LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- UCLA's Dr. E. Carmack Holmes, a world renowned leader in surgical oncology, has just been awarded two honors of international distinction: Induction into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars; and Honorary Membership in the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
The Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars was created in 1967 on the recommendation of former president Milton S. Eisenhower. The society-the first of its kind in the nation-inducts former postdoctoral Fellows at Johns Hopkins who have gained marked distinction in their fields of physical, biological, medical, social, or engineering sciences or in the humanities. Dr. Holmes was honored during the society's 36th induction ceremony on Wednesday, May 25 and again at the university's Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 26.
At the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, scientists are usually admitted as Members after examinations and progress to Fellowship when they become established consultants in their specialties. But in some cases, such as Dr. Holmes', the College will bestow Honorary Fellowship on an individual of extraordinary distinction. This high honor, awarded to Dr. Holmes on July 13 in Glasgow at the College Admission Ceremony, recognizes his contributions to his profession as well as his links with Scotland, where he has lectured on several occasions.
An international leader in surgical oncology, Dr. Holmes is currently Executive Director of the cutting-edge Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) at the UCLA Medical Center-where he served for ten years as Department Chair, Surgeon-in-Chief. The focus of Dr. Holmes' celebrated career has been on lung cancer and esophageal cancer, with implications for their surgical management, the application of innovative therapies, and long-term survival. More recently, Dr. Holmes has turned his attention to CASIT, the new robotic and technology center at UCLA. As Executive Director, he focuses on research and education which he hopes will improve interventional technology for better patient care. The center, one of the first of its kind in the country, will help promote clinical, educational and research use of surgical robots and digital imaging in surgery and medicine. (To view a segment on CASIT featuring Dr. Holmes go to: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/video/ram_files/casit.ram)
Born in North Carolina, Dr. Holmes received his BA at Duke University and his medical degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. His postdoctoral training in Surgery was at Johns Hopkins University, with three years spent at the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Joining UCLA as Assistant Professor of Surgery in 1973, he rapidly rose to the top. Dr. Holmes was appointed Professor in 1979, Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery in 1981, and Department Chair, Surgeon-in-Chief of UCLA Medical Center, and the William P. Longmire, Jr., Professor in 1994. Previously, he led the Division of Thoracic Surgery and the Surgical Service at the VA Hospital in Sepulveda and the Division of Thoracic and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Wadsworth VA.
Dr. Holmes' previous honors range from the Isaac Hall Manning Award for Outstanding Senior Medical Student to University of North Carolina School of Medicine's Distinguished Alumni Award, given in 1998. Board certified, Dr. Holmes serves on a half dozen editorial boards, 17 professional associations and a variety of committees; moreover, he has published nearly 150 articles, 43 book chapters and 49 abstracts. He has also made hundreds of presentations.
Dr. Holmes has three children, Kevin, Allison and Bradley. He lives in Pacific Palisades, California with his wife of 44 years, Carolyn Kingsley Holmes.
About the institutions:
The Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States. Founded in 1876, it was an entirely new educational enterprise. Its aim was not only to advance students' knowledge, but also to advance human knowledge generally, through discovery and scholarship. The university's emphasis on both learning and research-and on how each complements the other-revolutionized U.S. higher education. Today, Johns Hopkins has ventured from its home in Baltimore to countries throughout the world-China, Italy and Singapore, among many others. It remains a world leader in teaching, patient care and discovery.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow was founded in 1599 by Peter Lowe, a Scottish surgeon who had practiced for a number of years in France. On his return to Scotland, he was so horrified at the state of medical practice in Glasgow that he petitioned King James VI to be allowed to establish a regulatory body which would ensure that people acting as doctors (physicians and surgeons) in the city were properly trained.
-- Attention media: A photograph of Dr. Holmes is available upon request.