College celebrates induction of 2001 Shankweiler Fellows

The Shankweiler Society supports student scholarships in the sciences and biomedical fields, and celebrates the College's alumni who continue to advance humane causes in the biomedical professions.

Dr. Tuma, who is the G.H. Stewart Professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology and Associate Dean for Research at Temple University School of Medicine, delivered the evening's keynote address.

2001 Shankweiler Fellows, left to right: Margaret Smith Cordal, M.D., Ph.D. '76; Ronald Tuma, Ph.D. '70; Robert Nuss, M.D. '58.	Pre-health Scholarship Winners, left to right: Chris Rowley (Moyer Acholarship recipient, Karen Palazzini, Tilak Sundaresan, Eric Smith, and Yelena Vidgop (all Shankweiler Scholarship recipients).

Ronald F. Tuma, Ph.D. '70
A native of Paramus, N.J., Dr. Tuma earned his Ph.D. from Temple University School of Medicine in 1975. After completing a research fellowship in Uppsala, Sweden, Dr. Tuma joined the Medical School faculty at Temple University in 1977. In the past, he served as Assistant Dean of Admissions of the Medical School for five years, and would come to Muhlenberg's campus to screen candidates.

Dr. Tuma has served the School of Medicine and the University on numerous committees and has developed an innovative Scholars Program for first-year medical students. His ability and talents as an excellent teacher have been recognized with five Golden Apple Awards, the George E. Sowell Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching and the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. He has also been elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Society.

In addition to receiving international recognition for his reputation in the area of cerebral circulation, Dr. Tuma has been a guest professor in Germany in the Department of Experimental Surgery at Heidelberg University. He has been an invited speaker in many countries around the world including Japan, Brazil and the former Soviet Union. Most recently, Dr. Tuma was invited to present and chair a session at a world Congress in Australia. Dr. Tuma has published over 100 abstracts and 70 full papers and has co-authored four books.

Margaret Smith Dordal, M.D., Ph.D. '76
Margaret Smith Dordal, M.D. Ph.D., was born in West Chester, Pa., and graduated from Muhlenberg College in 1976 with a degree in chemistry, followed by a Ph.D. in biochemistry and an M.D. from the University of Chicago. Dr. Dordal is currently the medical director of oncology for TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill., where she oversees and directs clinical aspects of two drug development programs.

Dr. Dordal is a clinical pharmacology consultant to other programs within TAP Pharmaceuticals, and has led important chemical research in oncology. As principle investigator in such research, Dr. Dordal led 14 studies on four compounds in several formulations, involving first-time-in-man, drug interaction, bioavailability and pharmacodynamic studies.

Her leadership in clinical pharmacology involves working with ventures on issues of study design and implementation, adverse events, interpretation of laboratory tests, and budgeting for Phase I studies. Dr. Dordal is the primary author of three protocols, three Clinical Development Plans, and a Safety and Interactions Development Plan. In the early 1990s, Dr. Dordal served on the Pharmacology Committee of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and later, on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

As a published author, Dr. Dordal's clinical research writings have appeared in such prestigious publications as the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, Journal of Investigative Medicine, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. She has received over $160,000 in grants to conduct research into projects for cancer drug resistance and adult and pediatric clinical pharmacology. Dr. Dordal has been recognized by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association Foundation with the Clinical Pharmacology Faculty Career Development Award.

Robert C. Nuss, M.D. '58
A native of Boyertown, Pa., Robert C. Nuss received his M.D. from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Following medical school, Dr. Nuss spent the next decade in the Philadelphia area, as a resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Naval Hospital, and as a fellow at Hahnemann Medical Center and Hospital. Dr. Nuss is currently the associate dean at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He is certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and its Division of Gynecologic Oncology.

In addition to his experience in the medical field, Dr. Nuss is a decorated military serviceman. He served active duty with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps from 1962-1970, followed by over two decades of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Medical Corp. Dr. Nuss acted as Rear Admiral for the USNR for eight years. His dedication has been recognized with the Navy Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.

Combining his years of medical experience with leadership, Dr. Nuss currently serves as chairman of the University of Florida Jacksonville Physicians, Inc. Board of Directors, and as a member of the University Medical Center Strategic Planning Committee. He is president and C.E.O. of University of Florida Jacksonville Healthcare, Inc., and senior vice president of medical affairs of Shands Jacksonville. In addition to a number of distinguished teaching awards, Dr. Nuss is a multiple American Medical Association Physician Recognition Award winner.

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