Fred Sanfilippo, MD, PhD

It is with mixed emotion that I announce that our colleague Dennis Choi, VP for Academic Health Affairs at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and Director of the Emory Neurosciences Initiative and the WHSC Comprehensive Neurosciences Center, will be leaving Emory at summer’s end to take a new position at the New York City-based Simons Foundation. During his time here, Dennis has been a valuable member of the WHSC leadership team, making multiple contributions that have strengthened the university. He has effectively led our effort to better define the role of interdisciplinary centers and to enhance our institutional culture, chairing the WHSC Culture Transformation Group. As Director of the Comprehensive Neurosciences Center, he has also added significant momentum to an already prominent neurosciences effort.

On Sept 1, 2010, Dennis will become Executive Vice President of the Simons Foundation. Founded by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the Simons Foundation seeks to advance research in mathematics and the basic sciences, with a particular interest in neuroscience research focused on autism. Dennis’ longstanding mentor and friend, Gerry Fischbach, serves as Scientific Director of the Simons Foundation’s Autism Research Initiative.

Dennis has related to me that while he is excited about this new opportunity, he’ll miss the Emory Neurosciences community and many esteemed colleagues and friends throughout the university. He plans to take a leave of absence from his faculty appointments as Professor of Neurology, Pharmacology, Biology, and Pediatrics, but continue to be engaged with Emory as appropriate.

Please join me in thanking Dennis for all his contributions to Emory and the WHSC, and wishing him well in his new role.