On January 14th, President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) to several groups of scientists and engineers, including Dr. Kavita Arora. The PECASE is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers beginning their independent careers.
The PECASE awardees are employed or funded by 14 participating agencies, with Dr. Arora receiving her recognition with the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
According to The White House, this prestigious recognition has been awarded since 1996 to honor exceptional early-career scientists and engineers:
“Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, expands awareness of careers in science and engineering, recognizes the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhances connections between research and impacts on society, and highlights the importance of science and technology for our nation’s future.”
Dr. Kavita Shah Arora serves as the Director of the Division of General Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Midwifery and is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UNC Health. She is a core faculty member of the UNC Center for Biothics and a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center. Dr. Arora is actively involved in national advocacy through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Medical Association (AMA). She has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles, including in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and has received funding from the NIH, HRSA, Greenwall Foundation, and the Society for Family Planning.