School of Medicine

Homecoming came early this year for Vanderbilt alumnus David Sweatt, who joined the faculty as chair of Pharmacology this summer, 30 years after receiving his Ph.D. from the department he now leads.

As the guest speaker for the 15th annual Levi Watkins Jr., M.D., Lecture, Kevin Johnson, M.D., M.S., provided an energetic and entertaining overview of how his personal and professional accomplishments were influenced by “Lessons and Other Things My Parents Didn’t Teach Me.”

Lourdes Estrada, Ph.D., assistant professor of Cancer Biology, has been named associate director for Academic Programs and Operations for the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

The discoveries that can change the course of human health forever often begin in the tiniest places: in molecules and cells, at the most fundamental intersection of physics, chemistry and biology. Understanding how these cellular and molecular processes work is the focus of basic biomedical research at Vanderbilt.

Kevin Johnson, M.D., M.S., Senior Vice President for Health Information Technology, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor and Chair of Biomedical Informatics and professor of Pediatrics, will be the keynote speaker at the 15th annual Levi Watkins Jr. Lecture.

Nine faculty members who hold endowed chairs were honored and donors were thanked during a festive celebration Sept. 26 at the Student Life Center.