Denise E. O’Donnell, a Buffalo native who is the state’s deputy secretary for public safety, received a lifetime achievement award last week from the National Center for Women and Policing. The award was given during the organization’s 14th annual leadership conference in Saratoga Springs. O’Donnell is a former U. S. attorney for Western New York.

Dr. Michael G. Caty and Dr. Kevin J. Gibbons were recognized as Spirit Award winners during the recent 2009 Kaleida Ball. These physicians were recognized for their significant and spirited support of Kaleida Health and for helping to improve the health of the Western New York community.

Caty is surgeon-in-chief at Women and Children’s Hospital, Buffalo. He also is professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University at Buffalo. He has emerged as a key leader at Women and Children’s, in particular, with its clinical, financial and operational turnaround over the past five years.

In 2008, he was named the hospital’s endowed John E. Fisher Chair of Pediatric Surgery for “distinguished clinical, teaching and research efforts.” Most recently, Caty has taken on the task of leading his physician colleagues in determining both the short-and long-term vision for the hospital’s operations and ambulatory needs.

Gibbons is the director of neurocritical care for Millard Fillmore Hospital and Kaleida Health. He also serves as associate professor of neurosurgery and the residency program director for UB’s School of Medicine. Gibbons made international headlines in 2007 after Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett, who suffered a spinal cord injury in a game, received successful surgery and treatment in Millard Fillmore.

Along with his large surgical caseload, he has, over the past two years, become a driving force in the move of Millard Fillmore Hospital to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the planning and development of the new $173 million Global Vascular Institute and the integration of Kaleida Health and ECMC into Great Lakes Health.

The Kaleida Ball raises funds to benefit the adult hospitals of Kaleida Health. More than 1,000 people attended this year’s event.

Orleans County Legislature Chairman Henry Smith Jr. has been appointed to the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Board.

“We are pleased that Chairman Henry Smith has agreed to serve on the NYSAC board,” said NYSAC President and Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli, who made the appointment. “Henry has been an active member of NYSAC for several years and we are pleased that he will bring his leadership, commitment and experience to the NYSAC board.”

In addition to his new position, Smith has been an active member of NYSAC’s Standing Committee on Economic Development, Environment and Rural Affairs, which handles a range of county-related issues, including renewable energy initiatives. Smith was appointed at NYSAC’s annual meeting, held in Saratoga County.

“I appreciate this opportunity to serve our community of counties on the NYSAC board of directors and I look forward to working with county officials from across the state to help steer NYSAC’s advocacy and educational efforts,” said Smith.

“This is a great opportunity to have the voice of Orleans County on the leadership board of this important statewide association,” said Charles Nesbitt, the chief administrative officer of Orleans County and president of the New York State Association of County Administrators and Managers.

“New York State is facing serious economic and fiscal challenges, and NYSAC is working with county leaders to protect property taxpayers from the state shifting more of the cost of their programs on to our county property taxpayers,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “[Smith] will be an effective advocate for property taxpayers and his service is appreciated.”

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State, including New York City. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.

The Witness Project, a nationwide cancer information program targeting African- Americans, is partnering with a University at Buffalo genetic epidemiologist to conduct the first national study of genes that increase breast cancer susceptibility in African-American families.

Heather Ochs-Balcom, assistant professor in the UB Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, is principal investigator on the study, “Jewels in Our Genes,” which received $431,395 from the Susan

G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

The grant is designed to foster the of junior scientists while answering questions about a disease that disproportionally affects young African-American women.

Deborah Erwin, co-founder of the national Witness Project and director of the Office of Health Disparities in Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, served as mentor to Ochs-Balcom with the Career Catalyst grant application.