At its meeting Dec. 1, the Board of Trustees elected Gordon W. Philpott, M.D., emeritus professor of surgery at the School of Medicine, as a member, according to Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
A recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award, Philpott graduated cum laude from the medical school in 1961, after earning a bachelor’s in 1957 from Yale University. He joined the surgery faculty in 1968, focusing his efforts on treating breast cancer, as well as colorectal cancer.
The trustees received a detailed report on buildings and grounds for the University, presented by Vice Chancellor Richard A. Roloff. Roloff reviewed the status of current construction projects, as well as forthcoming recommendations for continuing improvements and new facilities.
In his report to the trustees, Wrighton congratulated two recipients of Rhodes Scholarships and one Marshall Scholarship winner. Aaron F. Mertz, a 2006 Arts & Sciences graduate and student representative to the Board of Trustees, and Leana S. Wen, a medical student, became the 24th and 25th Washington University students since 1904 to receive Rhodes Scholarships — the world’s oldest international fellowship. WUSTL is one of only four schools in the nation to win more than one Rhodes scholarships this year. The two will pursue graduate study at Oxford University in England next fall. He also congratulated Jeffrey J. Marlow, a senior in Arts & Sciences and a former student representative to the Board of Trustees, for his Marshall Scholarship for graduate study next fall at Imperial College in London.
Wrighton reported that the Genome Sequencing Center was awarded a $156 million, four-year grant to study DNA related to cancer and other diseases. It is only one of three such grants given by the National Human Genome Research Institute to U.S.-based sequencing centers. The grant also will be used to sequence genomes of primates and microbes.
The chancellor recounted the well-attended dedication of the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum and Walker Hall Oct. 25, as well as the dedication two days later of the Habif Health and Wellness Center in Dardick Hall.
On the international scene, Wrighton noted the key role the University played in helping organize the second International Graduate Scholarship Conference in Shanghai, China, in mid-October, bringing 17 U.S. universities — including Duke, Harvard, Yale and Penn — together with 20 leading Chinese universities and 400 prospective graduate students from China. He also noted that the Washington University-Fudan University Executive M.B.A. Program was ranked No. 1 in China and No. 8 in the world by the Financial Times. He announced that the International Advisory Council for Asia will hold its next meeting in mid-March in Bangkok, Thailand.
Wrighton closed his remarks by congratulating the Department of Athletics on another winning season, highlighted by the women’s volleyball team — which closed its season at 38-2, finishing No. 2 in the nation in the national championships. The women’s soccer team finished 17-3 and was ranked No. 6 in the nation, while the women’s cross country team finished No. 4 in the NCAA national championships.
In other action, the trustees received reports from the following committees: audit, development, educational policy, nominating, University finance, medical finance, research-graduate affairs, undergraduate life and the Alumni Board of Governors.
About Philpott
Gordon W. Philpott, M.D., began teaching at the medical school as soon as he completed a surgical internship and surgical residency at Barnes Hospital, joining the faculty as an instructor in surgery in 1968.
He served as assistant dean for curriculum from 1974-76 and was named the Harry Edison Professor of Surgery. He also served as chief of surgery at Jewish Hospital from 1976-78, becoming associate director of the hospital’s Department of Surgery the following year. In 1994, he became a professor of radiology.
Philpott serves on the Medicine National Council, the Danforth Circle Eliot Membership Committee, the Alumni Board of Governors and the Siteman Community Advisory Board. He is co-chair of the Medicine Capital Resources Committee.
Last month, Philpott received the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award at the Founders Day celebration.
Philpott is a surgeon highly regarded for his interest in issues related to patient care and physician education and his active support of the University and the medical school. Before retiring in July 1999, he devoted himself to developing the Breast Health Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
The Philpott family, who are native St. Louisans, established in 1999 a foundation at the medical school to provide a student with financial support. In addition, the Philpott family previously established the Philpott Family Challenge program to encourage alumni and others to support the medical school.