Meet the 2026 Awardee: Weston Powell, MD, PhD
Weston Powell received an MD and PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of California at Davis School of Medicine. He then completed residency and chief residency in Pediatrics at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. He stayed at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital for Sleep Medicine and Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine fellowship. He joined the division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital in 2023. Dr. Powell conducts mechanistic translational research in airway epithelial biology seeking to understand the role of circadian rhythms in diseases such as asthma and pediatric OSA. One goal is to help answer the question that comes with every cold his children pass on to him – we do we all get more congested and cough more at night? And how can we incorporate time-of-day into how we treat and understand disease? After childhoods in California, he and his wife now call the Pacific Northwest home as they raise their two children.
Description
This award is intended to recognize the career accomplishments in the area of pediatric sleep and respiratory neurobiology. This encompasses the areas of control of breathing, sleep mechanisms, and sleep-disordered breathing from a developmental standpoint, among infants, children, or adolescents. This may include research at the basic, translational, clinical, or population level, teaching, clinical care and/or development of new clinical programs to advance the care of children with sleep and breathing disorders. The award is intended to recognize a new investigator who is beyond formal training, but not yet fully established. It is not intended for well-established investigators. It is also not intended as recognition for a single project, but rather for overall accomplishments and future potential.
This award will be presented at the ATS International Conference. The awardee is expected to be present at the conference in order to receive the award, along with an honorarium of US $500. Eligible applicants should be members of the ATS.
Criteria
- The candidate must be a member of the ATS and hold a faculty appointment at a rank not higher than Assistant Professor (or equivalent).
- At least one nominating letter from a senior faculty person that details the candidate’s achievements and his/her contribution to the field of pediatric sleep and respiratory neurobiology
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae.
- Copies of any relevant publications.
Evaluation Criteria
- Scientific and Scholarly Contributions/Products
- Teaching/Mentoring/Educational/Advocacy Contributions
- Participation in Assembly and other ATS Activities (Administrative, Committees, Workshops, etc.)
- Other considerations from recommendations including relevant extenuating circumstances
- Overall impact/impression of dossier submitted for award application
- Has not previously received an ATS Lifetime Achievement Award
- Nominees do not have to be current ATS members, but are expected to attend the SRN Assembly Reception at the ATS International Conference to receive the award
Contributions to the PEDS/ SRN Carole L. Marcus Award
Click here to contribute to the Carole L. Marcus Award. When making a contribution to the Foundation Contribution form, there’s a “Tribute/Memorial Gifts” dropdown option. Click on that option to make a gift “in memory of” Carole L. Marcus. In the box write in “Carole L. Marcus.” Contributions should also be designated to the SRN or PEDS Assembly.