December 10, 2002

Dear Colleagues:

With great pleasure I inform you that Janice Clements, Ph.D., will serve as the first director of the new Department of Comparative Medicine. The elevation of Comparative Medicine from a division to departmental status reflects the great importance of animal models to our research mission. The search committee headed by Richard Traytsman felt strongly that Dr. Clements' background and experience provide unparalleled perspective for the complex issues facing the new department. I couldn't agree more.

From her own large, world-class retroviral research program, as well as from her experience as interim head of the division of Comparative Medicine and as Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs, Janice is extraordinarily qualified to assume this new responsibility. A professor of comparative medicine, of molecular biology and genetics, and of neurology, she will maintain her research program and her position as Vice Dean as she helps usher in the next era for Comparative Medicine.

As the search committee members pointed out, this "will make a heavy load even by the standards of this institution," but Janice is clearly up to the challenge. Johns Hopkins has been fortunate to have had her presence, guidance and leadership over the last 24 years, since she joined us as a postdoc in neurovirology and will surely benefit from the wealth of experience she brings to her new role. Please join me in congratulating and supporting Dr. Clements.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.
Dean and CEO
Johns Hopkins Medicine