2026 Life Sciences and Biomedical Engineering Branch (LSBEB) Awards
The LSBEB presented the following awards at the business meeting held on May 19, 2026, at the Denver Athletic Club.
2026 LSBEB Ross McFarland Student Award
This award was established in 1975. It is given to the author of the best student paper that reports on a significant achievement in biomedical engineering, and it was accepted by the AsMA Scientific Program
Committee. The committee selects the best abstract from those submitted by students each year. This year, there were 55 candidates.
The 2026 winner of this award was Mr. Ezra Myerson, a biomedical engineering student at Brown University in Providence, RI, United States. The title of his abstract was “Evaluation of Novel 3D-Printed Surgical Tools for Long-Term Space Missions.”
The award was presented by the President of the LSBEB, Carol Ramsey, D.O., MPH.
2026 LSBEB A. Howard Hasbrook Award
This award was established in 1990. It recognizes an individual who has provided noteworthy data or design with respect to safety, survivability, or crashworthiness relevant to aircraft or space vehicles.
The 2026 winner of this award was Harriet Lester, M.D., of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in New York, NY, United States. Dr. Lester has been supporting aviation safety for 25 years at the FAA. She is currently the Senior Advisor to the Federal Air Surgeon. She is a Fellow of AsMA, AsHFA, CAMA, and
the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Her recent accomplishments include oversight of all nine FAA aerospace medicine regions and air traffic hiring. She also had oversight of half the total of reported FAA COVID-19 cases. Dr. Lester’s dedication to aviation safety has encompassed leadership and support positions concerned with the safety of humans in the U.S. National Airspace System, to include operators and the flying public.
The award was presented by the President of the LSBEB, Carol Ramsey, D.O., MPH.
2026 LSBEB Research, Development, and Innovation Award
This award was established in 1985. It is given to an individual who has demonstrated innovative life sciences and/or biomedical engineering research related to the design or development of aerospace medical equipment or systems.
The 2026 winner of the award was Annette Sobel, M.D., M.S. of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, United States. Dr. Sobel is a co-inventor with fellow Texas Tech developers for two additional patents, one for a novel system for neutron detection for medical and environmental sensing, and another for real-time nitric oxide detection in respiratory gases as an early indication of pulmonary stress. She also founded and directed the University of Missouri National Security Innovation Center. Dr. Sobel is a widely accomplished physician and prolific researcher who has made many discoveries through her 33-year aerospace medicine career that apply to life sciences, biomedical engineering, engineering, and information technology. She retired as a Major General from the Air National Guard in Arizona. Her willingness to share her findings with many organizations with which she is affiliated has made her a real asset to the aerospace medicine community, the military, the general population, and science in general.
The award was presented by the President of the LSBEB, Carol Ramsey, D.O., MPH.
2026 LSBEB Professional Excellence Award
This award was established in 1965. It recognizes an individual who has produced outstanding research accomplishments and/or research management achievements important to life sciences and/or biomedical engineering for several years.
The 2026 winner of the award was Bethany Shivers, Ph.D., of the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, in Lexington Park, MD, United States. Dr. Shivers holds a Ph.D. in Kinesiology and has over 20 years of experience in military aviation and research in acute and chronic musculoskeletal injury mechanisms and risk mitigation, as well as survival systems acquisition and fleet sustainment. Dr. Shivers serves as the Lead Technologist for the Naval Air Warfare Center Human Systems Engineering Department and its Chief Technology Officer. Among her many roles, Dr. Shivers is responsible for providing mentorship for junior scientists and engineers and guiding Research and Development, Test, and Evaluation. Issues under her purview are Human Autonomy Teaming; Operator State Monitoring; Protection, Performance, & Survivability; Mitigation of Musculoskeletal Injury Risk; and Aircrew Performance Optimization. She oversees an extensive technical portfolio and serves in the Army National Guard including the combat deployments supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. She earned the Bronze Star Medal as a result. Dr. Shivers takes great pride in her ability to serve the military in and out of uniform and takes the same passionate approach to warfighter performance and protection in both roles.
The award was presented by the President of the LSBEB, Carol Ramsey, D.O., MPH.
2026 LSBEB Special Recognition Award
This award was introduced in 2018. It is granted by the president of the LSBEB. It highlights an LSBEB member, sponsor, or other entity and their special accomplishment(s) in service of the LSBEB. The form and nature of the award is at the discretion of the LSBEB President.
The 2026 winner of the award was Estrella “Star” Forster, Ph.D. for her many years of service, especially for taking the lead in the LSBEB awards program and previously editing and distributing the constituent organization’s newsletter. She has also offered help with a multitude of projects, ensuring the continuing viability of the LSBEB.
Dr. Dwight Holland accepted the award on her behalf.