Beacon Oral Specialists, a portfolio company of Blue Sea Capital, announced today that it has entered into a strategic agreement with Midland Oral Surgery and Implant Centers, expanding Beacon's footprint into the Midwest with this five-surgeon, three-location practice in Chicago.
Drs. Carlos G. Pagni, Aaron G. Tucke, V. Bill Hajiharis, Faisal A. Khan and Gilbert T. Guajardo practice the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery in the southwest Chicagoland communities of Frankfurt, Tinley Park, and Oak Lawn. Founded more than 50 years ago, Midland Oral Surgery specializes in dental implants, bone grafting, and wisdom tooth extraction while also bringing exceptional surgical skills to the management of hard and soft tissues of the facial region at large.
"In Beacon Oral Specialists, we found a like-minded partner with the highly experienced team to not only lift administrative duties, allowing us to more fully concentrate on our patients, but to also help us expand in our market," said Dr. Hajiharis. "We share Beacon's priorities of best-in-class patient care and are aligned on goals for the future of our specialty. We're confident our best days are ahead."
With this partnership, its ninth such affiliation in 2022, Beacon grows its oral surgery network to include 21 market-leading oral surgery practices and more than 100 clinicians in nine states and key MSAs in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Midwest, and Northern and Southern California.
"We are delighted to partner with these distinguished surgeons at Midland," said Mike Friguletto, Beacon's CEO. "They are very well regarded by their peers in the region for having built a contemporary practice and for providing great care to their community. Together, we look forward to building upon their foundation to expand their exceptional service in greater Chicagoland and beyond."
Since its founding in December 2020, Beacon Oral Specialists has quickly positioned itself as the leading oral surgery management platform, attracting distinguished oral surgeons and leading practices from around the country. With its differentiated and proven resources and support, Beacon allows its surgeons to focus on what they do best - providing best-in-class care to the communities they serve.
About Beacon Oral Specialists
Beacon Oral Specialists (www.beaconoralspecialists.com) is a leading management services organization serving the oral surgery sector. Beacon Oral Specialists delivers world-class practice management solutions to a network of nationally renowned oral surgeons across the United States. Beacon Oral Specialists provides a comprehensive set of business support functions, including billing and collections, marketing, financial and accounting services, benefits and payroll management, information technology, data analytics, vendor management and legal.
About Blue Sea Capital
Blue Sea Capital (www.blueseacapital.com) is a private equity firm based in West Palm Beach, Fla., that invests in growth-oriented lower middle market companies valued up to $300 million. The firm has more than $1 billion in assets under management and invests across three industry verticals: healthcare, aerospace & defense, and industrial growth. Blue Sea Capital's strategy is to partner with talented managers and differentiated companies, typically as the first or second institutional investor, and deliver strategic and operational value-add that drives growth acceleration, industry outperformance and business transformation.
Award-winning TV host of Wake Up with Marci and author Marci Hopkins will be signing copies of her new book, "Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles" at KYU 324 Lafayette Street, NYC, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm to raise funds for the NYC-based non-profit BIGVISION Community, a sober peer-to-peer lifeline that has helped 10,000+ young people 18-35 sustain their recovery. To be part of this giveback experience, a $100 donation will include a signed copy of "Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles," bubbling non-alcoholic beverages by De Soi and Amethyst NA Spirits, delectable bites by KYU, and a gift bag worth $150+, including a bottle of delicious squeezable Mighty Sesame Organic Tahini, and spectacular Parrano Cheese, where Parmesan meets Gouda. Interested attendees can Purchase tickets here.
"We are honored and deeply grateful that Marci selected us to be the benefactor of this exciting and inspiring event," says BIGVISION Community founder Eve Goldberg. Eve lost her 23 years young son Isaac to an accidental opioid overdose in 2014. She founded BIGVISION in 2015 to prevent other parents from experiencing the same tragedy. BIGVISION redefines recovery as exciting and fun by providing young people free in-person and virtual activities to discover new passions, learn life skills, live productive lives, and represent a new normal—be proud of your recovery! For more information, visit www.bigvisioncommunity.com.
Marci is passionate about supporting BIGVISION because she believes "the younger you are, the more support you need to sustain early and long-term recovery." Marci herself faced the consequences of her drinking at a young age (21) and strongly believes that access to a community such as BIGVISION, at that time in her life, would have helped her maintain sobriety instead of battling her addiction for over 30 more years.
