Mayo Alumni Updates

10/14/09

Christopher Dietrich, M.D.

Physician Awarded the South Dakota State Medical Association Outstanding Young Physician of the Year Award for 2009

Christopher Dietrich MD awarded the South Dakota State Medical Association Outstanding Young Physician of the Year Award for 2009.

Dr. Dietrich is a Huron, SD native.  He attended the University of South Dakota/Sanford School of Medicine and completed his residency and specialty training at the Mayo Clinic.  He currently is a partner at The Rehab Doctors PC in Rapid City, SD.  He is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and in Pain Medicine.

In addition to an active practice, Dr. Dietrich is the chair of Rapid City Regional Hospital’s Ethics Committee, Medical Director and Official Sports Medicine Physician for the Rapid City Rush Professional Hockey team, and South Dakota’s only Level 3 Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor.

09/25/09

Markus Kaiser, M.D.

Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiologist Joins College Faculty

Markus Kaiser, M.D., has been appointed assistant professor of anesthesiology at The Medical College of Wisconsin and to the medical staff of Froedtert Hospital, a major teaching affiliate of the College. Board certified in anesthesiology with a sub-specialization in intensive care medicine, his clinical interests include cardiovascular, transplant, neurosurgical, trauma anesthesia and critical care medicine.

Dr. Kaiser comes to the College from University of Bonn Medical Center in Germany, where he was a staff anesthesiologist and consultant for the cardiovascular and anesthesiological intensive care units as well as cardiovascular anesthesiology.

He is co-investigator of numerous basic science and clinical research projects in anesthesiology and critical care medicine. From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Kaiser was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where his research focused on vascular inflammation.

He received his medical degree from University of Bonn Medical School in 1994 and completed his anesthesiology residency there in 2002. He completed a fellowship in intensive care medicine in 2004 and a fellowship in cardiovascular anesthesia in 2003, also at University of Bonn Medical Center.

In 1984 and 1985, Dr. Kaiser was a foreign exchange student at Oshkosh West High School in Oshkosh, Wis.

09/23/09

Mary I. O'Connor, M.D.

Mary I. O'Connor, MD was elected first vice-president of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons and second vice-president of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons and is President of the International Society of Limb Salvage.

09/09/09

Gudrun Boysen, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Boysen was a resident at the Mayo Clinic, Department of Neurology in 1973, 1974 and worked with Jack Whisnant, Andrew Engell, and Clark Millikan among others. She is now emeritus professor at the department of neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Received the Nordic Stroke Awards on August 21, 2009 at the Nordic Stroke Conference in Helsinki

09/08/09

Charles V. Perniciaro, M.D.

Florida Dermatologists Announce Practitioner of the Year

Charles Perniciaro, MD, was awarded the distinction of Practioner of the Year by the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery (FSDDS) at its 2009 Annual Meeting in Boca Raton, Florida on May 23. Dr. Perniciaro was selected for the award in recognition of his long-standing commitment to the highest quality of patient care and dedicated leadership in this pursuit.
Dr. Perniciaro is one of the country’s foremost experts in Dermatopathology and has led Bernhardt Laboratories’ division in Dermatopathology since 2001. He was formerly a consultant for the Mayo Clinic and has served on the faculties of the University of Florida, Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, and Tulane University School of Medicine. He is an author of over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
He is the 37th recipient of this honor, first awarded in 1973. The Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery is the State’s oldest and largest association of dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons (www.fsdds.org).

Contact: Daniel Sosnoski
904-309-6203
dsosnoski@leadingstar.com

08/10/09

Ruth E. Westrick Connolly, M.D.

Dr. Westrick was instrumental in establishing the Federal Medical Center's existence in Rochester as a federal prison. She was also a pioneer in the treatment of the mentally ill in the Bureau of Prisons. Her dedication and compassion toward others are a tribute to her legacy in the Bureau.

Building Dedication for the Dr. Ruth Westrick Mental Health Unit, Federal Medical Center, Rochester, MN
Monday, September 14, 2009.

08/10/09

Michael J. Camilleri, M.D.

Michael Camilleri, M.D., new medical director for Development, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN

Dr. Camilleri is professor of Medicine and Physiology. He served as chair of the Medical Industry Relations Committee from 2003 to 2007 and was chair of Mayo’s Conflict of Interest Review Board from 2003-2008. He currently serves as medical director of the Office of Strategic Alliances. Dr. Camilleri joined Mayo Clinic in 1990 as a consultant in Gastroenterology. He was featured in the latest issue of Mayo Magazine for his groundbreaking research in neurogastroenterology and a pain-free stomach volume test that he developed.

