Proceedings of the Board of Regents (1963-1966)

1276

FEBRUARY MEETING, 1966

OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Paul F. Mertins, B.S., Research Associate, January 1, 1966, to June 30, 1966,
twelve-month basis
Donald R. Theophilus, Jr., M.B.A., Research Associate, January 1, 1966, to
August 31, 1966
J. V. Neel, Lee R. On the recommendation of the Dean of the Medical School and
Professor of Of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, the Regents appointed
Human Genetics James V. Neel. M.D., Lee R. Dice University Professor of Human
Genetics, effective July 1, 1966 (p. 1199).
In making the recommendation, the Vice-President said:
With the support of the Advisory Committee on Distinguished University
Professorships, I recommend the appointment of James V. Neel, Professor and
Chairman of the Department of Human Genetics, as the Lee R. Dice University
Professor of Human Genetics.
Professor Ne l was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and received his bachelor's degree
in 1935 at the College of Wooster. In 1939 he was granted a Ph.D. degree in
genetics by the University of Rochester and in 1944 was granted an M.D. degree
by that same institution. In 1959 his alma mater, the College of Wooster, honored
him with a Doctor of Science degree.
Following a year as a Fellow of the National Research Council spent in the
Department of Genetics of Columbia University, Dr. Neel completed his specialty
training as an internist at the University of Rochester. In 1948 he was appointed
as Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of
Michigan and Associate Geneticist in the Laboratory of \ ertebrate Biology. In
1950 he became Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Geneticist in the
Institute of Human Biology. In 1956 the Department of Human Genetics was
established, and Dr. Neel became Professor of Human Genetics and the first
Chairman of that new department. The following year he was promoted to Professor of Internal Medicine. Beginning in 1947, Dr. Neel acted as Director of Field
Studies of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission and has subsequently made
repeated visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a Consultant in Genetics to the
Committee on Atomic Casualties. The reference studies of the effects of the atom
bomb are the result of the work of Dr. Neel and his associates.
In 1956 he was the Cutter Lecturer at Harvard University and that same year
was Chairman of the Panel on Genetics of the National Research Council. He has
been a continuing Consultant to the United States Public Health Service, the
Atomic Energy Commission, the National Academy of Sciences, and the World
Health Organization.
Since 1952 he has been on the Planning Commission for the International
Biological Program of the World Health Organization. He serves as Co-Chairman
of the Third International Congress of Human Genetics and is on the Editorial
Board of four fundamental scientific journals.
In 1960 Dr. Neel received the Lasker Award for distinctive contributions to
health and that same year received the Modern Medicine Award. In 1965 Dr. Neel
received the highest award granted by American geneticists —the Allen Award of
the American Society of Human Genetics. Recently, announcement was made that
Dr. Neel would be the Henry Russel Lecturer in 1966. He is a member of the
Association of American Physicians, the American Philosophical Society, the
National Academy of Sciences and has served since 1948 as a member of the
Board of Directors and as Vice-President and President of the American Society of
Human Genetics.
He has been recognized by other countries through membership in the Japan
Society of Human Genetics and the Brazilian Society of Genetics.
Within the University, Dr. Neel has demonstrated a great breadth of interest
and leadership. He has served as a member of the University Committee on Cancer
Research, for three years acting as its Chairman. Within the Medical School he
continues to serve as a member of the Curriculum Committee, the Building Committee of the Second Unit of the Medical Science Building, and the Board of Scientific Directors for the Center for Research in Diseases of the Heart and Circulation.
Within the Graduate School he is a member of the Committee on Human Biology
and the Committee on Graduate Degrees in Genetics. His training program for
doctoral and postdoctoral students in human genetics not only has high distinction
internationally but is the largest such program in the United States.