Diana S. Beattie, PhD

Professor Emeritus

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine

Classification:

Unknown

Farewell Message from Dr. Beattie:

"As the end of my almost 21 year tenure as Chair, first of the Department of Biochemistry, and for the last five years as Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, approaches, I would like to thank everyone in the department including faculty, post-doctoral fellows, technicians, graduate students and staff for making my job often challenging but also interesting and sometimes actually a fun experience. Listening to presentations at research forum, dissertation proposals and defenses gave me a better understanding of the varied research interests in our department. I continue to have pride in the progress that everyone in the department and their major contributions to science. A second source of pride is the recognition that our department has received for our efforts in the teaching of both biochemistry and pharmacology. All of us have worked as a team to receive the praise of both students and others in the administration for our educational efforts. In our third arena, the department is proud of the service that faculty and students render to the University and the larger scientific community. You all become admirable representative of the department and I commend you for your efforts.

Next week, I will begin a new chapter of my life as I assume the position of dean of the undergraduate campus of Oman Medical College, located in Muscat, Oman. As Dean, I will be responsible for designing the curriculum, mentoring and managing faculty and interacting with students extensively. Getting to know a large group of faculty and staff will be a challenge, but my experiences as Chair of BMP should provide me with the necessary expertise to cope with all personality types. As you all know, I spent 5 weeks in the spring of both 2005 and 2006 teaching Biochemistry and interacting with the first year medical students in Oman. I enjoyed learning the culture and working with the students and hope to explore in greater depth the culture and geography of Oman. I am looking forward to this new journey in my life, but will always cherish fond memories of everyone in the department with whom I have interacted over the years"

~ Diana Beattie, July 2006