Myron “Mike” Weisfeldt, medical consultant for Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures and former chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, received the 2019 Dean’s Distinguished Mentoring Award on Friday.
“Mentoring is a universal value in human life,” Weisfeldt said after accepting the award in front of family, JHTV colleagues and many of his mentees, including Redonda Miller, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital, who credited Weisfeldt with helping her chart a new path in medicine.
The award honors a School of Medicine faculty member whose distinguished career has resulted in the mentoring of individuals who have gone on to establish independent, distinguished careers in academic medicine.
Eric Bass, director of the Johns Hopkins Evidence-based Practice Center, organized a team to nominate Weisfeldt. Mentees praised Weisfeldt for showing genuine interest in their work as well as promoting the careers of women and minorities, according to Bass. The Department of Medicine created an annual visiting professorship in diversity in Weisfeldt’s name.
Elias Zerhouni, professor emeritus of radiology and biomedical engineering, called Weisfeldt the “mastermind” of the cardiac MRI, pulling together people with a variety of professional backgrounds, including Zerhouni, to bring greater understanding to cardiovascular radiology.
“He changed the science and practice of cardiovascular medicine,” said Zerhouni, who gave the Dean’s Distinguished Mentoring Award Lecture in Weisfeldt’s honor. “He forced people to think big.”
Weisfeldt graduated from The Johns Hopkins University School in 1962 and the School of Medicine three years later. At JHTV, Weisfeldt provides advice on strategies and evaluation of intellectual property of Johns Hopkins faculty.
To watch a recording of the ceremony, click here.