Women in Science, Dentistry, and Medicine Professional Achievement Award

If you’ve been in the School of Medicine for a while, there’s a good chance you have been at a committee meeting or case conference when a woman, sitting towards the back of the room if possible, will raise her hand to make a comment. As people recognize her calm, familiar voice, they turn – and listen. They know that Dr. Lenore Buckley, Professor of Pediatrics and Elam C. Toone, Jr., Professor of Internal Medicine, this year’s WISDM Professional Achievement Award honoree, will have something insightful to say that will enrich the conversation.

As colleague Betty Anne Johnson, M.D., Ph.D, Professor of Medicine, explains, “In former days, we used to refer to “triple threat” faculty members who excelled in research, teaching, and clinical activity. Dr. Buckley merits classification as a “quadruple threat” faculty member as she not only excels as a researcher, teacher, and clinician, but as an administrator.”

Dr. Buckley served in leadership roles in the MCV/VCU Women in Medicine Faculty Organization from 1996-2005, and as a member of the SOM Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities (COSOWAM). Dr. Buckley led the 1997 SOM Faculty Survey on Needs for Career Development and Mentoring, which led to annual evaluations of chairs by faculty, salary equity review, and greater recognition of the impact of mentoring. Dr. Buckley helped to develop the VCU SOM Faculty Mentoring Guide, used by institutions around the country.

Dr. Buckley was the first woman appointed to the MCV Hospital Authority Board, where she served for 8 years. She serves as a member of the MCV Physicians Board. In 2008-09, Dr. Buckley chaired the SOM Promotion and Tenure Policy Revision Committee and facilitated the policy that includes recognition of clinical service toward promotion.
Dr. Buckley has focused her research on the effects of inflammatory arthritis and its treatment on bone health and ways to identify high-risk lupus patients for early preventive treatment. Dr. Buckley has 30 peer-reviewed publications and has served on numerous national committees in the area of drug safety. She recently served as a reviewer for the Institute of Medicine report on Calcium and Vitamin D intake.

An exceptional teacher, Dr. Buckley has served as Medical Director of the Rheumatology Teaching Clinic for 16 years and has been honored four times with the Department of Internal Medicine Teaching Excellence Award.

As a rheumatologist board-certified in adult and pediatric rheumatology, Dr. Buckley treats patients from childhood through adulthood. As Wendy Klein, M.D., Associate Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, OB-GYN, and Senior Deputy Director Emeritus, VCU Institute for Women’s Health states, “She is compassionate and caring in meeting the needs of patients and families whose disorders often present complex, multi-organ challenges. She is kind, caring, attentive and humble, with a calm demeanor that puts everyone at ease.”

A tireless patient advocate, Dr. Buckley is active in the Arthritis Foundation and The Lupus Foundation of America. She was awarded the 2007 Robert S. Irby Award for Volunteer Leadership from the Virginia Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. In 2006 she received the MCV Physicians Clinician of the Year Award, the highest award given for clinical expertise at VCU.

Dr. Buckley is highly valued by colleagues at all levels for her accessibility, wisdom and thoughtful guidance. Florina Constantinescu, M.D., M.S., Ph.D., FACR, Director, Rheumatology Resident Education, Washington (DC) Hospital Center, recalls, “She taught me how to disentangle and manage the very busy life of an academic career, the balance of a medical practice, teaching, research, self-education, and the dedication to family.”

We honor Dr. Lenore Buckley for her contributions that continue to improve knowledge, clinical care, and faculty life in the School of Medicine.