A professorship was named in honor of James P. Crane, M.D., emeritus professor of obstetrics & gynecology and former associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs, who had a long list of accomplishments since joining the University’s faculty in 1977. He spearheaded the development of the Washington University Physicians Network, the largest independent physicians’ association in the St. Louis area, and organized and now directs the Faculty Practice Plan (FPP), the fifth-largest academic medical practice in the United States.
He also led the effort for the Campus Integration Plan, a new vision for the Medical Center that included building the Center for Advanced Medicine to house 14 multidisciplinary clinical centers.
Additionally, Crane established the first prenatal diagnosis program in Missouri and helped start the state’s first in vitro fertilization (IVF) program, leading to the birth of Missouri’s first IVF baby in 1985.
“Jim Crane’s outstanding leadership has led to dramatic improvements in the clinical operations of the School of Medicine and the Medical Center,” said former Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton. “Jim is a tremendous asset to Washington University. He has a remarkable talent for bringing together people with diverse skills and agendas for a common purpose.”
“We are very fortunate to have Jim Crane at the helm of our clinical operations,” said Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., former executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “He brings outstanding leadership to deal with the constant changes in health care and understands the factors that affect our ability to remain a premier medical center.
“It would be hard to find anyone who has done more to contribute to the success of Washington University as a center of clinical excellence,” he said.
This professorship was funded through gifts from 14 medical school departments, BJC Healthcare, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Chancellor Emeritus William H. Danforth, M.D., and Richard A. Chole, M.D., Ph.D., the Lindburg Professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology.
As a former FPP chief executive officer, Crane was responsible for establishing strategic direction and coordinating clinical programs across the School of Medicine’s clinical departments. He also oversaw the implementation of standards to help provide the best patient care.
Recipients of this professorship
Kelle Moley, MD (2009)
Indira Mysorekar, PhD (2019)