Catherine McDonald and Andy Tan Win Presidential PECASE Awards

Highest Federal Honor for Science and Engineering Professionals

January 23, 2025

By:

Hoag Levins

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LDI Senior Fellows Catherine McDonald, PhD, RN, and Andy Tan, PhD, MPH, have been named recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor bestowed by the federal government upon science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent careers.

The PECASE program was established in 1996 by President Bill Clinton to “highlight the importance of science and technology for the nation’s future and enhance the connections between fundamental research and national goals.” It recognizes outstanding researchers funded by federal agencies. The annual awards are conferred in ceremonies at the White House.

Childhood Injuries

McDonald is Professor and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Co-Director of the Penn Injury Science Center. Her research focuses on the complex interplay of factors that contribute to pediatric morbidity and mortality associated with various types of intentional and unintentional injuries. With injury being the leading cause of death in children and adolescents, her program of research addresses a diverse array of injury types including motor vehicle crashes, child passenger safety, community violence, concussion, and opioids.

McDonald’s research is funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Health Equity

Andy Tan is an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication. His research focuses on advancing communication science to achieve health equity by examining the impact of marketing, media, and public health messages on health behaviors and outcomes among diverse populations including young adults, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations.

Tan’s research is funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), the prestigious PECASE awards “embody the high priority placed by the government on maintaining the leadership position of the United States in science by producing outstanding scientists and engineers and nurturing their continued development. The Awards identify a cadre of outstanding scientists and engineers who will broadly advance science and the missions important to the participating agencies.”