Physician-Scientist to Speak at Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU
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Elias Zerhouni, MD, a leading figure in medical research and public health and former vice chair of Radiology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), will address members of the Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University community on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. At the event, Dr. Zerhouni, who has had a distinguished career spanning academia, government and industry, will discuss his new memoir, “Disease Knows No Politics,” at this free event.
The event will take place in Waitzer Hall, Room 300, with refreshments at 2:30 p.m., a program at 3 p.m. and a book signing at 4 p.m. Students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to attend. Complimentary books are available to the first 100 guests. Parking is available in Visitor Garage A and will be validated for those without parking privileges at ODU’s Eastern Virginia Medical School campus.
Dr. Zerhouni served as the 15th director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under President George W. Bush and played a key role as a presidential science envoy under President Obama. He was chair of the Department of Radiology and executive vice dean at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he is now professor emeritus of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering. His groundbreaking research has directly benefited countless patients, in particular, his work in cardiovascular MRI and the development of imaging techniques for lung and breast cancer diagnosis has helped prevent unnecessary surgeries for many.
Beyond his academic career, Dr. Zerhouni has made significant contributions to industry. He is president of OPKO Health, a multinational biopharmaceutical and diagnostics company, and co-founder of ModeX Therapeutics, a biotech firm focused on developing innovative biologic drugs for cancer and infectious diseases. He is a board member of several organizations including the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, the Lasker Foundation and Research!America.
In his memoir, “Disease Knows No Politics,” Dr. Zerhouni, who addressed EVMS graduates as the commencement speaker in 2022 and played a key role in the launch of the academic health sciences center, reflects on his journey to become a scientific leader, sharing insights into healthcare, the evolution of biomedical research and the intersection of science and politics. His reflections offer an invaluable perspective for those navigating careers in academia, government and industry.
"As a former faculty member of EVMS, with fond memories of the institution, I want to give back to its students, faculty and community by sharing my reflections and insights about academia, government, industry and the current times in healthcare, science and biomedical research,” said Dr. Zerhouni. “These insights are borne from a career that has led me across disciplines and continents, a life story I've illustrated in my memoir, ‘Disease Knows No Politics’. It's a story that I hope to use to inspire the next generation of physicians and scientists."
Registration is available online. For more information, please reach out to Laurie Harrison at harrisld@odu.edu.