Dean's Medal to be awarded to Freidenrichs, Berg

Courtesy of Packard Children's Hospital

Jill and John Freidenrich

As the School of Medicine observes the 100th anniversary of its founding, medical school leaders will formalize a tradition by making an annual award of the Dean's Medal to outstanding individuals who have helped make the school the world-class research enterprise it is today.

The 2008 recipients of the medal are Jill and John Freidenrich, Stanford alumni and longtime supporters of the medical school, and biochemist Paul Berg, PhD, the Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research, emeritus. Dean Philip Pizzo, MD, will present them with the medal, one of the school's highest honors, at a dinner April 25 celebrating the school's centennial.

'Without question, Jill and John Freidenrich and Professor Paul Berg have been essential in shaping the medical school and medical center as we know it today and in preparing it for the challenges and successes it will face in the decades to follow,' Pizzo said in announcing the recipients.

The Dean's Medal is bestowed on individuals who have distinguished themselves in education, research, clinical practice, philanthropy, civic life or humanitarian activities and whose work is emblematic of the school's mission.

Steve Fisch Photography

Paul Berg

Jill and John Freidenrich are being recognized for their many humanitarian, philanthropic and leadership contributions to the medical center community. Berg, who won the Nobel Prize in 1980, was selected for his scientific achievements, as well as his years of leadership that helped turn the school into a research powerhouse.

'For nearly 50 years, Paul Berg has been a world-renowned scientific leader, innovator, teacher and advocate,' Pizzo said. 'His contributions have been extraordinary in every dimension and have brought credit and distinction to the medical school and university. He epitomizes the very spirit of Stanford.

'Jill and John Freidenrich have played a different but equally important role in fostering innovation and stimulating translational research and medicine at Stanford,' he said. 'From their advocacy and support for patients with cancer to their dedicated efforts on the university and hospital boards, Jill and John have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of children and adults facing the challenge of disease.'

John Freidenrich said news of the award came as 'a complete shock.'

'Obviously it's a terrific honor, and Jill and I are both very pleased and excited about it,' he said.

'It feels like we are being honored for what we truly love to do,' said Jill Freidenrich. 'It doesn't get much better - really.'

Berg said he, too, was surprised and pleased to be recognized with the medal.

'I certainly appreciate being chosen, and I'm particularly pleased to be sharing the occasion with our longtime friends, the Friedenrichs,' he said.

John Freidenrich, who holds undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford, is a founder of the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Bay Partners and a past chair of the university's Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the boards of both Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Jill Freidenrich is an active local volunteer and founder of Breast Cancer Connections in Palo Alto, a resource center and support network for women with breast cancer.

The two, who met as students at Stanford, have been generous in their support of university and medical center programs. Most recently, they committed $25 million in 2006 for the Jill and John Freidenrich Center for Translational Research, designed to be the hub for the school's work in translational medicine, particularly in cancer. John Freidenrich also is the medical center's campaign chair.

Berg came to Stanford in 1959 with a small group of brilliant young biochemists under the leadership of fellow Nobelist Arthur Kornberg, PhD. This energetic group of researchers began to build the basic science program for which Stanford is renowned today. Berg's own work with recombinant DNA helped create the biotechnology revolution. He also founded the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine in 1989 and was its director for more than a decade. Most recently, he has co-chaired the fundraising initiative for the new Learning and Knowledge Center and with his wife, Millie, has contributed $4 million to the project.

'We're celebrating a big anniversary of the medical school, and being a principal player during the school's last 50 years has been a thrilling and rewarding experience,' Berg said. 'I'm confident that the next 50 years and beyond will be equally thrilling and rewarding for those who come later.'

The medal recipients were chosen by a committee that reviewed nominations and then made recommendations to Pizzo, who made the final selection. Each year the school plans to honor up to three Dean's Medal recipients.

For more information on the centennial dinner, contact School of Medicine Special Events at 361-0995 or events@med.stanford.edu.