HMS Alum Will Lead Harvard-wide Clinical Trials Program
Raphael (Ray) Dolin will
begin
at HMS in September.
Raphael Dolin, a leading expert on viral infections, has been appointed
faculty dean for clinical programs by HMS Dean Joseph B. Martin. Currently
the chair of medicine at the University of Rochester and physician in chief
at Strong Memorial Hospital, Dolin will begin his new role in mid-September.
Richard Kitz, the current faculty dean for clinical affairs had previously announced his desire to step down by September from the position that he had held half-time since 1994. Dolin will be stepping into the position with a new title, expanded time commitment, and a portfolio broadened in large part by the effort of HMS and its major affiliates to launch an extensive clinical trials program.
The clinical trials effort has been under discussion for nearly a year and was given broad support to begin a business planning phase at a retreat July 7 by the administrative and medical leadership of Partners, CareGroup, Dana-Farber, Children's Hospital, and Harvard Pilgrim. The program, however, must pass several additional hurdles to prove its feasibility and determine its scope. If given a go, it is expected to be up and running within a year.
"Ray Dolin's outstanding background as a clinical leader and as a leader of clinical investigation make him an ideal choice for our new dean for clinical programs and to spearhead our clinical trials initiative," said Dennis Kasper, executive dean for academic programs.
Dolin has extensive research and clinical experience working with gastrointestinal, influenza, and herpes viruses. Most recently he has focused on the development and clinical evaluation of HIV vaccines, and he hopes to continue the latter work here. His clinical appointment will be at Brigham and Women's, where he expects to have one clinic a week and will serve as professor of medicine pending his academic appointment.
A graduate of Harvard College and HMS '67, Dolin did his residency on the Harvard Service at Boston City Hospital and a fellowship at the Channing Laboratory. After serving in various positions at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he began his academic career as a professor of medicine and head of the Infectious Disease Unit at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in 1978. He moved to the University of Rochester in 1982 as head of the Infectious Disease Unit and professor of medicine and of microbiology and immunology. He was appointed Charles A. Dewey Professor of Medicine and chair of the department in 1991.
"This is a great age for clinical research, with exciting opportunities to better understand the fundamental nature of disease and then translate these advances into genuine benefits for our patients," said Dolin. "And Harvard is a great place to make this happen.
"It has unparalleled breadth and depth with outstanding basic and clinical investigators and facilities at both the School and its affiliates. The opportunity to facilitate these collaborations is an exciting prospect," he added.
A co-editor of Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, Dolin also co-edited the soon to be published textbook AIDS Therapy. He is a member of the NIAID AIDS Research Advisory Committee and the NIH AIDS Vaccine Research Committee, having previously served on the Board of Scientific Counselors of NIAID and the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA.
--Don Gibbons
Focus 7/17/98