As a sexual abuse survivor and seven years sober, Marci is a fearless voice on television committed to changing lives as an authority on recovery and spreading hope and joy. "Wake Up with Marci" airs on WLNY/CBS 10/55 in the Tri-State area at 10 am on Saturdays. For more information, visit www.wakeupwithmarci.com.
"I felt called to write my memoir/self-help book, Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles, for those struggling with depression, self-hatred, substance abuse, childhood trauma, and more. It is okay to own past behaviors and habits and move from victim to survivor. The journey is about uncovering the root beneath addiction and creating your most fulfilling life through introspective work, prompts, education, and action items," says Marci.
For those who want to join BIGVISION Community, donate, or support and create events, go to www.bigvisioncommunity.com.
Guentzel and ADHD Online partner to publish a podcast episode every day during October, providing information and support while breaking down stigmas about ADHD and mental health.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - October 18, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
Lindsay Guentzel is an award-winning radio journalist, producer, mental health advocate, and host of Refocused with Lindsay Guentzel. In this podcast, she holds authentic and informative conversations with people from diverse backgrounds who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to explore the often misunderstood world of ADHD. And during October, ADHD Awareness Month, Guentzel, alongside ADHD Online, is publishing a podcast episode every day as a special edition series titled Refocused, Together.
"I remember visiting my therapist for the first time after my diagnosis, sulking in her chair in confusion and telling her — I can't believe I didn't see it," said Guentzel, who was nearly 35 when she was diagnosed with ADHD. "I felt like my diagnosis gave me clarity on my mental and physical health, the way I managed my career, my relationships, and my entire life, but I was still lost. The more I sought support following my diagnosis, the more I realized there wasn't a lot out there, and I wanted to change that."
Guentzel's struggle to find guidance on navigating the impacts of ADHD ignited a passion in her to create a space that provides support, resources, and a shared experience for others living with ADHD. And this month, Guentzel is focused on showing the world the many faces and journeys of ADHD to break down stigmas within mental health, offer relatability to anyone living with the disorder, and inspire those who have a loved one with ADHD on ways they can be supportive.
In the special edition series, Refocused, Together, Guentzel interviews guests across the country from diverse backgrounds and industries, ages 14-60, who walk listeners through their journeys with ADHD. From self-advocacy within the healthcare system to the implications of an ADHD diagnosis within different cultures, these authentic, informative, enlightening, sometimes challenging, and funny conversations aim to illuminate and help change the narrative and stigma around ADHD.
At least 6 million children ages 3-17 in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD. An estimated 11 million adults nationwide have been diagnosed with ADHD, many of whom were diagnosed for the first time in adulthood. By the mid-2010s, adults replaced children as the primary market for ADHD medication. The pandemic saw a rise in adult diagnosis, but even before then, between 2007 and 2016, reported instances of ADHD rose 123% in U.S. adults.
The podcast has also had a significant impact on its guests, too. "In some cases, guests have followed up and shared that the podcast helped them gain support from family and friends who were oblivious to their struggle until they listened to their episode," said Guentzel.
Some of the episodes Guentzel hosts in October will include:
● Laura Hoyos and Creating Community - Hoyos shares the story of how she's working to break down stereotypes and educate and unite the Latinx community through her ADHD diagnosis. ● Bryan Le and Taking this Journey with Loved Ones - Le shares his story on his diagnosis and ADHD within the Vietnamese-American culture. ● Amy Marschall - Marschall, a psychologist, spent a career diagnosing others with ADHD but was oblivious to her own ADHD. ● JeVona Maniex and Advocating for Yourself - Maniex shares her story of advocating for herself within an inequitable healthcare system and on the job.
Listeners can preview the series here: https://youtu.be/pZIqnXMNdU8 and tune in to full episodes on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Spotify.
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About Lindsay Guentzel
Lindsay Guentzel is an award-winning radio journalist and producer who has notched wins for reporting, producing, and writing for both CBS Radio affiliate WCCO Radio and Minnesota Public Radio. She has also worked with Major League Baseball, FOX Sports, and the Minnesota Twins, and her work has appeared on ESPN, NPR, ABC, and the New York Times.