Dr. Camilleri was born in Malta. He and his wife Josephine have four children.

08/05/09

David R. Baines, M.D.

Couple leads clinic on remote Alaskan island

Innovative rookies and seasoned professionals share their experiences here.

07/16/09

Nancy L. Elwess, Ph.D.

SUNY Plattsburgh professor earns presidential honor

President Obama has named SUNY Plattsburgh Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Nancy Elwess a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Elwess, who will be honored at a White House reception this fall, is one of but a handful of college faculty from across the country to receive this award.

The award is designed to recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the
academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering and who belong to minorities that are underrepresented in those fields. According to a statement from the White House, "By offering their time, encouragement and expertise to these students, mentors help ensure that the next generation of scientists and engineers will better reflect the diversity of the United States."

"During her time at SUNY Plattsburgh, Elwess has developed a reputation for her advanced work with undergraduate students as she helps them conduct DNA research," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "Nearly 100 of her students have given presentations at national and international conferences, and many have brought home top honors. Scientists and faculty from other institutions are amazed at the high-level, quality work these undergraduates are doing."

Her students have been working to unlock the mysteries of the past as they analyze the DNA from skeletons of ancient Maya. They are trying to answer questions like did the disorder Beta-Thalassemia, a type of anemia, really exist in the Americas before Columbus set sail? What accounts for differences in burial among some of the Maya? Were some from more aristocratic family lines? What route did the Maya take across the Bering Strait? And are there other Native American tribes that share a common ancestry?

Her students are also working to unlock mysteries of the present, studying a newly found gene that exists in paramecium (single-celled organisms) that may tell them more about evolution.

Others have just completed a joint project, working with Elwess, Adjunct Lecturer Sandra Latourelle and members of the college's psychology department - SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Jeanne Ryan and Professor William Tooke. They searched for links between an individual's genes, aggressive behavior and the ratio of one finger to another. Their results will be released soon.

This sort of work has led to SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduates winning top honors for poster presentations at both the National Association of Biology Teachers and International Sigma Xi conferences four years in a row. In addition, many of Elwess' students have also gone on to pursue higher degrees in the field, being accepted into schools like Yale and the University of Oregon.

And Elwess is committed to providing these opportunities for a wide-range of students.

"I don't want to deny any student an opportunity, and I try my hardest to find funding for them to have an opportunity, whether it's for travel or for a meaningful research project - one that clearly has never been done before," said Elwess.

In offering this award to Elwess and others, Obama stressed the importance of their work.

"There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation's young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders," President Obama said. "These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all."

"Our faculty are here because they love to teach, and Dr. Elwess is certainly one of my best," Dr. Kathy Lavoie, the college's dean of arts and sciences, who nominated Elwess for the award. "She is creative and energetic, and has really launched many of our graduates into careers as teachers, physicians, and researchers. She models enthusiasm and an active style of teaching that we want to see our students use whether they are formal classroom teachers or informal teachers of their own children. Science is fun, and that is sometimes lost in all the jargon and details unless you have an exceptional teacher like Nancy Elwess."

Before coming to SUNY Plattsburgh, Elwess served as a senior research fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Prior to that, she was a junior high science teacher in Lansing, Ill.

She has been the recipient of many awards including the 2008-2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Science Teacher Award by the Society for College Science Teachers, the National Association of Biology Teachers' National College Research/Teaching Award, a State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and alumni achievement awards from both Purdue and the University of Vermont. She was also named to Who's Who Among American Teachers and Educators in 2007.

Elwess also serves as a consultant to the National Science Foundation on Minority Post Doctoral Grants to the Biological Sciences, is a member of the board of directors of alumni associations at the Mayo Clinic and Eastern Illinois University, and is once again training for the Iron Man in Lake Placid.

 She has a doctorate in molecular biology from the University of Vermont; a master's in molecular biology from Purdue University and a master's in science education from Governors State University, as well as bachelor's from Eastern Illinois University.

