Sidney Hankerson, MD, MBA, Director of Mental Health Equity in the Institute for Health Equity Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has been honored with the 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Service Award. Dr. Hankerson was recognized for his commitment to providing high-quality, innovative mental health services in under-resourced communities by developing novel partnerships with sports clubs and faith-based organizations.
"I am humbled to receive this award on behalf of the countless patients, families, and community partners we serve every day. This recognition acknowledges the power of community-engaged research to address our most pressing public health challenges and is a testament to Mount Sinai's exceptional academic environment to conduct this work. I want to thank Carol R. Horowitz, MD, MPH; Lynne D. Richardson, MD, FACEP; and Rene S. Kahn, MD, PhD, for believing in my vision to integrate rigorous science in trusted community settings," said Dr. Hankerson. He is Associate Professor of Population Health Science and Policy, and Psychiatry, and Vice Chair for Community Engagement in the Department of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine.
The award was presented to Dr. Hankerson by Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and 135th President of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, on Friday, March 21, at the 2024 Presidential Volunteer Service Award Honors Ceremony at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Washington.
Established by President George H.W. Bush and implemented by the Points of Light Foundation in 2003, the President's Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action. Dr. Hankerson was selected for this honor in 2024 under then-President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who signed the award and letters that are administered by the Point of Light Foundation and AmeriCorps.
"Dr. Hankerson has a unique and uncanny ability to bring together community leaders, clinicians, and change agents to promote mental health, wellness, and equity through novel initiatives. His optimism, creativity, and impact are an inspiration," said Dr. Horowitz, Professor of Medicine, Population Health Science and Policy, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, at the Icahn School of Medicine, and Founding Director of the Institute for Health Equity Research. Dr. Horowitz also serves as Dean for Career Opportunity and Support at the School.
"Dr. Hankerson joins a very impressive list of honorees who are making a meaningful difference in their communities," said Beverly Kee, Executive Director of Premiere Coalition Partners Association, LLC, the Maryland-based certifying organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program.
About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole academic partner for the seven member hospitals* of the Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in the United States, providing care to New York City's large and diverse patient population.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, MD-PhD, and master's degree programs, with enrollment of more than 1,200 students. It has the largest graduate medical education program in the country, with more than 2,600 clinical residents and fellows training throughout the Health System. Its Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers 13 degree-granting programs, conducts innovative basic and translational research, and trains more than 560 postdoctoral research fellows.
Ranked 11th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is among the 99th percentile in research dollars per investigator according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. More than 4,500 scientists, educators, and clinicians work within and across dozens of academic departments and multidisciplinary institutes with an emphasis on translational research and therapeutics. Through Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization of medical breakthroughs made at Mount Sinai.
