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First president of Health Sciences SC selected Health Sciences South Carolina (HSSC), a collaborative that links the state’s research universities and largest health systems to improve state’s economy and public health through research, has selected Jay Moskowitz, Ph.D., as its first president.   Moskowitz, a national leader in biomedical research, was chosen after a yearlong search for an individual with the experience necessary to propel the statewide research collaborative to national prominence. He officially begins his new role Sept. 24.   “There was a great deal of interest in this position throughout the country. We were fortunate to succeed in recruiting someone of the stature of Dr. Moskowitz,” said Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC president and immediate past chair of HSSC. “Throughout his distinguished career, he has been a leader and a program builder. Given his knowledge and experience, I have every expectation that Dr. Moskowitz will take Health Sciences South Carolina to a new level of national visibility and achievement.”   Moskowitz began his career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), rising to the position of principal deputy director and deputy director for Science Policy and Technology Transfer, Office of the Director. In 1989, Moskowitz was selected as the founding director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. In 1995, he was recruited by Wake Forest University School of Medicine where he served as senior associate dean for Science and Technology playing an instrumental role in the enhancement of its research mission and the development of Wake Forest’s Downtown Research Park. Currently, he serves as associate vice president for Health Sciences Research, Pennsylvania State University (PSU); vice dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Penn State College of Medicine; and chief scientific officer, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.   Moskowitz will hold a tenured faculty appointment with the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. He also will have faculty appointments with Clemson University and MUSC, though his primary office will be in Columbia.   Moskowitz attributes the vision of HSSC’s board, the high quality of South Carolina’s universities and health systems, and the commitment of the General Assembly as factors in his accepting the HSSC position.   “I am thoroughly impressed with the leadership across these entities and what HSSC has accomplished to date. This is a critical moment in the state’s history in the translation of health research to health care and economic growth. Both talent and passion exists within all of the stakeholders. Everything is aligned for success. I am looking forward to being part of this creative health initiative,” he said.   In response to the appointment, Association of American Medical Colleges President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., called Moskowitz a perfect pick for the post.   “Having worked with Dr. Moskowitz for more than 20 years, I have seen him become one of the acknowledged leaders in American biomedical research. His exceptional vision and limitless energy is the perfect match for the innovative aspirations of Health Sciences South Carolina. The state of South Carolina is creating a new model of research collaboration and Dr. Moskowitz is the perfect individual to shape that model,” said Kirch, who Moskowitz’s colleague at NIH and Penn State.   Established in April 2004, HSSC is a statewide public-private collaborative of universities and health systems possessing the shared vision of using health sciences research to improve the health and economic wellbeing of South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.healthsciencessc.org     Friday, July 27, 2007 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 catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.