Researcher from Natick Receives Prestigious Citation for a Lifetime of Stellar Science

Dr. Andrew Young, division chief for the Military Nutrition Division at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, pictured with Dr. Janet Walberg-Rankin, president of the American College of Sports Medicine, received The Citation Award at ACSM's annual conference in Indianapolis on May 28.

Young received The Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine at ACSM's annual conference in Indianapolis on May 28.

Young was one of six scientists who received this year's award based on professional merit. The Citation Award is the second highest award given out by ACSM and is granted to an individual or group who has made significant and important contributions to sports medicine and the exercise sciences. Contributions considered include research and scholarship, clinical care and administrative and educational services in sports medicine and exercise science.

There have been approximately 200 recipients in the 55 years since the award's inception and only a few are awarded annually.

"This is the biggest honor I have received," Young said. "I'm very proud to receive that kind of recognition by my scientific colleagues, peers and community."

Young, who has served USARIEM and the Army community for more than 36 years, received the award for his lifelong scientific contributions to both military and civilian communities and in recognition of his many significant professional contributions to the fields of exercise physiology, sports medicine and nutrition as well as his extensive involvement with ACSM.

At USARIEM Young supervises over 30 scientists, technicians and support staff. He oversees a multimillion dollar budget and directs research to study mechanisms by which nutrition influences the health and performance of military personnel.

Young is an internationally recognized expert on environmental physiology having contributed seminal papers concerning human adaptation and performance at the extremes of heat, cold and high altitude. His research has also resulted in important articles concerning the biological basis for, and strategies to mitigate performance degradation in people exposed to intense physical exertion, sleep restriction and nutritional deprivation.

Young has demonstrated outstanding scientific productivity through 350 publications, of which he is senior author on about 50 percent. Over 180 of his publications appear as peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and technical reports. He also has more than 160 published abstracts from professional presentations. He has presented at 75 invited seminars, symposia presentations and scholarly lectures. His research findings have been extensively translated into evidence based preventive medicine programs for sport events, industry and U.S. and foreign military services.

Since being elected a Fellow of the College (for ACSM) in 1982, Young has served on more than 10 ACSM Committees, Ad Hoc Committees or Task Forces as well as being elected to the Board of Trustees.

However, his most distinguished and important service to the College was to its flagship journal: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Young was selected to serve a four-year term as Editor-in-Chief beginning Jan. 1, 2006, and he was invited to continue his service for a second four-year term, which will end this later this year. Over this time, the Journal Citation Reports impact factor increased from two to well over four, which is the highest in the journal's history. Overall manuscript submissions increased 15 percent. According to ACSM, the state of the journal is stronger than ever.

With all this service and experience under his belt, Young hopes that young scientists heed his advice.

"Keep working hard," Young said. "Be involved in your research, be involved in your professional societies and try to make a contribution wherever you can."

Learn more at Army.mil