Mayo Clinic Trustees Honor New Named Professors

Monday, November 24, 2003

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees today recognized two physicians who have been awarded Mayo Clinic College of Medicine named professorships.

Michael Sarr, M.D., a Mayo Clinic general surgeon, is the recipient of the James C. Masson Professorship of Surgery. Dr. Sarr, who joined the staff of Mayo Clinic in 1985, is a professor of surgery at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He also holds associate faculty privileges in Mayo Graduate School. Dr. Sarr served as chair of the Division of Gastroenterologic and General Surgery from 1992 to 2001. His research interests include pancreatic surgery, bariatric surgery and physiology of intestinal transplantation.

Ruth Masson of Rochester established the Masson Professorship in 1973 in honor of her husband, Dr. James Masson. Dr. Masson trained under Drs. William and Charles Mayo and was named chief of Mayo Clinic's surgical staff in 1935. Dr. Masson died in 1975. Mrs. Masson was a longtime Mayo Clinic patient, friend and benefactor. She died in 1995.

The trustees also honored James Seward, M.D., a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, as a new named professor. Dr. Seward is the recipient of the John M. Nasseff Sr., Professorship in Cardiology in Honor of Dr. Burton Onofrio. Dr. Seward, who joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1976, is a professor of medicine and pediatrics in Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and served as the director of the Echocardiography Laboratory until 2002. Dr. Seward's clinical interests include complex and adult congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, cardiovascular ultrasound imaging and hemodynamics, echo-directed pericardiocentesis, transesophageal echocardiograpy, parametric imaging and the physiology of aging. His research interests include interventional ultrasound, computer and multimedia technology, three-dimensional navigation, three- and four-dimensional echocardiography and parametric echocardiography.

John M. Nasseff Sr. of St. Paul, Minn., established the Nasseff Professorship in 2002 in honor of his Mayo Clinic physician, Burton Onofrio, M.D. The Nasseff family relationship with Mayo Clinic began when Dr. Onofrio, a resident in the Department of Neurosurgery, treated the family's youngest son at Mayo Clinic; this started a friendship that now spans more than 40 years.

The Nasseff family has contributed to Mayo Clinic's research and educational programs in recognition of the dedicated surgical career of Dr. Onofrio, now an emeritus staff member, and in gratitude for the family's relationship with Mayo Clinic. Mr. Nasseff is a retired vice president of engineering and development at West Publishing.

Named professorships at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine represent the highest academic distinction for a faculty member. Faculty are appointed to a professorship through nomination and endorsement of their peers, and then confirmed by Mayo Clinic senior leadership. Appointed individuals are recognized for distinguished achievement in their specialty areas and service to the institution. The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees confers the named professorship in person at a board meeting. Named professors hold the appointment for the duration of their active Mayo Clinic careers. Upon an incumbent's retirement, a new professor is appointed. The professorship remains in perpetuity.

These professorships are named in honor of the benefactors. The gift funds, which may be unrestricted or focused on a specific medical area, are held in endowment. All income from the endowed professorships supports Mayo Clinic programs in medical education and research.

The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees, a 30-member group of public representatives, Mayo Clinic physicians and administrators, is responsible for patient care, medical education and research activities at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.; Rochester, Minn.; and Scottsdale, Ariz.

Lisa Copeland
507-284-5005 (days)
507-284-2511 (evenings)
e-mail: newsbureau@mayo.edu

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