EVMS basic science
conference room named for Gary D. Hodgen
April 27, 2007
NORFOLK—EVMS formally named its
main science conference venue in memory of Gary D. Hodgen, Ph.D., a
pioneering scientist whose research helped lead to the first birth
in the nation of a child conceived by in vitro fertilization.
Hodgen, who came to EVMS in 1984,
brought in over $200 million in grants, patents and other awards. He
conducted research that kept the EVMS Jones Institute for
Reproductive Medicine at the forefront of reproductive technology.
Howard Jones, M.D., professor of
obstetrics and gynecology and co-founder of the Jones Institute,
said that key to Hodgen’s astonishing productivity was his
relentless drive to get things done, without any delays.
Jones recalled that Hodgen, when he was
still at the National Institutes of Health, launched an ambitious
experiment based “on a telephone call that lasted one minute.”
“Gary,” said Jones, “was among a handful
of people who are decisive doers.”
Jones made the statement during a formal
dedication of the Hodgen Basic Science Conference Room attended by
colleagues, former students, friends and by his two daughters and
his wife, Linda.
Dean Gerald J. Pepe, Ph.D., who worked
under Hodgen at the NIH, also recounted Hodgen’s drive to get things
done.
Hodgen often cautioned Pepe and other
researchers against getting bogged down in “a bunch of words” when
an idea for an experiment came up. “Just do it,” he would always
say.
Pepe recalled that he once had an idea
for an experiment, but didn’t have the funds. Hodgen sat him down
and rapidly hammered out ideas for grants for funding.
“It’s amazing what this man did in 15
minutes,” Pepe said. “If you needed five minutes with Gary, you were
only going to get five minutes, but you would really get a quality
five minutes.”
A series of groundbreaking firsts in
reproductive science punctuated Hodgen’s 11-year tenure at EVMS.
Thanks to Hodgen’s research, the EVMS Jones Institute was the first
to use a technique that could confirm the genetic health of embryos
before implantation. He established that women could bear children
using donated eggs. He pioneered at technique that allowed
scientists to inject an individual sperm cell inside an egg, a
technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Hodgen managed to transfer his
enthusiasm and love to discovery to students and fellows who flocked
to him.
“He was a joy to work with,” said Pepe.
Robert F. Williams, Ph.D., M.B.A.,
director of the EVMS Office of Technology Transfer, started working
under Hodgen back in 1977, when Hodgen was first at the NIH.
Williams recalls another value that Hodgen conveyed to every
student, something many other scientists ignored.
“He always told us that family was
first,” Williams recalled. Hodgen would take students and their
wives and children to his home. Turning to Linda Hodgen, Williams
said. “Linda, you mentored us on how to be a family.”
Hodgen passed away Feb. 19, 2005. He was
61 years old.
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Former
EVMS Rector Dr. Charles Fletcher, left, speaks with Dr. Frank Castora,
Associate Professor of Physiological Sciences.
Dr.
Robert Williams, left, now Associate Dean for Research Subjects
Protections and a former fellow in Hodgen’s lab, and Judy Williams speak
with Dr. Michael Solhaug, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
