The University of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce that Dr. Caroline Pinzon-Guzman of Pediatric Surgery has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 AAS/AASF Henri Ford Junior Faculty Research Award for her outstanding research proposal:
“Restoring the BMP/Noggin Balance in Esophageal Atresia: Integrating Pathogenesis with Surgical Innovation to Improve Outcome.”
This prestigious award is highly competitive, and the Executive Council of the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) extends its congratulations to Dr. Pinzon-Guzman on this remarkable achievement. Her innovative research seeks to bridge mechanistic understanding with surgical advancement to improve outcomes for patients born with esophageal atresia.
The award also holds special meaning for our community. Dr. Henri Ford, for whom the award is named, is a highly valued faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and is leaving an enduring legacy as a leader in academic surgery.