Return to Main Menu

Raymond honored for VA research, mentorship For 20 years, John Raymond, M.D., has enjoyed a thriving relationship with researchers, clinicians, young scientists, and patients as a VA career scientist. Earlier this year, Raymond was named the 2005 recipient of the Department of Veterans Affairs Southeast Network (VISN) 7 Henry M. Middleton Research Excellence Award. The award honors his achievements and dedication as a long-term VA investigator and mentor advancing many basic science discoveries in the areas of nephrology and related research through new collaborative efforts and training opportunities as a mentor to entry-level scientists.      Dr. John Raymond Raymond, who serves as vice president for academic affairs and provost and DCI professor of medicine, was chosen by a landslide from among research program investigator nominees from the Southeast network. Raymond follows fellow, long-time VA clinical researcher George Cooper IV, M.D., chief of cardiology, Ralph H. Johnson, VA Medical Center and director of the Gazes Cardiac Research Institute, who won the award in 2004 for his excellence in cardiovascular research and mentoring success.   “The VA has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to develop my research,” said Raymond, who got his start in VA research at the VA Medical Center in Durham, N.C. “The nice thing about the VA is that it really fosters an environment that facilitates career development and places a very high value on clinically-driven research.”   In 1996, Raymond was recruited from Duke to help develop nephrology research on campus. He led the coordination of several training grants within the Department of Medicine. Working with both MUSC and VA investigators, Raymond combined research efforts within four research divisions in pharmacology, rheumatology, endocrinology and nephrology. That same year, he helped establish the VA’s Research Enhancement Awards Program (REAP) among researchers on campus.   From 1998 to 2002, Raymond served as associate chief of staff for research and development at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. He was succeeded by Rita Young, Ph.D., in June 2003, who nominated Raymond for the special award.   “This is a tremendous achievement for Dr. Raymond, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center and MUSC,” said Young.      Raymond is humble as he credits his VA career success with a multitude of opportunities created by the continued growth and shared collaboration of research and clinical programs at MUSC and the Charleston VA facility.     “MUSC’s affiliation with the VA is one of the strongest in the country,” Raymond said. “It’s a unique and ideal situation blending the very best of clinically-oriented faculty researchers who can work on problems relevant to VA health. We’ve also managed to establish a good reputation where research and mentorship is valued. Today, we have mentorship committees, the presence of interactive groups of investigators who jointly mentor junior faculty and other programs that are valuable resources and models. Having access to these successful and committed investigators from different disciplines probably sets us apart from other VA institutions.”   The VISN 7 region is composed of some of the country’s strongest VA medical centers and academic medical partnerships in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. For this award, each affiliate was encouraged to nominate a research candidate who was an active VA researcher/clinician, who possessed an established track record for VA-funded research, and met other administrative requirements.   On Oct. 27, Raymond received a plaque commemorating the award, plus a $5,000 prize during a ceremony as part of the VISN 7 Fall Retreat. Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.