Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 1-15-1998 Washington University Record, January 15, 1998 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, January 15, 1998" (1998). Washington University Record. Book 780. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/780 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Record by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WASHINGTON 2£Tb 'ON xoe UNIVERSITY \H3nWVS SW IN ST. LOUIS Vol. 22 No. 16 Jan. 15, 1998 Harvard physician named head of surgery department Wells is leaving Washington Univer- Wells to be director sity to become director of the American of College of Surgeons College of Surgeons (ACS), effective July 1, 1998. With 63,000 members, the ACS is the largest surgical organization Timothy J. Eberlein, M.D., the in the world. Richard E. Wilson Professor of "The Department of Surgery has a Surgery at Harvard Medical long history of great achievements in School and vice chairman for research in patient care discovery and education, the Department of Surgery at Brigham most recently under the direction of Dr. and Women's Hospital, has been named Samuel Wells," said William A. Peck, head of the Department of Surgery and M.D., executive vice chancellor for Bixby Professor at the School of Medi- medical affairs and deal of the medical cine, effective Jan. 1, 1998. school. "We are most fortunate, there- Eberlein succeeds Samuel A. Wells fore, that Dr. Tim Eberlein will succeed Jr., M.D., professor of surgery, who had Dr. Wells. Dr. Eberlein is a most out- served as head of surgery since 1981. standing clinical surgeon, researcher and Wells, renowned for research and clinical teacher, and he has the vision to lead the expertise in oncology and endocrinology, department to even greater heights." developed the first genetic test for a Eberlein said: "It is an honor to suc- particular form of thyroid cancer. A ceed Dr. Wells, who has left what can simple surgery can prevent the disease. Continued on page 8 Kasthuri is new Rhodes Scholar; to study neuroscience at Oxford Narayanan "Bobby" Kasthuri, a about how the United States might be School of Medicine student, is different." He perfected his English by one of 32 Americans to receive a watching cartoons. Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University, "I think my childhood was pretty England this year. He will begin his normal," he added. "I played a lot of studies in the fall. sports, and I hated school like everyone "I'm very excited and definitely hon- else." After attending high school in New ored" said Kasthuri. "But I haven't really Jersey, Kasthuri graduated from Princeton sat down and thought about what it will University in 1996 with a degree in mean and what it will be like to move to molecular biology and public policy. another country for three years." Kasthuri attributes much of his Kasthuri is the 18th Rhodes Scholar academic success to his parents, who from Washington University. Awarded on always placed a lot of emphasis on educa- the basis of academic excellence, integ- tion and doing well. Scientifically, he rity, leadership ability and athletic prow- credits a molecular biologist he worked ess, the scholarships provide two to three with at Princeton and Lichtman. Framed by the Gateway Arch symbolizing the exploration of the American West, years of study and include tuition and a Lichtman, he said has a good sense of Steve Fossett's Solo Spirit balloon awaits its own voyage of exploration New stipend. Kasthuri will pursue a doctorate humor and is very accessible. Kasthuri Year's Eve. in neuroscience. He currently has a Howard Hughes Medi- Equipment failures, weather cal Scholarship and is studying for a master of arts degree in the end Solo Spirit trip in Russia University's M.A./M.D. program. He is work- It was a long ride — 7,300 miles — ond-longest balloon flight in aviation ing with Jeffrey and it was exciting, but Steve history, exceeded only by his own epic Lichtman, M.D., Ph.D., Fossett's quest to fly his balloon 1997 journey of 10,361 miles from professor of neurobiol- around the world ended prematurely in a St. Louis to India. ogy, on visualizing Russian wheat field at 5:27 a.m. (CST) Technical difficulties contributed to changes at the junc- Monday, Jan. 5, near Krasnodar, a com- the Krasnodar landing. A malfunctioning tions between develop- munity close to the Black Sea. in-cabin heater that dropped nightly ing nerve and muscle Fossett, a Washington University capsule temperatures into the teens and a cells in mice. alumnus and trustee and an international faulty mechanism in one of two Solo Lichtman described adventurer, inadvertently put