June 2003
Honors & Appointments
During its annual meeting in June at Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Multiple Births Canada presented Louis G. Keith, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, with the Making A Difference Award in the international category. Himself a twin, Dr. Keith was cited for his lifelong work in promoting and improving the health and well-being of multiple birth children and their families around the world.
Cancer biologist Mary J.C. Hendrix, PhD, has been named president and director of Children’s Memorial Institute for Education and Research, the research arm of Children’s Memorial Hospital. Currently head of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and deputy director of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, Dr. Hendrix is planning to move to Chicago later this year with her research team.
H. Hunt Batjer, MD, Michael J. Marchese Professor of Neurological Surgery at the Feinberg School and department chair at both the school and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, also has been named head of the Division of Neurosurgery at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH).
John S. Rinehart, MD, PhD, JD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, has been named head of ENH’s Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Stuart M. Sprague, MD, associate professor of medicine, is ENH’s new head of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension.
During investiture ceremonies on May 30 at the Four Seasons Hotel, D. James Surmeier, PhD, became the Nathan Smith Davis Professor of Physiology at the Feinberg School. Dr. Surmeier has been chair of the physiology department since 2001. He received his PhD degree from the University of Washingtonand completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Texas Medical Branch and University of Tennessee. One of the founders of Northwestern University’s medical school, Nathan Smith Davis, MD, also helped establish the American Medical Association in 1847.
Suzanna A. McColley, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, has been named head of the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Children’s Memorial Hospital (CMH). Dr. McColley joined the board of directors of the American Thoracic Society in May.
John F. Sarwark, MD, GME , professor of orthopaedic surgery, was named head of the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at CMH after serving 6 of his 15 years at CMH as acting head. Dr. Sarwark also directs CMH’s Center for Childhood Safety and serves as orthopaedics section chair for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Constantine Mavroudis, MD, has been named surgeon-in-chief and head of the surgery department at CMH. He replaces interim head David G. McClone, MD, PhD, professor of neurological surgery. Dr. Mavroudis, professor of surgery at the Feinberg School and Willis J. Potts Professor of Surgery at CMH, will continue as head of the cardiovascular-thoracic surgery division.
Zehava L. Noah, MD, was appointed head of the critical care division at CMH. Associate professor of pediatrics at the Feinberg School, Dr. Noah served as interim head for the past four years. On the medical staff for 28 years, Dr. Noah is also the intensive care unit administrative medical director and medical co-director of the transport team. She holds the Posy and John Krehbiel Chair in Critical Care at CMH.
Daniel Batlle, MD, became the Earle, del Greco, and Levin Professor of Nephrology/Hypertension at the Feinberg School of Medicineduring investiture ceremonies May 20 at the Peninsula Hotel. Dr. Batlle, who has been a member of the Northwestern faculty since 1985, is chief of nephrology/hypertension at the Feinberg School and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The endowed professorship he holds is named after three Northwestern leaders in this field: the late David P. Earle Jr., MD; Francesco del Greco, MD; and Murray L. Levin, MD.
Also joining the ranks of Feinberg School faculty members holding endowed professorships is Linda A. Teplin, PhD, director and founder of Northwestern University’s Psycho-legal Studies Program. During investiture ceremonies May 2 at the Peninsula Hotel, she became the Owen L. Coon Professor of Psychiatry and Behaviorial Sciences. Dr. Teplin, who joined Northwestern’s medical school in 1975, has dedicated her career to investigating the consequences of deinstitutionalization for both the criminal justice and mental health systems. The late Owen L. Coon, an NU trustee, was chairman of General Finance Corporation, which enjoyed considerable success financing loans to automobile dealers and consumers.
Semil B.Mehta, MD, a pulmonary disease and critical care fellow at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University,has won a $40,000 pulmonary research fellowship award from GlaxoSmithKline. The award was presented May 14 during the American Thoracic Society annual meeting in Seattle. Dr. Mehta, who completed residency training in internal medicine at Northwestern, will conduct research on “Cyclic Stretch and Shear Stress Mediated Degredation of Keratin Intermediate Filaments in Alveolar Epithelial Cells.”