Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 9-26-2003 Washington University Record, September 26, 2003 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, September 26, 2003" (2003). Washington University Record. Book 978. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/978 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]. Medical News: David M. Holtzman Reading: "One of America's oddest, best Washington People: Steve Givens Q named head of neurology department & most appealing poets" CD. Wright Oct. 2 is Chancellor Wrighton's chief of staff O Sept. 26, 2003 Volume 28 No. 7 Treasuring the Past \ Washington University in St Louis Shaping the Future Celebrating JSp Years Center for Materials Innovation launched BY TONY FITZPATRICK applied advances in materials re- William E. Buhro, Ph.D., profes- fessor of Electrical Engineering; the School of Engineering & Ap- search, eventually touching many sor of chemistry in Arts & Sci- Kenneth F. Kelton, Ph.D., pro- plied Science. New and improved consumer aspects of daily life. ences, is associate director. fessor of physics; and Karen McDonnell is chairman of the goods, better planes, vehicles Moreover, the center brings Charter CMI members, who L. Wooley, Ph.D., professor of University's Board of Trustees. He and electronics, and new bio- together researchers, some world- constituted a subcommittee that chemistry. headed the initial phase of the medical products that could lead renowned in their fields, to get a delved into what was needed to The center initially will be Campaign for Washington Uni- to better pharmaceuticals and better understanding of funda- form the center, are: Pratim Bis- funded at more than $10 million versity before it was publicly innovative medical devices are mental processes in nature — was, Ph.D., the Stifel and Qui- for the next five years, according announced. He is the retired among the objectives of a new such as magnetism — that are nette Jens Professor of Environ- to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. chairman of the board of the interdisciplinary center housed in the bases for the development of mental Engineering Science and He said a portion of these funds McDonnell Douglas Corp. Arts & Sciences. increasingly smaller, more special- director of the Environmental will be supported by a gift from "We're extremely grateful to The Center for Materials Inno- ized novel materials. Engineering Science Program; John F. McDonnell to the Univer- John McDonnell for his support vation (CMI), located in the refur- Stuart A. Solin, Ph.D., the Donald L. Elbert, Ph.D., assistant sity's campaign to endow three and encouragement of the Cen- bished basement of Crow Hall, will Charles M. Hohenberg Professor professor of biomedical engineer- new professorships. ter for Materials Innovation," enable collaborators from across of Experimental Physics in Arts & ing; Ronald S. Indeck, Ph.D., the Two of the professorships will Wrighton said. "This initiative the University to make basic and Sciences, is director of the CMI. Das Family Distinguished Pro- be in Arts & Sciences, the other in See Center, Page 6 Gloria White dies; Beating cancer 'a great citizen Information on of the University' other ailments BY ANDY CLENDENNEN Gloria W White, vice chancellor can help fight it emerita for human resources, died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, of BY GILA Z. RECKESS cardiac arrest. She was 69. White began her career at the Many cancer patients have other University in 1967 as the associate diseases, and those ailments director of the Upward Bound can influence their chance of sur- Program. The following year, she vival and response to treatment. became an academic adviser to Although physicians take a undergraduate students in Arts & patient's overall health into Sciences and was named director account when determining prog- of the Office of Special Projects nosis and making treatment rec- and of the Work-Study Career ommendations, that information Scholarship Program for minority is not recorded in tumor registries students. and used in medical research, The scholarship program was according to Jay F. Piccirillo, M.D., one of the University's early — associate professor of otolaryngol- and successful — efforts to re- ogy, of medicine and of occupa- cruit African-American students. tional therapy. "Gloria White was a great citi- Piccirillo and his team have zen of Washington University and developed a program to train the entire St. Louis region," Chan- Distinguished facility Alison J. Whelan, M.D., receives a Distinguished Faculty Award from cancer registrars to track patients' cellor Mark S. Wrighton said. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton at the Founders Day Dinner and Awards Presentation Sept. 20 at other diseases, called comorbidi- "She gave of her time and talent America's Center. Jay R. Turner, William E. Wallace and Peter J. Wiedenbeck also received the ties. Five cen- to so many important St. Louis award for their outstanding commitment and dedication to the intellectual and personal develop- ters around the institutions and has made a last- ment of students. In the School of Medicine, Whelan is associate professor of medicine, division country, ing impact on our community. of medical education; associate professor of pediatrics, division of medical genetics; and associ- including the "Asa ate dean for medical student education. Siteman Can- University cer Center, have administrator, been learning she was a com- This Week In and imple- mitted and Retirees are recognized for menting the intelligent WUSTL History program since Piccjri„0 leader who 1999. helped the their service, commitment Sept 26,1997 Piccirillo University recently discussed his group's Anheuser-Busch Hall was dedicated. focus on many BY ANDY CLENDENNEN Wrighton said in congratulating Sandra Day O'Connor, the first methods at the Centers for White important key the retirees. "You have my and Disease Control and Prevention's female justice to sit on the U.S. Su- issues over the By itself, the number 986 isn't your colleagues' gratitude for 2003 Cancer Conference in preme Court, was keynote speaker. years. She will be missed by all really all that impressive. It your efforts in advancing the Atlanta. At the same conference, who knew and worked with her." doesn't stand out, there are no University." Sept 27,1892 another team member and In 1972, White was named the sports milestones associated with To put 986 in perspective, if research assistant, Irene Costas, it and it's definitely not pi, no the retirees had been at the Classes began at the Washington University's affirmative action University Dental Department. outlined findings from the five officer, and in 1975, she was pro- matter how far you want to carry University one after the other centers. moted to director of personnel. the decimal. instead of concurrently, the first Sept 29,1975 "Comorbidity is increasingly But for a select group of employee would have started in Later that year, she was named The campus pub, Rathskeller recognized as an important fea- retired University staff members, the year 1017, or right in the mid- assistant vice chancellor for per- (The Rat), opened. ture of the patient with cancer," sonnel and affirmative action, 986 is definitely significant. That's dle of the Middle Ages. Piccirillo said. "Some people are and then in 1981, she became an the combined number of years Traditionally, special recogni- Sept 29,2000 skeptical about whether it's practi- associate vice chancellor. served by those who retired in fis- tion is afforded to those retirees in The School of Medicine announced cal to train registrars to code She was named a vice chancel- cal year 2003. attendance at the luncheon who the development of genetically comorbidity information, but our lor in 1988. Forty-six retired, and 21 were have the greatest number of years altered mice that do not become research shows that the method As the affirmative action offi- in attendance at a recent lunch- of service with the University. This obese or develop diabetes when fed we've developed is easy for them cer, White was extremely effective eon hosted by Chancellor Mark S. year, Margaret "Polly" Cummings a high-fat diet. to learn and to do well." in increasing the number of Wrighton at Whittemore House. (35 years), Kathryn Eyerman He believes recording comor- minorities and women at the "The talents and contributions (35 years) and Marjorie Thomas This feature will be included in bidities will provide more com- University. of employees like yourselves are (34 years) each received a basket each 2003-04 issue of the Record prehensive profiles of patients and "She impressed me, and every- essential elements in enabling of flowers. All worked at the in observance of Washington improve cancer research. For one else, with her strength of Washington University to cele- School of Medicine. University's 150th anniversary. example, a patient's chance of sur- See White, Page 7 brate 150 successful years," See Retirees, Page 6 See Cancer, Page 3 2 RECORD WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Trustees meet during 150th anniversary week Founders Week marked the multicultural or international beginning of the University's students and are evenly divided yearlong 150th anniversary between men and women. Wrigh- celebration, and it included the ton noted that they are the most fall meeting of the Board of Trus- academically talented group of tees Sept. 19. applicants in the University's his- The meeting featured reports tory, with average SAT scores of by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton, 1400, combined math and verbal.