Krasnodar Spirit propane burners made traveling Kasthuri as wonder- on the map while accomplishing yet extremely difficult, jeopardizing a safe fully inquisitive. "He's another ballooning feat: It was the sec- journey. For nearly two days, Fossett had got a very good mind to climb outside his bubble-top capsule and he asks very diffi- to fire the second burner when the sole- cult questions," he said. In this issue ... noid electronic valve failed. At the medical Earlier in the flight, on Jan. 2, he was school, Kasthuri has Allergic diseases 2 forced to unload about 80 gallons of fuel volunteered with the Rhodes Scholar Narayanan "Bobby" Kasthuri examines Scientists have identified a genetic — 10 percent of his 20-day supply — Students Teaching a slide in his lab at the School of Medicine. mutation that appears to make over the Atlantic Ocean to raise the AIDS to Students people more susceptible to allergies balloon above a bad weather system. program, the Perinatal Project and the described him as an outstanding mentor. Then the winds changed, putting him on Pediatric Outreach Program. "He was one of the main reasons I Exploring connections 3 a trajectory to pass over Libya, a country Born in India, he moved to the United thought about pursuing science," he said. Neurobiologist Joshua Sanes, Ph.D., from which he had not yet received States when he was 5. His parents had At Oxford, Kasthuri is looking forward leads his field in probing the ways overflight permission. He changed his emigrated two years earlier, leaving him to becoming a better scientist. He also nerve cells connect in synapses course to avoid Libya, but in so doing with his grandparents until they found hopes to learn from the other scholars. encountered very light winds that slowed jobs and became established. Eventually, "Nothing like this has happened to me Solo Spirit 6-7 his speed to as low as 20 miles per hour. they both earned master's degrees at before, so I'm not sure how to think about It was the malfunctioning heater and Balloonist Steve Fossett captures American universities. it," he said. "It's just amazing." world attention in his attempt to fly burner, both improved versions of the "As a result, I mostly associated mov- Kasthuri plans to finish his medical non-stop around the globe 1997 equipment, that left Fossett and his ing here with getting to be with my par- degree at the School of Medicine after he team mOSt perplexed. Continued on page 8 ents again," Kasthuri said. "I didn't think returns from Oxford. — Diane Duke 2 Washington University Record Medical Update Schreiber named to Elaine and Mitchell Yanow Professorship Editor's note: At press time, the Record to the University. Yanow was an alumnus William H. Danforth, chairman of national Inc., the nation's leading received word of Mitchell Yanow s death of the University and the medical school. the Board of Trustees, called Yanow "a operator of community-oriented fran- Monday, Jan. 12. An announcement about "We are grateful to the Yanow family man of vision and integrity, to whom chised pharmacies. Yanow also co- funeral arrangements and a memorial for their generous commitment," said we are deeply indebted." founded OB-GYN Inc., one of the area's service will be published in the St. Louis Chancellor Mark S. William A. Peck, M.D., executive earliest obstetrics-gynecology group Post-Dispatch. Wrighton. "En- vice chancellor for medical affairs and practices. dowed chairs are dean of the medical school, said: "This The late Elaine Yanow was well known The late Mitchell Yanow, M.D., a the greatest honor professorship will recognize and honor for her deep commitment to civic affairs. St. Louis area obstetrician-gynecolo that a university in perpetuity two individuals who have During her tenure as a board member and gist and a notable entrepreneur, can bestow on its meant so much to Washington Univer- president of the League of Women Voters established the Elaine and Mitchell Yanow faculty, and the sity. It will have a great impact on the of St. Louis, she researched and advocated Professorship in the School of Medicine's Yanow Professor- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol- ways to improve government services, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. ship will play an ogy, aiding in the attraction and reten- including a metropolitan sewer district, a James R. Schreiber, M.D., head of the important role in tion of outstanding academic leaders." nonpartisan court plan and a mass transit Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol- helping us attract In addition to a long and accom- system. ogy, has been named the first Elaine and James R.