Endowed Chairs

Recognizing those within the UofL Department of Medicine who hold endowed chairs at the University of Louisville.


Thomas L. Abell, M.D.

 

Thomas L. Abell, M.D.Arthur M. Schoen, M.D., Chair in Gastroenterology
School of Medicine - Established 2007

A $1 million bequest from the estate of Arthur M. Schoen, M.D., created the School of Medicine's first chair in gastroenterology.

The Arthur M. Schoen, M.D., Chair in Gastroenterology is the first endowed chair in the division and is used to recruit a top clinician to the department.

A 1943 graduate from the UofL School of Medicine, Schoen left money in his will to create a chair in his former department.

Schoen practiced medicine for more than 50 years and was an emeritus clinical professor of medicine in UofL's Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

The division has over 17 full-time faculty and 12 fellows, five Ph.D. researchers and more than $10 million in National Institutes of Health grants.

It also runs the Digestive Health Center at University Hospital, the only such center in Louisville.


Aruni Bhatnagar, Ph.D., FAHA

 

Aruni Bhatnagar, Ph.D.Smith and Lucille Gibson Endowed Chair
School of Medicine - Established March 2000

This endowed chair was established by the Dr. Smith and Lucille Gibson. The late Smith H. Gibson, M.D., was a 1950 honor graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

He completed his residency and fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and practiced in Covington, Ky., for most of his career.

Dr. Gibson also served as a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, rising from instructor (1957) to clinical professor (1985) and professor emeritus (1998).

His wife, Lucille, is a former registered dietician. They are parents of five adult children.

Dr. Gibson practiced part-time and was active in clinical events in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Department of Dermatology prior to his passing in 2017.


Roberto Bolli, M.D., FAHA, FACC

 

Roberto Bolli, M.D., FAHAJewish Hospital Heart and Lung Institute Distinguished Chair in Cardiology
School of Medicine - Established December 1997

The Jewish Hospital Foundation created this distinguished chair in cardiology, which was matched by the state Research Challenge Trust Fund, during the university's bicentennial campaign.

The chair studies new therapeutic strategies to reduce heart disease, an area of research that already has brought national recognition to UofL's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.

Jewish Hospital Foundation was a principal contributor to the bicentennial campaign, providing funds for the Donald E. Baxter Biomedical Research Building and numerous clinical and research programs in the School of Medicine.

Founded in 1905, UofL Hospital - Jewish Campus has long been a partner with the School of Medicine.

In 2001, UofL surgeons led a UofL Hospital - Jewish Campus clinical team that performed the world's first two implants of the AbioCor self-contained artificial heart.


Jeffrey P. Callen, M.D., FACP, FAAD, MACR

 

Jonathan B. Chaires, Ph.D.Lafayette G. Owen, Chair of Dermatology
School of Medicine - Established December 2022

A $2 million bequest from the estate of Lafayette G. Owen, M.D., created the School of Medicine's first chair in dermatology.

A graduate from the UofL School of Medicine, Dr. Owen left money in his will to create a chair in his former division.

Owen practiced medicine for more than 50 years, was the Division's first program director. He was the Chief of the Division from the late 1970s until 1988.

He practiced Dermatology and Dermatopathology in Louisville until the time of his death and was a clinical professor of medicine (Dermatology) in UofL's Division of Dermatology.

The division has over four full-time faculty and six residents and one fellow.


Jason A. Chesney, M.D., Ph.D.

 

Jonathan B. Chaires, Ph.D.James Graham Brown Foundation Chair
School of Medicine - Established July 1999

The James Graham Brown Foundation created this endowed chair in the School of Medicine as part of the bicentennial campaign. The state's Research Challenge Trust Fund doubled the gift.

The endowment supports the position of director of the UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center, whose role is to recruit highly qualified new research faculty to the center and to significantly increase the center's federal research funding.

The Brown Foundation was incorporated in 1954 from the assets of Louisville businessman and philanthropist James Graham Brown.

In 2002 the foundation pledged one of the largest single gifts in the university's history -- $15 million to support cancer research and patient care.

The foundation pledged an additional $15 million in 2004 to the cancer center's Finding Answers to Cancer campaign.


Douglas C. Dean, Ph.D.

 

Douglas C. Dean, Ph.D.Robert W. Rounsavall Jr. and Gretchen C. Rounsavall Endowed Chair in Ocular Molecular Biology
School of Medicine - Established June 2004

This chair was created with a gift from Robert W. Rounsavall III and Mary Rounsavall in honor of Robert Rounsavall's late parents, which was matched by the state Research Challenge Trust Fund.

His father had an ocular disorder and gave $1.25 million to the Kentucky Lions Eye Center in 1996. The Rounsavall Eye Clinic within the center is named for him.

This chair is intended to recruit a molecular biologist engaged in research that can be transitioned from the laboratory to patient care.

