FOCUS | December 14, 2007

The Dec. 5 celebration of the Ramzi S. Cotran Professorship in Pathology was introduced by Brigham and Women’s president Gary Gottlieb, who said the chair honors the memory of Ramzi Cotran, whom he called the most renowned leader of pathology in the latter half of the 20th century. Joseph Martin, dean emeritus of the Faculty of Medicine and the Edward R. and Anne G. Lefler professor of neurobiology at HMS, and Eugene Braunwald, the Hersey distinguished professor of the theory and practice of physic (medicine) at HMS, extended the praise of Cotran as the foremost academic pathologist in the world, who was not only a brilliant researcher, but a preeminent teacher, mentor, and leader. Braunwald also recognized the achievements of the first incumbent, Michael Gimbrone. “Ramzi’s pride and pleasure would overflow if he could witness the creation of the Ramzi S. Cotran Chair in Pathology, and the designation of Michael Gimbrone as the first Ramzi S. Cotran professor,” Braunwald said. After Cotran’s son Paul gave remarks thanking the community for the generosity and honor of the chair, Gottlieb presented Gibrone as the “founder of the modern field of vascular biology.” Following a resounding ovation, Gimbrone expressed his profound appreciation, noting that the chair and Cotran’s legacy are now permanently linked to two great institutions, HMS and Brigham and Women’s.

News Brief

Seven researchers from HMS and HSPH were among the 20 recipients of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Early Career Awards, which encourage young physician–scientists to pursue academic research. The $375,000, five-year grants are available to alumni of the HHMI–National Institutes of Health Research Scholars program and the HHMI Research Training Fellowships for Medical Students program. Aram Hezel, HMS instructor in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, will use the funding to study the way inhibiting the TGF-beta signaling pathway affects pancreatic tumors; Farouc Jaffer, HMS assistant professor of medicine at MGH, is investigating how activation of the transcription factor PPAR-gamma affects immune cells and inflammation; Eric Johannsen, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is studying the protein that blocks Epstein–Barr herpesvirus from replicating in infected cells; Sridhar Ramaswamy, HMS assistant professor of medicine at MGH, investigates how mesenchymal cells influence tumor growth and development; Manish Sagar, HMS assistant professor of medicine at BWH, is developing a live virus vector for treatment of HIV infection; Sean Savitz, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is researching the use of necrostatin, a chemical that inhibits necrosis, as a therapy for stroke; and Sarah Fortune, HSPH assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases, will focus on characterizing the genes that contribute to tuberculosis infection through the protein secretion system ESX-1.

Honors and Advances

• Dana–Farber Cancer Institute president Edward Benz was named president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), an organization that advises policymakers and the public on the importance of cancer research hospitals and leads funding initiatives for innovative research. Benz was installed as president at the AACI’s annual meeting in October.

• Erasmus University Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, awarded HSPH dean Barry Bloom an honorary doctorate on Nov. 8 in recognition of his study of the immune response to tuberculosis, his work in vaccine development, and his leadership in global health policy. He received the award in a ceremony at the university, where he also gave a talk on “Agendas and Architecture of Global Health.”

• The Fondation IPSEN, a European organization supporting emerging research, has awarded the 2007 IPSEN International Prize in Endocrine Communication and Regulation to William Crowley, HMS professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Crowley will receive the award, which honors outstanding work in translational medicine, at the October 2008 meeting of the European Neuroendocrine Association in Turkey, where he will also give the opening plenary lecture.

• Members of the HMS Organization of Student Representatives nominated Mark Eisenberg, HMS instructor in medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, for a 2007 Association of American Medical Colleges Humanism in Medicine Award. The award honors medical school faculty who act as a positive role model and mentor for students. All nominees receive a commemorative plaque.

• The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Daniel Kuritzkes, HMS professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a MERIT award in the amount of $2.7 million over five years, with the possibility of an extension for another five years. Kuritzkes will use the award for research on the development of resistance to antiretroviral drugs.

• Theresa McLoud, HMS professor of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, was named president of the Radiological Society of North America board of directors. The society is an organization of radiologists and related scientists that develops and promotes high standards of radiology through education and research.

• Joseph Vacanti, the John Homans professor of surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, was awarded the 2007 John Scott Medal by the City of Philadelphia. The award honors individuals whose inventions have contributed in some way to the “comfort, welfare and happiness” of mankind. Vacanti was recognized for his work in the field of tissue engineering, particularly his design of biodegradable systems that can generate new, permanent tissue when implanted in the body.

• Rachel Wilson, HMS assistant professor of neurobiology, was awarded the 2007 Eppendorf & Science Prize for Neurobiology, for her study of the fundamental principles of sensory processing. The award honors young scientists for excellence in neurobiological research, and Wilson was chosen based on a 1,000-word essay describing her research. She received a $25,000 prize, and her essay was published in the Oct. 26 issue of Science.

In Memoriam

Susan Carver Buchanan, retired lecturer on medicine, died August 20. She was 77.

Buchanan received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and her MD from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in 1956.

he practiced cardiology under her maiden name, Susan Carver, and was the first female chief resident on the Medical Service of New York Hospital. Later, she was appointed associate director of New York Hospital and taught as an associate professor at Cornell University Medical College. She continued her commitment to medical education, becoming the associate secretary for the Liaison Committee for Medical Education and a consultant to the Council of Medical Education for the American Medical Association.