About ADHD Online
ADHD Online was founded in 2018 with the mission that everyone should have access to quality ADHD assessments regardless of who and where they are. The ADHD Online team is filled with industry experts across the United States who all share the same passion for ADHD and making sure patients have access to critical mental health services. ADHD Online is leading the way with being a critical voice for those who might be struggling with ADHD and is the only organization to offer HIPAA-secured ADHD assessments online with results from licensed psychologists. ADHD Online is active in all 50 states.
The inaugural Hearts Of Courage Gala will benefit the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Widows & Orphans Organization and Ark Of Israel's initiatives to unite America and Israel
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - October 18, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
Ark Of Israel is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. The organization is pleased to announce that the 70th United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Hearts Of Courage Gala on Nov. 14, 2022, at 6 p.m. (CT) at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University.
Mike Pompeo served as the 70th United States Secretary of State from April 2018 through January 2021. He previously served from January 2017 to April 2018 as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
As our nation's most senior diplomat, Secretary Pompeo helped craft U.S. foreign policy based on our nation's founding ideals, putting America first. America became a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East, cementing real peace through the work of the Abraham Accords.
In addition to serving as the keynote, Secretary Pompeo will also receive the Hearts Of Courage Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the United States and commitment to ensuring the safety of its greatest ally, Israel.
Secretary Pompeo will be joined by a growing lists of world-renowned guests who include: Anat Sultan Dadon (Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States), Shlomi Nahumson (CEO of IDF Widows and Orphans Organization), Netanel Hershtik (Cantor of The West Hampton Synagogue - NY), Shahar Azani (SR VP of the Jewish Broadcast Service), Justice Enlow (Miss Tennessee USA, 2020), Jonathan Feldstein (CEO of Genesis 123) and Kim Walker-Smith (Grammy-nominated artist and acclaimed worship leader) who will be providing live entertainment for guests.
The Hearts Of Courage Gala will bring leaders from across the globe together to honor the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. With proceeds benefiting the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization and Ark Of Israel's initiatives to unite America and Israel, this historic event will be a celebration as we come together to assist the most vulnerable among us.
To learn more about the The Hearts Of Courage Gala, other speakers, and how to register, please visit arkofisrael.com.
Ark Of Israel is a nonprofit organization that celebrates American values, actively works to strengthen the United States and Israel alliance, and was founded on the shared values of these two great nations.
For more information about the The Hearts Of Courage Gala, please call Josh Standifer at 865.307.4193 or email [email protected].
Contact Information:
Josh Standifer
Communications Director [email protected]
8653074193
ZetrOZ Systems will showcase its sustained acoustic medicine (sam®) technology, a non-invasive, non-systemic treatment option for soft-tissue injuries experienced in the workplace and beyond. The companies' partnerships with self-insured and insurance providers has expanded access to millions of lives in America.
TRUMBULL, Conn. - October 18, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
ZetrOZ Systems, creator and manufacturer of the sam® wearable ultrasound product line, announces that it will be attending the 2022 National Workers' Compensation and Disability Conference from Oct. 19 to 21 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. National Comp is the largest gathering of workers' compensation professionals in the United States.
ZetrOZ Systems Founder and CEO Dr. George Lewis will present at the conference and share the benefits of sam®, which can reduce treatment costs by up to $27,000 and reduce lost work time by up to 16 weeks. The company will host a gathering of partners at the High Roller observational wheel to soar 550 feet above the Las Vegas strip during the conference activities.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), a worker is injured on the job every seven seconds in the United States, resulting in 99 million days of lost productivity every year. Also according to the NSC, work-related injuries cost the US economy approximately $171 million in 2019. Many workers did not file workers' compensation claims, but of those who did, the average per-worker cost was roughly $44,000. The most common workplace injuries include sprains, strains, tears, soreness, and pain — all injuries for which sam® is ideally suited and revolutionizing treatment for in the United States.
"We're honored to engage with our partners at National Comp 2022 to talk and hear about the benefits sustained acoustic medicine has provided from both a recovery and economic standpoint," said Dr. Lewis. "In creating a faster, safer, and more effective treatment than narcotics and opioids, we're getting workers back on the job faster and in better shape than they normally would have been. With sam® treatment and proper education, workers can expect better long-term healthcare outcomes and get back to normal faster."
sam® technology is FDA-cleared and has demonstrated its ability to relieve pain and return subjects to work, sports, and other activities in over 40 peer-reviewed studies. Designed for easy, long-term home use, sam® treats injuries at depth via long-duration, low-intensity ultrasound to treat pain, increase local circulation, and improve joint function without adverse side effects or risks.