SUNY Plattsburgh (www.plattsburgh.edu ) was founded in 1889 as a teaching college and in 1948 became an original member of the State University of New York (SUNY). Under President John Ettling, the four-year comprehensive college now serves 5,500 undergraduates and 500 graduate students. It offers more than 60 majors and a wide range of special programs that prepare graduates for professional life and advanced studies through a strong foundation in liberal arts and an experience that celebrates excellence, ethical values, lifelong learning and responsible citizenship in a global community. Situated near Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and Canada, the college's unique location provides rich recreational, cultural and educational opportunities. Today, SUNY Plattsburgh is a thriving campus that has experienced significant growth in student applications, has been recognized two years in a row by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine as one of the "Top 100 Values in Public Colleges," for its mix of academic quality, financial aid, opportunities and total cost. SUNY Plattsburgh was also named among the top schools in the 2009 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.

07/07/09

John H. Noseworthy, M.D.

On May 8, the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees confirmed the Board of Governors’ selection of John Noseworthy, M.D., to succeed Denis Cortese, M.D., as president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Noseworthy will assume his new leadership role in November. Read more here.

“The role of the president and CEO is critical to this institution in uniting Mayo Clinic in its vision and strategic direction,” says Jim Barksdale, chair, Board of Trustees. “We commend Dr. Cortese for his leadership in helping us more clearly focus on the needs of our patients as we strive to provide an unparalleled patient experience. He moved us to work more closely as one enterprise and helped frame the national dialogue toward patient-centered reform.”

“I look forward to working with Dr. Noseworthy as we continue our strategic transformation to position Mayo to meet evolving patient needs and broaden our reach in the 21st century,” says Dr. Cortese. “He is the perfect choice to continue our commitment to building on the solid foundation of our heritage as we look at providing the Mayo Model of Care to new people in new ways.”

Dr. Noseworthy is medical director of the Department of Development and a professor in the Department of Neurology. He is a vice chair of the Mayo Clinic Rochester Executive Board.

Born in Melrose, Mass., Dr. Noseworthy received his M.D. degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, completed his neurology training at Dalhousie University and the University of Western Ontario, as well as a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School. In 1990, he joined Mayo and served as chair of the Department of Neurology from 1997 to 2006.

Dr. Noseworthy specializes in multiple sclerosis, a field he contributed to for more than two decades in the design and conduct of controlled clinical trials. He is the author or editor of several books, including the three-volume textbook Neurological Therapeutics: Principles and Practice, now in its second edition. He is currently the editor-in-chief of Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Noseworthy and his wife, Patricia, have two sons, Peter and Mark.

06/02/09

BRENT E. LARSON, M.D.

TO REPRESENT MIDWESTERN SOCIETY OF ORTHODONTISTS ON  BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS

ST. LOUIS— Brent E. Larson, DDS, MS has been elected to represent the Midwestern Society of Orthodontists (MSO) on the Board of Trustees of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).  Dr. Larson is the orthodontic division director and associate professor of orthodontics at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and has an orthodontic practice in Rochester.  The announcement of Dr. Larson’s election as an AAO trustee was made recently during the AAO's 109th Annual Session in Boston.

The AAO is the world’s oldest and largest dental specialty organization. The MSO is one of eight constituent groups of the AAO, serving orthodontists practicing in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the Canadian province of Manitoba. 

“It is an honor and privilege to be called upon to serve the orthodontic specialty and its millions of patients,” said Dr. Larson.  “I hope my efforts will contribute to the tradition of service to AAO members, who strive to deliver the highest possible level of care to orthodontic patients everywhere.”

An orthodontist in Rochester since 1990, Dr. Larson is a resident of Roseville, Minn.  He was formerly the orthodontic program director at the Mayo Clinic and assistant professor in the department of dental specialties at the Mayo Medical School.

Dr. Larson received a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and his dental degree from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He graduated first in his dental school class.  He completed the orthodontic residency and education program at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, also receiving a master of science degree from UNC.

Dr. Larson also completed a general practice residency in dentistry at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.  As an Air Force officer, he served as a general dentist at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in New York and later as chief of orthodontics and quality assurance coordinator at Torrejon Air Base in Spain.

Dr. Larson served as president of the MSO for 2008-09 and has held several other MSO offices.  He is a past president of the Minnesota Association of Orthodontists.  In addition, he is a past chairman of the AAO Council on Information Technology, the AAO Task Force on Orthodontic Faculty Recruitment and Retention, and the AAO Council on Orthodontic Education.

Dr. Larson is the educational liaison to the editorial board of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO).  He is a member of the editorial board of The Angle Orthodontist and is a reviewer and synopsis writer for Practical Reviews in Orthodontics, a monthly literature review publication distributed around the world.

