Dale J. Benos (1950-2010) received his Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology at Duke University in 1976 under the mentorship of Daniel Tosteson, M.D. He served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School from 1978- 1985. Dr. Benos was recruited to UAB in 1985 and assumed the position of chairman of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics in 1996. Dr. Benos held secondary appointments in the Departments of Cell Biology and Neurobiology. He also was a senior scientist with UAB's Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center, the Nephrology Research and Training Center, UAB Center for AIDS Research, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Center, Center for Computational and Structural Biology, Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering and Vision Science Research Center. In 2008, he was named UAB's first holder of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research. Dr. Benos' research focused on epithelial sodium transport, cystic fibrosis, malignant brain tumors, and the cognitive issues that arise in AIDS patients. He authored more than 200 research articles, edited four books, and served on the editorial boards of multiple journals. Dr. Benos was president of the American Physiological Society from 2006 to 2007. An inspirational and much-loved lecturer, Dr. Benos was a recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He believed in the importance of fostering an understanding and appreciation of research during the education of medical students. Dr. Benos established the M.D./M.S. program and served as director for the NIH funded T35 Short Term Training Program at UAB.
In 2007 Benos received the School of Medicine's highest faculty honor, the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. It was a reflection of his contributions to the university and the community. The Dale J. Benos Early Career Service Award has been established by the Trainee Advisory Committee in 2008 to honor an early career stage (graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, assistant professor or equivalent position) member of APS, who is judged to have made outstanding contributions to the physiology community and demonstrated dedication and commitment to furthering the broader goals of the physiology community.
In addition, a UASOM Dale J. Benos Medical Student Research Day has been established as a forum to celebrate MSTP students' research accomplishments. The Dale J. Benos Award for Educational Excellence, named for the late Dale Benos, Ph.D., recognizes a basic science faculty member who makes an overall contribution to medical education. Students must submit nomination letters to the Argus Society, who make the selection. The Department of Cell, Developmental & Integrative Biology has donated a cash prize to be associated with the award.
The Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology is honored to hold a yearly seminar honoring the memory and contributions of Dr. Benos.