The holder of this chair is charged with researching the molecular biology of cancer, including ocular tumors.


Dinesh Kalra, M.D., FACC, FNLA, FSCCT, FSCMR

 

Dinesh Kalra, M.D., FACC, FNLA, FSCCT, FSCMRJewish Hospital Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Innovation
School of Medicine - Established June 2007

This chair supports the recruitment and retention of the scientific director for the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute.

Jewish Hospital Foundation's gifts help fund the Donald E. Baxter Biomedical Research Building and numerous research and clinical programs in the School of Medicine.

Founded in 1905, Jewish Hospital has long been a partner with the School of Medicine. In 2001 UofL surgeons led a Jewish Hospital clinical team that performed the world's first two implants of a self-contained artificial heart, the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart


Jon B. Klein, M.D., Ph.D.

 

Jon B. Klein, M.D., Ph.D.James Graham Brown Foundation Chair in Proteomics
School of Medicine - Established June 2001

The James Graham Brown Foundation Chair in Proteomics is used to recruit a scientist who works in the area of proteomics – the study of proteins and how they are expressed in the human body. The state's Research Challenge Trust Fund matched the gift.

The James Graham Brown Foundation was incorporated in 1954 from the assets of Brown, an area entrepreneur who made most of his wealth in the timber industry.

The foundation supports projects in the fields of civic affairs, economic development, education and health in Kentucky.

In 2002 the foundation pledged one of the largest single gifts in the university's history -- $15 million to support cancer research and patient care.

The foundation pledged an additional $15 million in 2004 to the cancer center's Finding Answers to Cancer campaign.


Luis S. Marsano-Obando, M.D.

 

Luis S. Marsano-Obando, M.D.Jewish Hospital Distinguished Chair in Hepatology
School of Medicine - Established November 2000

Jewish Hospital Foundation created this distinguished chair in hepatology, which was matched by the state Research Challenge Trust Fund. The chair studies new therapeutic strategies to treat liver disease.

Jewish Hospital Foundation was a principal contributor to the bicentennial campaign, providing funds for the Donald E. Baxter Biomedical Research Building and numerous clinical and research programs in the School of Medicine.

Founded in 1905, UofL Hospital - Jewish Campus has long been a partner with the School of Medicine.

In 2001, UofL surgeons led a UofL Hospital - Jewish Campus clinical team that performed the world's first two implants of the AbioCor self-contained artificial heart.


Mark P. Pfeifer, M.D.

 

Mark P. Pfeifer, M.D.V.V. Cooke Chair of Medicine
School of Medicine - Established 1975

The V.V. Cooke Foundation established this chair to support teaching, research and service in internal medicine.

V.V. Cooke Jr., president of the foundation when the gift was made, endowed the professorship to fulfill his father's desire to help many areas of need in the Louisville community, particularly education.

V.V. Cooke Sr., a Louisville businessman and philanthropist, was instrumental in founding Kentucky Southern College, that campus that later became the University of Louisville's Shelby Campus.

The V.V Cooke Foundation also has supported the George W. Pedigo Fellowship.


Mariusz Z. Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci.

 

Mariusz Z. Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sci.Henry M. and Stella M. Hoenig Endowed Chair
School of Medicine - Established July 2007

The Henry M. and Stella M. Hoenig Endowed Chair was established by the estate of Henry and Stella Hoenig through the generosity of Janet Hoenig Hiatt.

The Chair supports the recruitment and retention of an outstanding research faculty member in the Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology and the University of Louisville's UofL Health - Brown Cancer Center.


Brad K. Rodu, D.D.S.

 

Brad K. Rodu, D.D.S.Endowed Chair in Tobacco Harm Reduction Research
School of Medicine - Established April 2005

The endowed chair and research funds were created by the James Graham Brown Cancer Center using more than $3 million in unrestricted gifts by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company and Swedish Match North America, Inc. to the University of Louisville.

The sponsors have no influence over the chair holder's research.

The funds and the chair are part of the "Finding Answers to Cancer" campaign.

This commitment has been matched in part by the state's Research Challenge Trust Fund.


T. Michael Sabo, Ph.D.

 

T. Michael Sabo, Ph.D.James Graham Brown Endowed Professor of Biophysics
School of Medicine - Established April 2000

The James Graham Brown Foundation Chair Endowed Professorship is used to recruit a translational scientist who works to understand the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms behind tumor development. The state's Research Challenge Trust Fund matched the gift.

The James Graham Brown Foundation was incorporated in 1954 from the assets of Brown, an area entrepreneur who made most of his wealth in the timber industry. The foundation supports projects in the fields of civic affairs, economic development, education and health in Kentucky.

In 2002 the foundation pledged the largest single gift in the university's history -- $15 million to support cancer research and patient care.

The foundation pledged an additional $15 million in 2004 to the cancer center’s Finding Answers to Cancer campaign.