Author of numerous articles in AJO-DO, the Journal of Dental Education and other publications, Dr. Larson has written on clinical and educational topics and on research conducted on orthodontic tooth movement in the rat.  He has lectured throughout the United States on orthodontic imaging and other clinical topics as well as orthodontic educational issues. 

Awards and honors presented to Dr. Larson have included the Mayo Clinic Teachers Hall of Fame and Teacher of the Year, Department of Dental Specialties at the Mayo Clinic.  He received the Earl A. Sheppard Award of Distinction from the American Board of Orthodontics for the highest achievement on the written board exam. 

About the American Association of Orthodontists

The AAO is comprised of 15,500 member orthodontists in the United States, Canada and abroad.

Orthodontists are uniquely qualified to correct improperly aligned teeth and jaws.  They are specialists in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.  Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized education beyond dental school in an accredited orthodontic residency program.  Only those who have successfully completed this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists are eligible for membership in the AAO.

Visit the AAO’s Web site, www.braces.org, for information about orthodontists, orthodontic care and to locate nearby orthodontists.

04/06/09

MARVIN D. SEPPALA, M.D.,
NAMED CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AT HAZELDEN

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 2, 2009 — Marvin D. Seppala, M.D., a nationally-renowned addiction medicine specialist with more than 20 years of expertise in addiction treatment and psychiatry, has been named the new Chief Medical Officer of Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people recover from addiction.

Dr. Seppala will assume the role of CMO on May 1, 2009. His responsibilities will include overseeing all interdisciplinary clinical practices at Hazelden, maintaining and improving standards for evidence-based practices, and supporting growth strategies for Hazelden’s residential and nonresidential addiction treatment programs and services throughout the country. He is particularly well-regarded for his groundbreaking work in both pharmacological studies and integration of evidence-based systems in addiction treatment.

Dr. Seppala had previously served at Hazelden as chief medical director from 2002-2007. For the past two years, he has maintained a private addiction medicine practice in Portland Oregon and served as medical director and CEO at Beyond Addictions of Beaverton, Oregon, an outpatient treatment and recovery services program.

Dr. Seppala is a board member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and a national expert on addiction treatment. He has appeared as a guest on the CBS-TV “Early Show” and National Public Radio. He has been quoted in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal.

“I love Hazelden,” says Seppala. “I’m passionate about Hazelden’s mission and with their leadership position; I believe we can make significant contributions at a critical time for the addiction treatment field.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Seppala back to Hazelden,” says Mark Mishek, President and CEO. “He has a long history with Hazelden and brings a wealth of care, knowledge, and innovative strategies to addiction treatment. And he truly lives and breathes Hazelden’s mission of offering hope for lifelong recovery.”

Dr. Seppala attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He obtained his M.D. at Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minnesota, serving his residency in psychiatry at University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis. He is a board member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine and a founding member of the Oregon Society of Addiction Medicine.

About Hazelden

Hazelden, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, has helped tens of thousands of people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. For 60 years, Hazelden has offered the nation’s most comprehensive approach to addiction by addressing the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, including treatment and continuing care for youth and adults, research, higher learning, public education and advocacy, and publishing. Hazelden maintains residential and inpatient programs in Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois and New York. For more information, visit www.hazelden.org <http://www.hazelden.org/>

03/03/09

Daniel J. Berry, M.D.
Named Academy Second Vice President

LAS VEGAS – Orthopaedic surgeon Daniel J. Berry, MD, was elected to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors at the 2009 Annual Meeting.  He will serve the Academy as Second-Vice President.

“Being an orthopaedic surgeon gives me the opportunity to have a dramatic positive effect on patients’ lives,” explained Dr. Berry.  “I am humbled and honored to serve in this leadership role.  I also look forward to dedicating myself to the opportunities and challenges the orthopaedic landscape faces.”

A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Berry completed orthopaedic surgery residencies at Harvard, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.  He completed his fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.  Currently, he serves as professor of orthopaedics, College of Medicine at Mayo Clinic and chair in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mayo Clinic. 

Active in the AAOS since 1998, Dr. Berry has served on numerous committees and task forces, including the Academy’s American Joint Replacement Registry Oversight Board and the CME Courses Committee.  He most recently served as president of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) and held previous leadership roles for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), the Hip Society and the Mid America Orthopaedic Association.

“By participating in orthopaedic organizations and societies, I have had the opportunity to work with, and learn from, a remarkably talented group of individuals who have become some of my life-long friends,” said Dr. Berry.

