Nicholas Spitzer “ Building the Brain : Nature and

“Dr. Nathan Zvaifler who was head of the Division of Rheumatology in the Department of Medicine at UCSD from 1970 to 1990 is internationally recognized as a master clinician and skilled researcher. Already known in 1970 for his research on central nervous system involvement in an autoimmune disease (lupus erythematosis), Dr. Zvaifler built an outstanding clinical and research program in the Division that has grown from the original two to its present complement of 20 members with ample research funding. From 1972 to 1974, a crucial two years in the development of the new School of Medicine at UCSD, Dr. Zvaifler was Acting Chairman of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Zvaifler has published more than 100 research papers in addition to 100+ invited articles. He has received honors from many institutions in different countries, among them the Heberden Society in England, where he was the Heberden Orator in 1990; named lectureships in Holland, Germany, Greece, Japan, and the University of Pennsylvania; and Visiting Professorships at Harvard, the Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City), Rockefeller University, and Hammersmith Hospital (London). Having retired in 2000, Dr. Zvaifler continues many academic activities in the Division of Rheumatology as Professor of Medicine Emeritus. We are grateful to him for sharing his wisdom about arthritis with us.” —by Dr. Nathan Zvaifler