Stanford Pathology Honors the Legacy of Dr. David Korn
Stanford Pathology in the News, March 12, 2024
Dr. David Korn, beloved husband of Carol Scheman, died on March 10, 2024, shortly after his 91st birthday. A brilliant scientist and academic leader, he devoted his life to academic medicine, health policy, and biomedical research.
David Korn was a Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, and the former inaugural Vice Provost for Research at Harvard University. Dr. Korn served as Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Professor and Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine from October 1984 to April 1995, and as Vice President of Stanford University from January 1986 to April 1995.
Prior to that time Dr. Korn had served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Stanford, and Chief of the Pathology Service at the Stanford University Hospital, since June 1968. Dr. Korn has been Chairman of the University Committee on Research; President of the American Association of Pathologists (now the American Society for Investigative Pathology); President of the Association of Pathology Chairman; a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology; and a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Academic Health Centers.
Dr. Korn was a founder of the California Transplant Donor Network, one of the nation's largest Organ Procurement Organizations. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors from its establishment in 1987 to 1995 and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from September 1992 to August 1995. Dr. Korn chaired the Special Subcommittee to Review the Intramural Research Program of the Science Board of the Food and Drug Administration in 1996-97, for which he received the Commissioner's Special Citation and the Harvey W Wiley Medal. He served from 1984 to 1991 as Chairman of the National Cancer Advisory Board, a position to which he was appointed by President Reagan. Dr. Korn is a Fellow of the AAAS and currently serves on its Council. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Korn served on the Boards of Directors of the Stanford University hospital from October 1982 to April 1995, The Children's hospital at Stanford from October 1984 to its closure, and the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford from October 1984 to April 1995. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the California Society of Pathologists from 1983-86.
Dr. Korn has been a member of the editorial boards of the American Journal of Pathology, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Human Pathology, and for many years was an Associate Editor of the latter. He has been a member of many Societies, Councils and Boards. He has written numerous scientific articles, mainly concerned with the biochemistry and molecular biology of DNA replication in human cells. In recent years he has written and spoken about issues of health and science policy, topics in which he has been heavily engaged on the national scene.
Stanford Medicine
The Department of Stanford Pathology
03-01-2024