In Memoriam: Mark Molliver, Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience and Neurology

Dear Colleagues,

With great sadness, I am writing to report the May 10 death of Mark Molliver, professor emeritus of neuroscience and neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. A legendary teacher and highly respected neuroanatomist, Mark made a significant impact on our understanding of how the brain responds to drugs.

Mark came to Hopkins in 1965 as a postdoctoral fellow in neuroanatomy and then did a second postdoctoral fellowship in neurophysiology under Vernon Mountcastle. In 1969, Mark became one of the first residents in Hopkins’ then-just created Department of Neurology and joined the faculty as an assistant professor of anatomy and neurology in 1971. Although he retired in 2006, he continued to come to work and attend departmental faculty meetings.

Among his many research findings were the discovery of the adverse impact on the brain of the obesity drug fen-phen, which was among the factors prompting the Food and Drug Administration to ban it in 1997. His research also produced important findings about the drug MDMA, commonly known as “ecstasy.” His research showed that both fen-phen and ecstasy cause brain nerves (neurons) to die, leading to a reduction in serotonin levels.

His gentle nature and warm personality made Mark was one of our very best teachers, receiving teaching awards practically every year from 1974 to 1991.

Join me in extending sincere condolences to Mark’s longtime partner, Elizabeth O’Hearn; to his three children, Karin, Derek and Erica and three grandchildren; to his sister, Judith Molliver Gardel;, and to his former wife, Saralynn Clark.

A memorial for Mark will be held on Monday, June 4, at 4 p.m. in Mountcastle Auditorium.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.
CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine
Dean of the Medical Faculty