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Six Honored with 2004 Distinguished Service Awards
April 12, 2004
Six Honored with 2004 Distinguished Service Awards
Six outstanding Tufts alumni this spring will receive Distinguished Service Awards for their contributions to Tufts, their professions, and their communities. The alumni will be honored on May 1st at the annual Distinguished Service Awards Dinner, hosted by the Tufts University Alumni Association (TUAA).
Recognized by TUAA leadership are:
- Bruce Baum, D.M.D., Ph.D., D71
- Countess Rysia de Ravel D'Esclapon, J71
- Roseanna Means, M.D., M81
- William R. O'Reilly Jr., Esq., A77
- Francis X. Rockett, M.D., A53
- Eleanor Seabury Short, J88
Bruce Baum, D.M.D.,
Ph.D., D71, is a world-renowned dental scientist who
now serves as the chief of the Gene Therapy and Therapeutics Branch
at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in
Bethesda, MD. Prior to holding this position, Dr. Baum was clinical
director and chief of the Clinical Investigations and Patient Care
Branch at NIDCR for 14 years. He also has served on the White House
Conference on Aging, the Long Range Planning Committee of the American
Association of Dental Research, and the National Institutes of Health
Committee on Scientific Conduct and Ethics. Dr. Baum's awards include
the U.S. Public Health Service Commendation Medal (twice), the Geriatric
Oral Research Award, and the Salivary Research Award, both from
the International Association for Dental Research.
Countess Rysia de Ravel D'Esclapon, J71, is president and CEO of DeraCom Conference Call Services, a private telecommunications service she established in 1985. As a woman high tech entrepreneur in the mid-1980s she was well ahead of her time. D'Escalapon, who also holds a master's in Radio/TV broadcasting from Syracuse University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, has worked as an associate producer and field producer for public affairs special for PBS, working issues such as world hunger. She has been actively involved in philanthropic organizations in Princeton, New York and Boston. Her Tufts involvement includes more than 10 years on the Board of Overseers for the Arts and Sciences; and recently, commissioning a new Tufts song, "Light on the Hill" in honor of the Tufts' 150th anniversary. Her son Alexandre is a 1994 Tufts graduate.
Roseanna Means, M.D., M81, has dedicated her life to the service of homeless women. After earning her master's in nutrition from M.I.T. and her doctorate from Tufts School of Medicine, she worked in community practices until 1990 when she joined the staff of Boston Health Care for the Homeless, ultimately becoming its Medical Director. In 1995 she spent a sabbatical year in Costa Rica caring for the disadvantaged. In 1998, she founded "Women of Means" to address the medical needs of Boston's homeless female population. "Women of Means" uses a team of 15 volunteer doctors and 3 nurses to provide free health care to women directly in 10 area shelters and to distribute free, over-the-counter medical supplies. Women of Means runs a popular elective for medical students and residents at Rosie's Place. In addition to serving as chair of the nonprofit, Dr. Means maintains a solo practice in Wellesley that specifically addresses the health needs of women. She is also a member of the state Commission on the Status of Women.
William R. O'Reilly Jr., Esq., A77, has served Tufts in one of most demanding ways possible - as a past president of the TUAA (2002-2003). His initiatives as president included a focus on annual committee goals, the practice of annual leadership meetings, and a successful Alumni Council Member Directory. Along with his service to the Alumni Council, he has also served on the Class of 1977 Reunion Committee since 1987, chaired the Class Gift Committee in 1997, and was a founding member of the Boston Tufts Alliance. O'Reilly also demonstrates great dedication and service to his profession. A senior partner with Hale and Dorr, he has served his firm as vice chair of the Real Estate department, former chair of the Conflict and Ethics Committee, and chair of its Real Estate Opinion Committee. In 2002 he was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and was listed in The Best Lawyers in America. In his community of Wellesley, MA, O'Reilly has served as an elected Town Meeting member and has coached a Little League baseball team since 1996.
Francis X. Rockett, M.D., A53, has had a profound impact on the medical field, the medical organization of Massachusetts, and the medical students of Tufts. He has served as a neurosurgeon and Chief of Neurosurgery at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, as well as a consultant and neurosurgeon for several other hospitals in the area. Rockett's service continues into the medical field: past president of the Massachusetts Medical Society as well as director of the Center for Health Care Negotiations, an innovative endeavor with the Massachusetts Bar Associations to find better ways to solve the dilemma of patient compensation for harm done during medical care. His awards include the George L White Award, the Physician's Service Award from Newton-Wellesley Hospital, and the Tufts University Medical School's Service Award. Rockett also has served on the Alumni Council since 1994 and as chair of its Awards Committee. He has also served on the Governor's Committee on Fitness and Sports and as a consultant to the Boston Red Sox. Three of his children graduated from Tufts.
Eleanor R. Short, J88, shines as a steward and perpetuator of Tufts spirit and pride. After raising a family, she returned to Tufts in 1988 as part of the R.E.A.L. program. She has been involved with the Parents' Program since its inception 14 years ago and served as its director from 1990 to 2003 It is in this service to parents where her amazing qualities as a "people person" have been truly astounding; she was always available as a dependable resource. Her work in gaining recognition for the role of V-12 NROTC at Tufts also commands much respect and praise. Short also works on reunion committees, international fundraising, April Open House, Parents' Weekend, and counseling and guiding prospective students through the admissions process.
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