Mayo Clinic Trustees Recognize Four New Named Professors

Friday, August 10, 2007

ROCHESTER, Minn. — The Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees recognized four awardees of Mayo Clinic named professorships at its quarterly meeting.

Charles Erlichman, M.D., received the Peter and Frances Georgeson Professorship in Gastroenterology Cancer Research. This professorship, established in 2006, was funded by Peter and Frances Georgeson, in memory of loved ones who died from cancer. Peter Georgeson is the founder of Scot Forge, a leader in the steel forging industry. Dr. Erlichman, who joined Mayo Clinic in 1994, is focused on the development of novel therapies in cancer treatment, with a particular emphasis on malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinically he was a leader in developing a chemotherapy regimen that was proven to be effective in the treatment of colon cancers. Deputy director of clinical affairs since 2004, Dr. Erlichman is also the leader of an academic medical center consortium, funded by the National Cancer Institute, that is performing Phase II clinical trials of novel agents in patients with cancer.

Bernard Morrey, M.D., was recognized as the John and Posy Krehbiel Professor of Orthopedics, which was established in 2007. John Krehbiel is co-chair of Molex, one of the world's largest manufacturers of electronic, electrical and fiber-optic interconnection products and systems. Dr. Morrey is the emeritus chair of the Department of Orthopedics at Mayo Clinic and holds the academic rank of professor of orthopedics. He recently fulfilled an eight-year term on the Board of Governors of Mayo Clinic and is currently involved in Mayo practice optimization efforts with particular emphasis on monitoring and improving the cost effectiveness of the Mayo practice. Dr. Morrey has served in several national leadership capacities, including terms as president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons.

Donald Tindall, Ph.D., received the Carl Rosen Professorship in Urology, which was established in 1983 as a tribute to physician David Utz, M.D., by Carl Rosen, former chair and chief executive officer of Puritan Fashion Corp. and a fashion industry innovator. Dr. Tindall's major research area is the mechanism of androgen action in prostate cancer. At Mayo Clinic, he serves as vice chair of urology research, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and a consultant in the Department of Urology. Dr. Tindall has served as president of the Society for Basic Urologic Research, chair of the 12 site-visit teams for the National Cancer Institute and co-chair of the Prostate Cancer Review Group for the National Cancer Institute.

The trustees also honored Thomas V. Colby, M.D., as the Geraldine Colby Zeiler Professor of Cytopathology. This professorship was established in 1992 by William Zeiler, M.D., in conjunction with the College of American Pathologists Foundation, in memory of Dr. Zeiler's wife of 38 years, Geraldine Colby Zeiler, who trained as a cytology technician at Mayo Clinic in 1950. Dr. Colby joined the Mayo staff in 1986. He is chair of Mayo Clinic's laboratory medicine and pathology in Arizona, a professor of pathology and a consultant in surgical pathology. In 1992, he received Teacher of the Year for Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and was named chair of pathology in 2007. He has served on the editorial board for many peer-reviewed journals, including American Journal of Surgical Pathology, Annals of Diagnostic Pathology, American Journal of Clinical Pathology and Sarcoidosis, Vasculitis and Diffuse Lung Diseases.

Named professorships at Mayo Clinic represent the highest academic distinction for a faculty member. Faculty is 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 for service to the institution.

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 and Mayo physicians and administrators, is responsible for patient care, medical education and research activities at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.