Sieck Named President of the American Physiological Society

Monday, March 17, 2008

Gary Sieck, Ph.D., professor of physiology and chair of the Mayo Clinic Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, has been elected president of the American Physiological Society (APS), one of the oldest professional organizations of basic and applied biomedical research in the United States. His appointment will run through 2010.

Dr. Sieck will be the fifth APS president from Mayo Clinic. Past APS presidents from Mayo Clinic include Frank Knox, M.D., Ph.D., (1986-1987); Earl Wood, M.D., (1980-1981); Hiram Essex, Ph.D., (1954-1955); and Frank Mann, M.D., (1936-1937).

In February, Dr. Sieck was also inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Through its College of Fellows, Academic Council, Council of Societies and Industry Council, AIMBE represents approximately 50,000 influential leaders in medical and biological sciences throughout the world.

Dr. Sieck, who is deputy director and associate dean for research at Mayo Clinic, specializes in the study of the structure and function of muscles. He is currently conducting research relevant to spinal cord injury, mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His work has had a major impact on issues related to diaphragm muscle weakness with direct relevance to conditions like respiratory failure and weaning from mechanical ventilation.

In 2007, Dr. Sieck was awarded Mayo Clinic's top honor given to its scientists: Distinguished Investigator.

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