Stanford Report, March 18, 2009

Medical center people

William Benitz

Alan Garber

Thomas Rando

William Benitz, MD, the Philip Sunshine, MD, Endowed Professor in Neonatology, has been named chair-elect of the sub-board of neonatal-perinatal medicine of the American Board of Pediatrics. He will serve as chair for a two-year term in 2010 and 2011. Benitz, who is division chief of neonatology at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, is interested in neonatology, pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, infant ventilation and neonatal clinical protocols and clinical pathways.

Alan Garber, MD, PhD, the Henry J. Kaiser Jr., Professor, was recently named to a National Academies committee to develop recommendations on the national priorities for comparative effectiveness research in health care. His work focuses on methods for improving health-care delivery and financing, particularly for the elderly, in settings with limited resources. Garber is the founding director of both the Center for Health Policy and the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford.

Thomas Rando, MD, PhD, has been promoted to professor of neurology and neurological sciences, as of March 1. His lab studies the basic molecular mechanisms of muscle stem cell activation, the effects of aging on skeletal muscle and gene therapy for hereditary muscle diseases. Rando serves as both chief of neurology service and director of the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the veterans' hospital in Palo Alto. He also serves as deputy director of the Stanford Center for Longevity.