Curran honored with endowed chair
Creation of an endowed chair named for him came as a surprise to Dean James Curran (second from right), shown here with Ben Johnson (left) and Ann Estes and Lawrence Klamon.
For the first time, Emory has created an endowed chair to honor a sitting dean. Named for RSPH Dean James Curran, the chair is funded by a gift from the university and Lawrence and Ann Klamon, volunteer leaders with the school. Through their generosity, Curran and his successors will be known as the James W. Curran Dean of Public Health.
In appreciation of the Klamons' gift, the RSPH will name a large public meeting space in its new building in their honor. The Lawrence P. and Ann Estes Klamon Room will be located on the top floor of the Claudia Nance Rollins Building, set to open in fall 2010.
The Klamons play a major role in Campaign Emory. As RSPH campaign co-chairs, they are leading the school's efforts to raise $150 million by 2012 to enhance faculty recruitment, research, teaching, student scholarships, and facilities.
Their gift honoring Curran is a natural extension of their longtime relationship with the RSPH and Emory. Ann is a graduate of Emory College and Emory Law School and serves on the RSPH Dean's Council. Larry chairs the Dean's Council and is a former member of the Goizueta Business School's Advisory Council and Emory's Board of Visitors. Both were drawn to Rollins' mission of improving health locally and globally and the faculty, staff, and students who strive to make that happen. That of course includes Curran.
For nearly 25 years, Curran served with the CDC, becoming a pioneer in the detection and prevention of HIV/AIDS and serving as assistant surgeon general with the U.S. Public Health Service. For his achievements, Curran was elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1993. Two years later, he joined the RSPH as dean and professor of epidemiology.
Curran subsequently became principal investigator and co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research, bringing together more than 100 Emory scientists and clinicians as collaborators. He has chaired the Association of Schools of Public Health and currently chairs the IOM's Board of Population Health and Public Health Practice. He also serves on advisory boards with Emory's Global Health Institute and Winship Cancer Institute and on the governing board of the Public Health Foundation of India. Through these and other leadership activities, he has built numerous bridges to enhance quality of life for families, communities, and populations.
"Jim Curran's leadership definitely deserves special recognition," says Ann Klamon. "Larry and I are honored to support Jim and help Rollins achieve its goal of better health for people around the globe."—Pam Auchmutey and Ashante Dobbs