ZetrOZ Systems is leading healing innovation in sports medicine, developing wearable bioelectronic devices for the delivery of sustained acoustic medicine (sam®). Researched and funded by the federal government, ZetrOZ is built on proprietary medical technology of +46 patents and is the exclusive manufacturer and developer of sam®, a product line designed for the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. To learn more, visit zetrozsystems.com.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - October 18, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
Residents of Heinzerling Community in Columbus will be able to enjoy new outdoor wheelchair-accessible water and sand sensory tables, thanks to a $5,000 check presented to Robert Heinzerling, Executive Director of the Heinzerling Community, by Max Bennett, Pathways Business Development Specialist, and Chad Fields, Pathways Branch Manager.
"This organization has made such a tremendous impact on people living with disabilities," said Fields. "Pathways is fortunate to be able to provide this gift to the adults and children at Heinzerling."
The Heinzerling Community is home to 200 children and adults with severe or profound developmental disabilities. They have helped hundreds of children since their doors opened 63 years ago and have made major enhancements to their facilities which include an outdoor wheelchair-accessible playground with water play and sensory areas.
"We help people as young as a few months old to individuals in their seventies," said Brian Asbury, Heinzerling's Director of Development and Public Relations. "We rely on support from the community for things that Medicaid doesn't cover, like outdoor sensory tables. This donation from Pathways will allow us to purchase several new wheelchair-accessible water and sand sensory tables that can be permanently placed in courtyards instead of moving them around."
The Heinzerling Community provides a safe and loving environment for children and adults with severe or profound disabilities. With help and encouragement, individuals living with disabilities can enjoy a lifetime of love, learning, and growth.
Contact Information:
Kim Van Ness
Communications Director [email protected]
614-416-7588 x1727
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - October 18, 2022 - (Newswire.com)
Savvy Cleaner, the company famous on YouTube for training house cleaners and maids, now taps the creative and filmmaking talent of comedy guru PJ Barnes as shorts series producer. Savvy Cleaner, like many companies nowadays, is using online courses to teach clients.
According to Vyond Video Marketing Statistics, "Google searches for online courses grew by over 70% globally between the last week of March and the first week of April 2020, while global YouTube watch time for lectures have grown more than 6X year over year. (Google, 2020)
Savvy Cleaner recognizes the benefit of providing bite-size nuggets of laughing and learning in a sped-up society. "Teaching cleaning tips in short video format is more than a trend,'' says Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner and host of the Ask a House Cleaner YouTube Show. "PJ Barnes is just the person to help us educate cleaners with his creative, innovative, and comedic approach."
Comedy Guru PJ Barnes
PJ Barnes, A comedian, and film producer, with experience in stand-up comedy, improv, and sketch comedy, has experience writing and producing theater shows, musical theater, short films, web series, as well as feature films.
Barnes is in constant demand from audiences who have stories to tell and lessons to teach in a captivating way. "Nothing reaches people faster than giving them the gift of laughter," adds PJ Barnes. He agrees with the American Psychological Association that "teaching is serious business, but teachers do not have to be serious to be effective."
Barnes earned his degree in theater at UNCW, has lived in New York and Los Angeles, and now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children.
About Savvy Cleaner
Savvy Cleaner (https://savvycleaner.com) is a training and certification program for house cleaners and maids. They started the Ask a House Cleaner show on Youtube in 2017 to raise the standards of house cleaning through proper training, tools, and techniques.
As European countries see an increase in their COVID infections, providing an early indication of what is potentially on its way to the USA, SaferMe, a leading pandemic readiness company, is recommending that local businesses review their pandemic readiness plans in the face of a potential winter surge of the virus.
The European Centre For Disease Prevention and Control has stated that it has begun "seeing indicators rising again in Europe, suggesting that another wave of infections has begun." Pooled COVID data up to the end of week 40, 2022 (the week ending Oct. 13), in Europe showed "widespread increases were being observed in all indicators, with one third of EU/EEA countries reporting increases in COVID-19 deaths."
