracie White won CASE's Gold Award for Best Article of the Year for her Stanford Medicine magazine story "Khmer Rouge on trial," which describes how the Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal could help heal post-traumatic stress among those who lived through the regime. The story, published in the summer 2011 issue, was one of 52 entries reviewed for the contest. Two gold awards, one silver and three bronze were conferred.

The contest judges identified White's story as one of the contest's most engaging entries. "A strong and compelling story, told succinctly and well," CASE reported.

Managing editor John Sanford won a bronze award for his Stanford Medicine magazine story "When are you dead?" on the ethics of expanding the supply of transplant organs by broadening the definition of death for donors. The story was published in the magazine's spring 2011 issue. The judges commented: "Puts a human face on the subject and broadens the appeal to a general audience."

The magazine itself won an honorable mention from the American Association of Medical Colleges — one of two awards bestowed by the organization in its 2012 Awards for Excellence competition, external audience publications category. The medical school communications office produces three issues annually of the magazine. Its editor is Rosanne Spector.

Among the AAMC judges' comments: "Go west, young man (and woman), to find a great med school pub. Love the cover approach and a good table of contents. Inviting layout, creative graphics, interesting stories. What more could you want. Well done." 

The AAMC will present the award at its national professional development conference April 4 in Hollywood, Fla. CASE announced its contest winners last fall.