The Women's Center presented its second annual Elizabeth Zintl Leadership Award to Dr. Sharon Hostler yesterday at a ceremony held in Alderman Library.
Hostler is the Medical Director of the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center and McLemore Birdsong Professor of Pediatrics.
She is a physician and pediatrician with a "very special sense of caring," said Medical School Dean Robert Carey.
The Center gives the award in memory of Elizabeth Zintl, who worked as a writer, journalist and chief of staff in the University President's Office.
Zintl also was a personal friend of President John T. Casteen III.
Hostler helped develop the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center into a world-class medical and educational center, said Marcia Childress, co-director of humanities in medicine.
The KCRC, part of the University's Children's Medical Center, provides special therapy and rehabilitation to children with chronic illnesses or after injuries, accidents or surgery.
Under Hostler's leadership, the KCRC became a much more comprehensive, family-centered treatment program, said Childress.
Hostler said she received the award for her less visible work.
The award "means recognition for corroboration and compromise, rather than [for playing] sort of the diva role," she said.
Hostler also said her work at the KCRC often inspires her.
"I only learn of the resilience of children who continue to learn and grow despite illness and hardship," she said.
Hostler also is the first female to hold an endowed professorship in the Medical School. The Association of American Medical Colleges recognized her as a true power in academic medicine, and she is an advocate for women and gender equity in medicine.
She acts as "somewhat of a rabble-rouser" on women's issues, she said.
Sponsored by the Women's Center, the Zintl award is a $1,000 grant given annually to a woman at the University "whose high degree of professionalism, creativity and commitment mirrors Elizabeth's own contributions to the University," stated the event's program.
Carey called the honor "the highest award in the University for women."
Dr. Hostler "does everything with a flair" and is "wonderful to work with," said fourth-year medical student Dominique Noe.
Noe worked with Hostler for two weeks and attended the ceremony in her honor. She is very generous and even "brings the residents flowers," said Noe.
Hostler said this award is more meaningful to her than others she has received because it was given to her by friends at the University.
"It's an award at home," she said. Faculty and staff who know every aspect of her work and personality chose to honor her, so "there's a moment of honesty there."
Zintl's daughters also were present last night to honor their mother's memory. The ceremony was "a real honor in her memory," Hostler said.
(Cavalier Daily News Editor Katie Dalton also contributed to this story.)
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