Judith S. Stern (April 25, 1943 – May 8, 2019) was an American nutritionist and longtime professor at the University of California, Davis. She was known for her research on obesity. Stern was a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and co-founded the American Obesity Association. In 2001, she was awarded the Charles A. Black Award by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST).[1]

Early life and education

edit

Judith Schneider Stern was born in Brooklyn on April 25, 1943, and raised in Valley Stream, New York.[2][3] Stern received her bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition from Cornell University, and became certified as a registered dietitian.[2] She then moved to Harvard University School of Public Health, completing her master's degree in 1966 and her doctoral degree in 1970, under the supervision of Jean Mayer. Following her doctoral degree, Stern began as a postdoctoral fellow in Jules Hirsch's laboratory at the Rockefeller Institute.[2]

Academic career

edit

In 1974, Stern joined the faculty of the University of California, Davis as an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition.[2] There her early research centered on differences in the adipose tissue of obese individuals – using Zucker rats as a research model. Eventually her research program grew to include human studies, focused on various obesity treatment regimens.[2]

In 1995, Stern was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. At various points she was elected president of the NAASO (1992–1993, now The Obesity Society) and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition.[2][4] Stern co-founded the American Obesity Association, an advocacy group that lobbied in favor of obesity research and treatment.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Charles A. Black Award Recipients". Council for Agricultural Science and Technology.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Atkinson RL, Hansen BC (August 2019). "Professor Judith S. Stern: April 25, 1943—May 8, 2019". International Journal of Obesity. 43: 1657–1658. doi:10.1038/s41366-019-0424-y. S2CID 199388862.
  3. ^ "(In Memoriam) Distinguished Professor Emerita, Departments of Nutrition and Internal Medicine". University of California, Davis. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Past Presidents". The Obesity Society. Retrieved 30 August 2022.