As an orthopaedic researcher, Dr. Berry has received numerous honors and accolades including awards for clinical research from the Hip Society, the Knee Society, the AAHKS, and the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF).  He is the author or co-author of over 117 peer-reviewed publications and 62 book chapters.  Dr. Berry has made scientific presentations at over 330 regional, national and international meetings. 

Dr. Berry’s main focus areas for the AAOS include:

• Continuing to enhance orthopaedic patient care through innovation and patient advocacy.
• Maintaining and expanding relationships with each of the orthopaedic specialty societies, sister U.S. and international orthopaedic organizations and societies.
• Advancing quality orthopaedic care and orthopaedic education for each of our members.

“Dan represents all the qualities that the AAOS is looking for in the leadership of the Academy,” stated John Callaghan, MD, incoming first vice president of the AAOS.  “There is no one I know who represents a leader more than Dan.”

When not in the operating room or seeing patients, Dr. Berry enjoys the outdoors and traveling.  He is an avid fly fisherman and downhill and cross country skier.  He spends any free time with his wife, Camilla, and two children, Charlotte and John.

More about Daniel J. Berry, MD

03/02/09

Illiuliuk Family and Health Services featured on "Deadliest Catch".

Heidi Baines had no idea what she was getting into in 2005 when she requested Unalaska's Iliuliuk Family and Health Services as her option for rural rotation as a resident physician. She ended up in a clinic 800 air miles from the support of any medical specialists, in a multi-cultural, highly diversified community intimately connected to the fishing industry of the Bering Sea.

Four years later, as Medical Director of this frontier extended stay clinic, with her husband David at her side as Resident/Student Coordinator, Heidi lives an exciting and unpredictable life as a medical professional on America's last frontier.

So exciting are the work and lives of Heidi and David Baines, in fact, that Discovery Channel has come calling. The two physicians with Illiuliuk Family and Health Services are featured on a current segment of the Discovery Channel's show, "Deadliest Catch."

Deadliest Catch is a documentary series that follows Alaskan king crab fishing boats working in the Bering Sea throughout the October and January crab fishing seasons.

Based in Dutch Harbor, Illiuliuk Family and Health Services provides health care services to both the approximately 4,200 year-round residents as well as the seasonal workers that boost population to 10,000 during the fishing and crabbing seasons.

During her Discovery interview, Heidi discusses the incredible increase in patient visits during fishing season, from 4-10 patients daily, off-season to 60-100 patients daily, in-season.

Clinic staff commonly treat work related injuries like musculoskeletal or lacerations, respiratory illness and, as Heidi wryly notes, "bar related injuries" at the end of fishing season when the work is over and folks are waiting for transportation home.

Heidi told NWRPCA: "One of the things I find so wonderful about working here is that there is a lot of work to be done-not only with patients, but also to improve the organization and the way we do things.  I think that community health centers in general are motivated to always be looking for a better way to get the work done with the resources available.  As a physician, and the medical director at IFHS, I really get to make change and see the results of the change and take pride in it.  It's one of the things that keep me here, because I like helping patients make positive change, and I like helping organizations make positive change."

In his "Deadliest Catch" segment, David expresses appreciation for the increased "diversity" of ethnic groups that fishing season brings to Dutch Harbor. He also praises his fisherman patients who, in his words, just "want to go back to work" as quickly as possible.

In an interview with NWRPCA, David talked about his love for teaching and how well his supervisory duties mesh with his love of the local culture. "I love to teach, so I make this a community rotation  as well as a medical experience. I get our visiting health professionals involved in community activities like teaching health class in junior and senior high school, reporting the news on local radio, volunteering in community functions, doing outreach in fishing vessels and processing plants, and living the Alaskan Bush lifestyle. They learn to pick berries, pull crab pots, and fish. Most of these residents and students grew up in urban environments, so I like to show them how small villages actually have a sense of community."

To view the segments featuring David and Heidi, visit the Deadliest Catch website.

02/15/2009

Dr. Denis Cortese, Mayo Clinic, President & CEO

02/02/2009

Board of Trustees announces named professorships

The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees recognized four awardees of Mayo Clinic named professorships at its quarterly meeting in November.

Named professorships represent the highest academic distinction for a Mayo Clinic faculty member.  Faculty are appointed to a named professorship through nomination and endorsement of their peers and confirmed by Mayo Clinic senior leadership. 

Sundeep Khosla, M.D.

