‘One Northwestern’ Comes Together to Honor Medical Leadership

When lead benefactor Northwestern Memorial HealthCare led the charge to establish and endow the Lewis Landsberg Deanship, a tremendous tribute was paid to a highly-esteemed former Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine. With additional leadership gifts from the Medical School’s clinical partners, an unprecedented show of mutual support from Chicago’s premier healthcare leaders proclaimed a new era in the evolution of a great academic medical center.

On October 11, 2007, Northwestern University President Henry Bienen, the leadership of the Medical School’s affiliates, Provost Daniel Linzer, faculty and staff members, students, donors, families and friends of the Feinberg School of Medicine, gathered to honor Dr. Landsberg and to invest J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, as the inaugural Lewis Landsberg Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine.

Speaking at the investiture ceremony, Dr. Landsberg acknowledged the extraordinary honor of having the University’s first ever deanship established in his name, saying, “I am profoundly grateful to the donors, not only for this remarkable gift, but for the friendship and support they have given me.”

During Dr. Landsberg’s tenure as Dean, extramural research support doubled while space devoted to research and education increased by approximately 70 percent. In July 2007, Dr. Landsberg stepped down as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Dean of the Feinberg School of Medicine “to pass the baton to a new generation of leaders.”

“I am thrilled that Larry will be the first incumbent of the deanship that bears my name.”

At his investiture, Dr. Jameson thanked the leadership of the clinical affiliates, describing their gifts as “transforming,” vowing to make the most of the privilege bestowed upon him. Heralding the promise of the Medical School, Dr. Jameson quoted Chicago architect, Daniel Burnham, “Make no little plans.” Making his ambitions and dynamism clear, he said, “The present and the future are too promising—there is nothing to hold us back.”

Dr. Jameson was extolled by his friend and former colleague from Massachusetts General Hospital, William Crowley, MD, as a “visionary choice” to lead the Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Crowley delighted the audience with stories from Dr. Jameson’s time at MGH, drawing chuckles with an anecdote about Dr. Jameson’s early wisdom about a certain university where “many good ideas come out, but very few make their way in.”

On behalf of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and other affiliate benefactors, Dean Harrison, President and CEO of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, described Dr. Jameson as “a partner with a shared vision, who seeks out innovative ways to enhance teamwork and collaboration.”

During Dr. Jameson’s tenure as chair of the Department of Medicine, the department moved from 37th to 21st in research funding, doubled its clinical activity and productivity, redesigned its residency and physician-scientist training programs, and developed robust faculty mentoring and leadership programs. The department is recognized nationally for its innovation in each of its mission areas.

Under his leadership, the Feinberg School will build on the great momentum made possible by this show of partnership and advance in a new age of promise.