Marie Bernard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie A. Bernard, M.D.
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Bernard in 2023
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Marie Antonia Bernard
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| Fields | Geriatric Medicine |
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Marie A. Bernard, M.D. is an American doctor who has done important work in health and science. She was the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means she helped make sure that people from all backgrounds had a chance to work in science.
Before this, she was a leader at the National Institute on Aging at the NIH. There, she helped manage research about aging and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Bernard also worked to make sure that everyone, no matter their background, felt welcome and had fair chances in science and health research. She helped create a plan for diversity, fairness, inclusion, and access at the NIH.
She also helped lead groups that made sure all people were included in health studies. This included people of different sexes, races, and ages. Before joining the NIH in 2008, Dr. Bernard was a professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. She also worked at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Dr. Bernard's research focused on how nutrition and daily activities affect older people. She was especially interested in how these things affect different ethnic groups. She received two national awards for her leadership in caring for older adults. Dr. Bernard retired from federal service on December 31, 2024.
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Education and Early Career
Dr. Marie Bernard studied at Bryn Mawr College, graduating in 1972. She earned her medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1976. She then trained in internal medicine at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. After her training, she became a teacher and leader at Temple University School of Medicine.
Building Geriatrics Programs
In 1990, Dr. Bernard moved to the University of Oklahoma. Her goal was to create new programs for teaching and research about geriatrics. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on the health and care of older people. She became the first director of Oklahoma's Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine. This was only the third department of its kind in the United States. While there, she also worked at the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Dr. Bernard also received extra training in health research and leadership. This helped her become an even stronger leader in her field.
Focus on Health Fairness
In 2015, Dr. Bernard led the creation of a special plan for the National Institute on Aging. This plan focused on understanding and improving health fairness among different racial and ethnic groups as they age. On May 26, 2021, she was named the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity at the National Institutes of Health. In this role, she worked to make sure that the scientific community was fair and welcoming to everyone.
Awards and Achievements
Dr. Marie Bernard has received many awards for her important work in medicine and research. These awards recognize her leadership and contributions to the field of gerontology, which is the study of aging.
- 2023: Inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
- 2022: Received the John A. Hartford Foundation Trustee award.
- 2020: Gave the Barbara Payne Lectureship in Gerontology at Georgia State University.
- 2014: Received the Kent Award from the Gerontological Society of America. This award is given to a member who shows the highest standards of leadership in gerontology.
- 2013: Received the Clark Tibbits Award from the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education. This award honors outstanding contributions to education about aging.
- 2008: Received the 50 over 50 Award from AARP, Oklahoma Chapter.
- 2007: Received the Pathmakers award from the Oklahoma City/County Historical Society.
- 2007-2010: Was a Hartford Senior Leadership Scholar.