Dr. Francis Chucker and Nathan Landow Research Professorship

Dr. Khosla, who joined Mayo Clinic in 1988, is associate director for Research and associate director of the Clinical Research Unit. 

He served as chair of the National Institutes of Health Skeletal Biology Development and Disease Study Section, and was appointed to the Council of the National Institute on Aging.  He also was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and Association of American Physicians.  He is associate editor of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, and a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism and Endocrine Reviews.  His research interests include mechanisms of postmenopausal and age-related bone loss, sex steroid regulation of bone metabolism and osteoblast/stem cell biology.  Dr. Koshla holds one U.S. patent.

Dr. Chucker established this professorship in 2005 in honor of his friend Nathan Landow, a highly successful real estate developer and philanthropist from Washington, D.C.  Dr. Chucker, a founding member of The Doctors Mayo Society and Mayo Alumni Laureates, completed a fellowship at Mayo Clinic and then settled in Washington, where he established an internal medicine and peripheral vascular disease practice.

Walter Wilson, M.D.

Edward G. Rosenow, III, M.D. Professorship in the Art of Medicine

Dr. Wilson, a specialist in infectious diseases, has received Mayo Clinic’s Excellence in Leadership Award, Henry S. Plummer Award and Mayo Clinic Distinguished Clinician Award.  For more than 30 years, he has taught infectious diseases courses at Mayo Clinic and has received the Teacher of the Year award several times, as well as the Mayo Medical School Distinguished Faculty Service Award and Distinguished Lecturer Medical Sciences recognition.  Dr. Wilson was named to Mayo’s Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame.

Dr. Wilson’s research interests include infective endocarditis, animal models of infection and new antimicrobial agents.

He is active in many professional and community organizations, and holds positions in the American Heart Association, International Committee on Treatment of Infective Endocarditis, Task Force for Infectious Diseases and International Society of Infective Endocarditis. 

This professorship was established in 2007 by Bruce E. and Martha O. Clinton.  Bruce Clinton is chairman and chief executive officer of The Clinton Companies, a Chicago real estate development and property management company.  The Clintons have been Mayo Clinic patients for more than four decades and are members of The Campaign for Mayo Clinic Leadership Team.

Diane Jelinek, Ph.D.

Gene and Mary Lou Kurtz Professorship in Multiple Myeloma Research

Dr. Jelinek is a consultant in the Department of Immunology, dean of Mayo Graduate School and a member of the Mayo Clinic Rochester Executive Board.  She joined Mayo Clinic in 1991.

Throughout her career, she has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for her work on normal and malignant B lymphocytes.  She is program director of a project on the monoclonal gammopathies funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Jelinek has served in the American Association for Cancer Research, American Association of Immunologists and American Society of Hematology.  She has been a scientific reviewer for scholarly journals and the NIH and completed a four-year term as a charter member of its Cellular and Molecular Immunology B study section. 

Gene Kurtz founded Houston Foam Plastics, one of the nation’s largest producers of custom foam packaging, construction and insulation materials, in 1970.  The Kurtzes are Mayo Clinic patients and benefactors and are involved in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Leadership Council.

Douglas Packer, M.D.

John M. Nasseff, Sr., Professorship in Cardiology in Honor of Dr. Burton Onofrio

Dr. Packer is director of Mayo Clinic’s Translational Electrophysiology Research Laboratory.  He is the national principal investigator of the Catheter Ablation Versus Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation (CABANA) pilot study and the North American STOP AF Clinical Trial of Catheter Cyroballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.  Dr. Packer’s translational work focuses on autologous fibroblast modulation of electrical impulse propagation in the heart and the mechanisms and ablation of atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias.  His clinical work investigates 4/5 dimensional integrated image-guided ablation and the development of new approaches and energy sources for the modification of cardiac tissue in patients with cardiac arrhythmias. 

Dr. Packer is first vice president and 2009 president-elect of the National Heart Rhythm Society.  He has served on editorial boards for the American Heart Journal, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, HeartRhythm, and Journal of the American College of Cardiology.  He also has been involved in working groups on atrial fibrillation for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.  Dr. Packer holds two U.S. patents and one in Europe.

Nasseff is a well-known philanthropist who worked his way from unloading boxcars at West Publishing Co. to become its vice president of engineering and development.  He has contributed to Mayo Clinic education and research programs including rheumatology and neurologic surgery research.  He named this professorship in honor of Dr. Onofrio, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon who performed lifesaving surgery for Nasseff’s youngest son, Arthur.