The Sylvan H. Eisman Professorship of Medicine

Sylvan H. EismanEstablished in 1983 by grateful patients, colleagues, and friends, the Sylvan H. Eisman Professorship honors the 1937 alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania and distinguished graduate of the Perelman School of Medicine Class of 1941, in recognition of his many contributions to the field of medicine and his exceptional devotion to medical practice.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Clinical Medicine Sylvan Eisman (1916–2007) was associated with the University of Pennsylvania for over 60 years as a college and medical student, as Chief Resident for Francis C. Wood, MD, and as an esteemed faculty member. Dr. Eisman, who practiced general internal medicine with a specialty in oncology, helped establish the chemotherapy unit at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1983, Dr. Eisman was appointed the first Distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine. Although he retired from private practice in 1989, he maintained an office at Penn Medicine, where for many years he addressed the problems of risk management and medical malpractice.

 

Doris A. StoffersCurrent Chairholder
Doris A. Stoffers, MD, PhD

Doris A. Stoffers, MD, PhD is the Sylvan H. Eisman Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine. She received a BA in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and both a PhD and MD from Johns Hopkins University. Research in her laboratory focuses on the embryonic development and adult regeneration of the endocrine pancreas and the relationship of defects in these pathways to the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, a disease caused by a deficiency in the production or action of insulin. She is the author of numerous articles appearing in peer-reviewed journals.

Previous Chairholders

  • Laurence H. Beck, MD 1985–1988
  • Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA 1995–2002
  • Mitchell A. Lazar, MD, PhD 2002–2016