Offit suggests that stars like Maher are observed as "much less credible" and would continue to be deemed just "terrific leisure" if they were not joined by the former Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bernadine Healy and influential pediatrician, Dr. Robert Sears. 1939: the National Academy of Sciences awarded Hoover its Public Welfare Medal. 1955: President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded Hoover the National Security Medal.