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March 26, 2002

Dear Colleagues:

It's official! This afternoon President George W. Bush announced his intent to nominate Elias Zerhouni to be the next director of the National Institutes of Health.

Now the long confirmation process commences. Those of us who have had the great pleasure of working with Elias during his spectacular career at Johns Hopkins know that this nation would be fortunate indeed to have him as director of the NIH. Over and over again, he has demonstrated that he is a visionary leader who understands how science can improve health. Equally important, over and over again he has demonstrated that he knows how to build bridges, develop a consensus and marshal financial and human resources to achieve that vision.

As one of the world's premier experts in magnetic resonance imaging, Elias has extended the role of MRI from taking snapshots of gross anatomy to visualizing how the body works at the molecular level. In doing so, he has helped provide a new tool for scientists to understand the origins of disease and how treatments can be tailored to be more effective.

Recognizing the importance of fundamental research into how cells control their destiny, in fact, caused him to take the lead in establishing our Institute for Cell Engineering. He is sensitive to the ethical and policy issues that accompany such advances in science, as well as to the need to leverage the intellectual capital of our country's great academic medical centers for the benefit of their communities. Currently, he is spearheading our efforts to work with the Mayor of Baltimore in developing a biotech park adjacent to our campus.

With his incredible administrative ability and keen, logical, analytical mind, Elias has moved smoothly from one key position to another at Johns Hopkins Medicine. At the same time as he has served as director of our Department of Radiology, one of the most prominent and scientifically active in the nation, he has been Executive Vice Dean of the School of Medicine. Whenever I needed someone to step into a key role, he was there for me and for Hopkins. At various times he also has held the titles of Vice Dean for Research and for Clinical Affairs. No matter what he has undertaken, he has distinguished himself and has won respect, admiration and cooperation from his colleagues.

On a personal note, Elias has been my closest friend and advisor since I became Dean and CEO of Hopkins Medicine five years ago. He is sensitive to the needs of others and has the highest of ethical standards. I'm sure you join me in wishing him good luck with the confirmation process and enormous success at the NIH. The nation's great gain will be Johns Hopkins' great loss.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.

CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dean, Medical Faculty

See more information on Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D.

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