"What is concerning is that many U.S companies are developing COVID fatigue and are becoming complacent with their planning, despite growing health indicators in Europe. It is just good business continuity protocol to ensure that pandemic plans are always up to date," says Clint Van Marrewijk, CEO and founder of SaferMe. "Companies that rely on outdated historic pandemic plans or adopt a wait-and-see approach are potentially jeopardizing business operations, supply chains, and jobs."
Additionally, America will also be heading into its flu season. "Irrespective of the pandemic type or its magnitude, now is the time for businesses to take the responsible steps to be prepared for all types of pandemic eventualities. Companies that are well prepared can avoid complete lockdowns. We have had some bitter lessons in what not being adequately prepared means. Businesses have a duty of care to look after their employees and all visitors on company premises," adds Van Marrewijk.
To mitigate against the impact of poor pandemic planning, SaferMe recommends that companies develop an integrated response, which can be activated within 48 hours of a virus risk surpassing the company's risk tolerance. The following steps will help companies achieve this:
Monitoring health developments inside their business as well as up and down their supply chain and the environment in which they are located
Contacting partners, suppliers and customers to ensure that they have up-to-date pandemic plans
Avoiding "siloed" pandemic plans that exist in isolation. Instead, incorporate an integrated pandemic plan into the company's business continuity planning
Pre-approving response systems, such as technology, that can confirm which employees have been in contact with each other (only when needed). This information is derived from second-generation contact tracing, which makes the old-fashioned phone tree systems completely obsolete — these must be removed from all plans
Develop a virus toolkit that exist in a state of readiness and can be activated at a moment's notice. The toolkits must contain personal protective equipment, a supply of hygiene supplies such as hand sanitizers, an automated contact-tracing system, and company-wide health-check ability.
About SaferMe:
SaferMe is one of the world's leading pandemic readiness and workforce safety companies, and it advises governments, Fortune 500 businesses, and some of the world's most prominent brands in over 30 countries. It is on a global mission to keep employees healthy and safe while at work to make organizations resilient and pandemic-ready, and keep them open for business. SaferMe has offices in the United States, New Zealand, Sweden, and Australia. For more information, www.saferme.com.
MIDAS Healthcare Solutions Inc., the leading developer of technology-driven solutions to promote the safe use, handling, storage, return, and disposal of controlled substances and other dangerous medications in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, announced today a $1.19 million investment from IQ Inc., an award-winning software development firm that creates innovative people-focused solutions across a variety of services and industries, including healthcare.
This partnership comes at a critical time when the healthcare industry is plagued by the diversion of opioids and other dangerous medications, enabling caregivers with substance use disorders to endanger themselves, their colleagues, and their patients. Often called "Healthcare's Hidden Epidemic," this multi-billion-dollar problem occurs in hospitals, surgery centers, and other locations where medications are dispensed and administered. Some reports estimate there are nearly 4,000 instances of opioid diversion each day.
MIDAS and IQ are collaborating to complete the development of the MIDAS V.I.E.W. (Verified Institutional Environment for Wasting) system to address multiple significant vulnerabilities in the handling, record keeping, and destruction of excess medications in hospitals, surgery centers, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities. This first-of-its-kind software-based visual accountability system will eliminate human error, prevent controlled substance mishandling and misappropriation, and avoid unreasonable reliance on the "honor system" for medication handling.
"Most hospitals have some sort of drug diversion program in place, but they lack the necessary technology to ensure the destruction of these medications before they are abused," stated Michael Lafauci, MIDAS CEO and Founder. "Patient safety is our top priority and the MIDAS V.I.E.W. system will eliminate unnecessary risks in healthcare."
"Medication mismanagement creates work process inefficiencies, financial and human risks, and needless other consequences which healthcare institutions seek to avoid," said Jeffrey R. Wahl, J.D., MIDAS President and Co-Founder. "As a risk management attorney and lecturer, I have seen the devastating consequences to patients, their caregivers, and hospitals when lax controls over controlled substances continue unabated. We are so pleased with the industry's interest in our unique technology, reflecting a gap in available diversion prevention solutions."
The MIDAS V.I.E.W. system will launch pilots in as many as five major healthcare institutions nationwide in mid-2023. Each pilot will be conducted with technical support of the two largest manufacturers of pharmaceutical automated dispensing cabinets, Becton Dickinson (Pyxis) and Omnicell, Inc., demonstrating a seamless integration between the dispensing of pharmaceuticals and wasting excess (divertible) quantities. A staged commercial rollout will begin shortly thereafter.
