PRIM&R is honored to recognize two members of our community for outstanding dedication and service. Susan Z. Kornetsky and Robert S. Bienkowski were presented with the following awards on November 19 at the 2019 Advancing Ethical Research Conference (AER19).

ARENA Legacy Award

Susan Z. Kornetsky, MPH, received the 2019 ARENA Legacy Award. Ms. Kornetsky is the Senior Director of Clinical Research Compliance at Boston Children’s Hospital.

In the words of the PRIM&R member who nominated Ms. Kornetsky:

Susan Kornetsky is an amazing person who has been committed to the professional development of IRB and IACUC administrators and members since the founding of ARENA in 1985. She is an enthusiastic supporter of individuals who have chosen IRB or IACUC administration as a career. Susan has served as a mentor to her staff at Boston Children’s Hospital and to administrators and committee members throughout the United States and the world.

Ms. Kornetsky has been a PRIM&R member since 1985 and was the 15th ARENA president in 2000. She was on the PRIM&R Board of Directors from 2001 to 2017, serving as vice chair from 2005 to 2007 and chair from 2016 to 2017. Ms. Kornetsky is one of the founders of the Certified IRB Professional (CIP^®) program and served on the CIP Council. She has been and continues to be an invaluable contributor to PRIM&R’s educational programs, serving as a speaker for countless events, including annual conferences, At Your Doorstep programs, workshops, and webinars. She is also a co-developer and speaker for PRIM&R’s IRB Administrator Boot Camp and is frequently involved in PRIM&R’s public policy comments. Ms. Kornetsky received the Distinguished Service Award from PRIM&R in 2003.

Ms. Kornetsky’s dedication to research ethics and oversight has enhanced the PRIM&R community and the field at large. Learn more about Ms. Kornetsky and the ARENA Legacy Award on our website.

Distinguished Service Award

Robert S. Bienkowski, PhD, CIP, CHRC, received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Bienkowski is the Founding Director of the Office of Research Compliance at Central Michigan University.

In the words of the PRIM&R member who nominated Dr. Bienkowski:

Bob has long been an advocate for ethical research and has built or rebuilt several institution’s research protection programs to comply with federal standards. He has published extensively in multiple areas including basic science, clinical trials, and research ethics. He has been a regular presenter at PRIM&R conferences and has served on the Workshop/Didactic Sub-Committee. He has been a mentor to numerous people, including me, and he guided my institution into becoming one of the first non-academic centers to become accredited. Bob always stood up for what was ‘right’ even if it was the difficult thing to do. I value his integrity, and most of all, his friendship.

Dr. Bienkowski has greatly contributed to PRIM&R as an organization. Since 2007, he has been part of the AER Conference Workshop/Didactic Sub-Committee six times. He has been a speaker at PRIM&R’s annual AER Conference nine times, conducting numerous panels and workshops, and he had an active role in organizing the earliest sessions for the Small Research Programs Track. He has been a member of PRIM&R for more than 15 years.

Dr. Bienkowski has made remarkable contributions not only to the PRIM&R community, but to the entire research ethics field. Learn more about Dr. Bienkowski and the Distinguished Service Award on our website.