Buchanan joined the HMS community in 1983 and became director of the New Pathway program, which fundamentally changed how the School taught medicine. From 1984 to 1988, she served concurrently as the assistant director of clinics and the director of the Harvard Group Dental Practice at HSDM. In 1987 she was appointed lecturer on medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and in 1990 she became the special assistant to the executive dean for academic programs, remaining in both positions until she retired in 1996.

Buchanan is survived by her husband of nearly 45 years, J. Robert Buchanan; daughter, Allyn Buchanan; son, Ross Buchanan; and granddaughters, Elise and Erin Buchanan. A memorial service is planned for June 14, 2008; the location is to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Aga Khan University, c/o The Aga Khan Foundation USA, 1825 K Street NW, Suite 901, Washington, DC 20006.

Courtesy MacMahon Family

Brian MacMahon, who chaired the Department of Epidemiology at HSPH for 31 years, passed away on Dec. 5 at the age of 84.

In the 1940s, MacMahon attended the University of Birmingham, England, earning diplomas from the Royal College of Physicians and of Surgeons, as well as an MB, ChB, and DPH. From 1946 to 1948, he worked as a ship’s doctor in the English Merchant Navy. In 1952, he received a PhD in social medicine from the University of Birmingham. The following year he came to HSPH, earning a master’s degree in epidemiology in 1953. Two years later, he obtained an MD with honors from the University of Birmingham.

MacMahon held appointments at the University of Birmingham and at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, before accepting the position as head of the HSPH Department of Epidemiology in 1958. He served as the department’s leader until 1989. In 1976, he was appointed the Henry Pickering Walcott Professor of Epidemiology at HSPH. From 1977 to 1978, he served as associate dean for academic affairs at the School.

He became particularly recognized for his work on breast cancer etiology. In 1970, he was the lead author on a renowned international collaborative study that detailed an association between risk of breast cancer and the age at which women gave birth to their first child. The findings provided new insight into the protective mechanisms of pregnancy and prompted broader thinking about the causes of breast cancer.

In addition to his cancer studies, MacMahon was well known for his papers on pyloric stenosis in infants. At a time when genes were the primary focus of research underlying the condition, MacMahon’s research shed light on associated environmental factors.

MacMahon’s family plans a private service. In lieu of flowers, they ask that donations be made to the Brian and Heidi MacMahon Epidemiology Educational Fund, Office for Resource Development, HSPH, Attn: Gift Processing, 401 Park Dr., East Atrium, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02215.

Herbert Selenkow, associate clinical professor of medicine and thyroid specialist, passed away on Sept. 18. He was 84.

Selenkow received his BS from Franklin and Marshall College in 1943 and his MD from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1950. He joined the HMS community as a research fellow in medicine in 1955 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he remained for the next four decades. Over the years, he served as instructor in medicine, clinical associate in medicine, tutor in medical sciences, associate in medicine, assistant professor, and associate professor of medicine. He served as associate clinical professor of medicine at New England Deaconess Hospital (which later merged with Beth Israel) from 1995 until his retirement in 2000.

Selenkow was invited to Boston initially to begin the Thyroid Laboratory at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. He served as director of this program from 1956 to 1975, supervising the training and research of physicians, postdoctoral fellows, residents, medical students, and technicians. He authored more than 150 original research articles related to the thyroid, which added significantly to the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. Selenkow served as a consultant in endocrinology at several Boston-area hospitals including Children’s Hospital Boston, the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in West Roxbury, and Joslin Diabetes Center. He was also an adviser to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Selenkow is survived by his wife of 55 years, Dolores “Lolly” (Spiro) Selenkow; his children and their spouses, Linda and Tom Garnitz of Sharon, B.J. and Charles Rippberger of Sharon, and Mark Selenkow of Magnolia; and five grandchildren. Remembrances may be made to the Donald S. Kaufman Research and Education Fund, Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 165 Cambridge St., Boston 02114; VNA Care Network & Hospice, 175 Highland Ave., Needham 02494; or VNA Care Network & Hospice, 5 Federal St., Danvers 01923.

Chester Rosoff, retired associate professor of surgery at the former Beth Israel Hospital, died on Nov. 16. He was 84.

Rosoff received his AB from Amherst College in 1943 and MD from HMS in 1946. His surgical residency at BWH was interrupted for two years, from 1947 to 1949, while he served as a surgeon for the U.S. Army at the 98th General Hospital in Munich. He then returned to BWH to complete his residency and served as the chief resident surgeon from 1954 to 1955. He remained a member of the HMS community with an appointment as assistant in surgery at the Beth Israel Hospital, where he went on to serve for more than 35 years. He was appointed assistant professor of surgery in 1969 and associate professor of surgery in 1972, and served until retiring in 1990. Throughout his career, he published many articles on the effect of surgical outcomes.

Rosoff was one of the first surgeons to become involved with Harvard Community Health Plan during its early development, beginning in 1969. During his ten years with the organization, he emerged as one of the senior surgeons to whom physicians turned with their more complicated and difficult problems. He was chief of surgical service with the plan from 1973 to 1979. He also served as the acting chief of surgery at the Sidney Farber Cancer Center for several years and was on numerous hospital committees throughout his career. He was known for his skills as a clinical surgeon and a teacher.

Rosoff is survived by his wife, Dorothy Crawford; three daughters, Ann Rosoff and Elizabeth Elowe, both of Andover, and Meg Rosoff of London; six grandchildren; and a sister, Gladys Catterton, of North Andover. He was predeceased by a daughter, Deborah Rosoff.

Remembrances may be made to the Lymphoma Fund, Dr. David C. Fisher, Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, 02215.

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