As part of this investment and partnership, IQ CEO Barbara VanKirk will become a member of MIDAS's Board of Directors, joining Michael LaFauci (MIDAS CEO and Founder), Jeffrey R. Wahl (MIDAS President and Co-Founder), Robert N. Campbell III (formerly Deloitte), and Dr. Andrea Barthwell (formerly American Society of Addiction Medicine).
"When we first met with the MIDAS team, we knew the combination of their industry experience and our team's focus on people-focused solutions would create something truly impactful for the country's struggling healthcare system," stated Barbara VanKirk, IQ President and CEO. "We're excited to be part of MIDAS's vision for improving how healthcare handles and eliminates controlled substances to reduce risk and improve patient outcomes."
The MIDAS advisory board is composed of the healthcare industry's leading experts from pharmacy, business, government, and healthIT. Among its members are the former CEOs of The Cleveland Clinic, The American Nurses Association, the American Pharmacists Association, a former Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the former President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), executives of the International Health Facility Diversion Association (IHFDA), and the Chair of President's Opioid Task Force.
About MIDAS
Medication Integrity Diversion Accountability System (or MIDAS) creates software and other solutions to address failures in medication security which enable rising levels of medication diversion throughout healthcare. MIDAS's mission is to promote and enable the safer use, handling, storage, return, and disposal of transdermal patches, injectables, and oral medications in healthcare institutions, pharmacies, and in the home. Its solutions have attracted attention from government leaders, medical organizations, and industry leaders. Learn more by visiting https://midashs.com/.
About IQ
Founded in 1994, IQ Inc. is a woman-owned business which has become a leader in providing custom software solutions within various industries, including medical, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and robotics. Over the last three decades, we've proven our expertise in end-to-end software development, software testing, consulting, data analytics, innovative technologies, and recruiting to help our partners grow. That unwavering commitment to outstanding results has helped us earn the title as one of Pittsburgh's Fastest-Growing Companies (2020) and one of the city's Best Places to Work. Learn more at www.iq-inc.com. Follow us: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Contact Information:
Jeff Wahl
President and Co-Founder, MIDAS [email protected]
Prizes awarded in honor of immigrant leaders in the arts and sciences, including musicians Du Yun and Angélique Kidjo, and scientist Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
The Vilcek Foundation announces the recipients of the 2023 Vilcek Foundation Prizes. Awarded annually in the arts and sciences, the prizes recognize and celebrate immigrant contributions to the arts, culture, and society, and build awareness of how important immigration is for intellectual and cultural life in the United States.
Since 2006, the Vilcek Foundation has awarded prizes each year in biomedical science and in rotating categories in the arts and humanities. In 2023, the arts and humanities prizes are awarded in music. The foundation awards two primary types of prizes in each category: the Vilcek Prizes, and the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise.
The Vilcek Prizes are $100,000 awards bestowed on immigrant professionals whose career achievements represent a legacy of major accomplishments in their field. The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise honor immigrant professionals whose early-career work demonstrates a singular innovation or represents a significant contribution to their field. Recipients of the Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise each receive an unrestricted cash award of $50,000.
The Vilcek Foundation typically awards one Vilcek Prize and three Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in each category every year. In 2023, the Vilcek Foundation is awarding two Vilcek Prizes in Music.
The Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science
The 2023 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science is awarded to Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, executive director and chief scientific officer of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Sánchez Alvarado receives the Vilcek Prize for his contributions to the field of regeneration—from the identification of genes that control regeneration in living organisms to the potential for regenerative medicine to revolutionize how we treat disease in humans.
"Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado has devoted his career to understanding the fundamental molecular and cellular bases of regeneration, from the specific genes responsible for regeneration to epigenetic regulators that compel the expression of these genes," said Vilcek Foundation Chairman and CEO Jan Vilcek. "Using a freshwater flatworm—an organism called Schmidtea mediterranea—as a powerful experimental tool to study the molecular mechanisms of tissue regeneration, he has pioneered and expanded the field of regeneration. His work has broad applications for our understanding of the pathology of degenerative disease."
The Vilcek Prize in Music
The Vilcek Foundation has made the decision to award two Vilcek Prizes in Music in 2023 to Du Yun and to Angélique Kidjo. Each will receive a cash award of $100,000 and a commemorative trophy.
