Blumenkranz, Pfeffer receive endowed professorships.

Blumenkranz, Pfeffer receive endowed professorships

Two faculty members at the School of Medicine, Mark Blumenkranz and Suzanne Pfeffer, were recently named to endowed professorships.

Mark Blumenkranz

Blumenkranz, MD, professor and chair of ophthalmology, has been appointed the H. J. Smead Professor of Ophthalmology. Much of his clinical work has focused on the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of common vitreo-retinal causes of blindness including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment. His research interests involve the development of novel technology to diagnose and treat these diseases, including new forms of ophthalmic imaging, laser delivery systems, microsurgical tools, and drugs and drug-delivery systems that inhibit new intra-ocular blood vessel growth, scarring and inflammation.

The Harold J. Smead Trust Agreement was established in 2001 by the late Harold Smead, PhD, to support the Department of Ophthalmology. In 2005, his widow, Ann Smead (now Ann Smead Byram) directed that the funds in the trust be used to establish a professorship in ophthalmology. Upon Blumenkranz’ retirement, the professorship will be renamed the Blumenkranz Smead Professorship.

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Suzanne Pfeffer

Pfeffer, PhD, professor of biochemistry, has been appointed the Emma Pfeiffer Merner Professor in the Medical Sciences. Pfeffer’s lab studies the molecular basis of receptor trafficking and cholesterol transport. This basic research is important to the understanding of a number of diseases including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, neurological disorders and stroke.

The professorship was endowed in 1963 with a grant from the Gustavus and Louise Pfeiffer Research Foundation of New York. The chair honors the late Emma Louise Pfeiffer Merner, the sister of Gustavus Pfeiffer, an industrialist and philanthropist. The Merner and Pfeiffer families have had connections to Stanford extending over three generations.

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* Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions – Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

**  The above story is adapted from materials provided by Stanford University School of Medicine

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