"Music transcends language," said Vilcek Foundation Cofounder, Vice Chair, and Secretary Marica Vilcek. "It defies borders and boundaries, and has a unique power to resonate with people across cultures. Rhythm, melody, and harmony are critical parts of how we communicate with one another as humans." She continued, "With this year's prizes, we wanted to honor the range of impact that immigrants have on this expansive art form. As such, we made the decision to award two Vilcek Prizes in Music this year, to Du Yun and Angélique Kidjo."
Says Vilcek Foundation President Rick Kinsel, "The sheer scope of Du Yun and Angélique Kidjo's work defies any easy categorization. Du Yun's virtuosic range and arresting compositions expand the horizons of contemporary and classical music. Kidjo's resonant songwriting and engaging performances have captivated audiences globally, and introduced generations of audiences to Afropop, Afrobeat, and traditional West African music. These distinctions convey the breadth of music as an art form, as well as the broad impact immigrants have on culture and society."
Du Yun receives the Vilcek Prize in Music for her open approach to composition, which subverts the boundaries of traditional classical music by incorporating influences from punk, electronic, and experimental music, and for the virtuosity of her Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, Angel's Bone. Born in Shanghai, China, Du Yun began studying piano at the age of four and began attending the Preparatory Divisions of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at age six. She came to the United States to pursue higher education in music, earning her bachelor's at Oberlin Conservatory and her Ph.D. in Music Composition at Harvard University. In 2001, Du Yun co-founded the International Contemporary Ensemble with the goal of advancing the genre of experimental music through collaborations, commissions, and performances.
Angélique Kidjo receives the Vilcek Prize in Music in recognition of her exceptional range as a singer-songwriter, and for her artistic leadership through her performances, albums, and collaborations. Born in Ouidah, Benin, Kidjo had her musical debut with the album Pretty in 1981. She rose to international fame in the 1990s with albums like Logozo, Ayé, and Fifa. In 1997, Kidjo immigrated to the United States, moving to Brooklyn, New York. Since then, she has continued to write, record, and tour extensively, while undertaking humanitarian work as an international Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and with the Batonga Foundation, which she founded in 2006.
The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science
The recipients of the 2023 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science are Edward Chouchani (b. Canada), Biyu J. He (b. China), and Shixin Liu (b. China).
Edward Chouchani receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for his work to decipher the molecular mechanisms that drive metabolic disease, with the aim of developing therapeutic interventions targeted at the molecular drivers of metabolism within cells.
Biyu J. He receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science for her leadership in the field of cognitive neuroscience, and for her groundbreaking discoveries on the biological bases of perceptual cognition and subjective experience.
Shixin Liu receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise for applying cutting-edge biophysical tools to directly visualize, manipulate, and understand the physiological function of nanometer-scale biomolecular machines including DNA replication and transcription complexes at the single-molecule level.
The Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Music
The 2023 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise in Music are awarded to Arooj Aftab (b. Saudi Arabia, to Pakistani parents) Juan Pablo Contreras (b. Mexico), and Ruby Ibarra (b. the Philippines).
Arooj Aftab receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music for her evocative songs and compositions that incorporate a range of influences from semi-classical Pakistani music and Urdu poetry, to jazz harmonies and experimental music.
Juan Pablo Contreras receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music for his work as a composer and conductor of orchestral music that draws on his Mexican heritage, and for his leadership in founding the Orquesta Latino Mexicana.
Ruby Ibarra receives the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music for her hip-hop and spoken word performances that center her experience as a Filipina American woman, and for her powerful lyrics that address colonialism, immigration, colorism, and misogyny.
The Vilcek Foundation
The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation for the arts and sciences. The foundation was established in 2000 by Jan and Marica Vilcek, immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia. The mission of the foundation was inspired by the couple's respective careers in biomedical science and art history. Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $7 million in prizes to foreign-born individuals and has supported organizations with over $5.8 million in grants.
The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org.
The 2023 Vilcek Foundation Prizewinners
A photograph of the 2023 Vilcek Foundation Prizewinners: Alejandro S\u00e1nchez Alvarado, Du Yun, Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo, Edward Chouchani, Biyu J. He, Shixin Liu, Arooj Aftab, Juan Pablo Contreras, and Ruby Ibarra.
