Jack Perry Strong, this year's recipient, was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and received his BS from the University of Alabama in 1948 (where he was Phi Beta Kappa) and his MD from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in 1951 (and also a member of Alpha Omega Alpha). Following a rotating Internship in Birmingham, he returned to LSU to become an instructor in the Department of Pathology. Later, after two years with the U.S. Air Force, he was reappointed to the pathology faculty, becoming a full professor in 1964. In 1966 he was appointed Head of the Department of Pathology, and under his capable leadership the department has developed a successful, modern academic department with one of the nation's largest teaching, research, and training programs in the field of pathology being one of the longest-standing Chairs of Pathology in the country. In 1980, Dr. Strong was named a prestigious Body Professor by the LSU Board of Supervisors in recognition of his "outstanding career in the health sciences." It was the first Medical Center Boyd Professorship conferred since their establishment in 1952. The Boyd Professorship is LSU's highest designated rank, and is awarded only to faculty scholar-researchers who have attained singular international recognition in their respective academic disciplines. Dr. Strong has been Director of Pathology of Charity Hospital, now the Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans Hospital since 1976, and in 1977-1978 was President, of the Charity Hospital Medical Staff. He is the recipient of the First Louisiana State University School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1984 (the highest alumnus award given). The Jack Perry Strong Professorship of Pathology was established in his name/honor in 1992 and in 1992 (to date) he became Director of the LSU Cardiovascular Center. He also served as President of the Medical School Alumni Association (1993-1994). In 2004 Jack received two more outstanding awards: 1.) The John P. McGovern Compleat Physician Award from the largest county medical society (The Houston Harris County Society) and 2.) the Japanese Foreign Minister's Award from the foreign ministry government of Japan for his endeavors in fostering the relationships/partnership between the USA and Japan.

In 1958, Dr. Strong and three colleagues began a formal experimental study of arteriosclerosis in primates, part of which involved a two-month sojourn to Kenya, where wild baboons were examined to determine the presence and extent of arterial lesions. Tissues acquired during that field trip formed the basis for later experiments in primates and additional comparative studies of human arteriosclerosis and heart disease, disorders for which Dr. Strong has become a world authority. Dr. Strong has authored or co-authored more than 330 publications covering the natural history of human atherosclerosis; epidemiology, geographic pathology and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis; atherosclerosis in primates; and the geographic pathology of cancer.

Dr. Strong has served the National Institutes of Health as a member and chairman of the Pathology "A" Study Section, and a member of the Epidemiology and Biometry Advisory Committee. Dr. Strong has held over 50 peer-reviewed grants from the NIH and other funding agencies totaling over $20 million. He has been a member of the Pathology Research Committee and the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association and also was a member and chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. He has been a consultant to the World Health Organization Atherosclerosis Project. Dr. Strong served as a president of the Association of Pathology Chairmen (1970). He was a trustee of the American Board of Pathology and served as president in 1990-1991 and also served on the Residency Review Committee for Pathology. In 2005 he received the very prestigious Association of Pathology Chairs Distinguished Service Award given to outstanding Chairs of Pathology. Dr. Strong has also served on panels for the National Academy of Sciences and as consultant to a number of hospitals, universities, societies and foundations. He has been a member of six Editorial boards for such journals as Experimental and Molecular Pathology, Atherosclerosis, Pathology Research and Practice, and Modern Pathology.

Dr. Strong has been identified with the USCAP and the IAP for many years, and his contributions are numerous and varied. The recognized position of the United States and Academy of Pathology in American medicine has been enhanced by Dr. Strong's strong interest and his very effective, major leadership as our delegate (and extraordinary representative of all of Pathology) to the American Medical Association since 1980. For almost three decades Dr. Strong has been a major force for pathology in the AMA and the AMA House of Delegates rising to serve on the Council on Scientific Affairs for the AMA from 1985-1994 and in this regard authored almost one hundred Publications in the Journal of the AMA (Council on Scientific Affairs Reports, 1985-1993) and in 1998 received the AMA Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Strong has served as President of the USCAP for the year 1977-1978. He has served as a member (and Chair) of the Finance Committee for a great many terms, ever since 1993. In 1988, he received the prestigious F.K. Mostofi Distinguished Service Award from the USCAP. In addition to his activities in our Division, he has been President (1988-1990) and now is Treasurer (1992-present) of the International Academy of Pathology. In 1997 he received the singular/prestigious IAP Gold Medal. Thus he has served the International Academy (with its 40+ Divisions) with the same interest, dedication and understanding as he has the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology.

To subquote Dr. Charles Jennette:

"The Mission is not the Margin, but Without the Margin, there is no Mission"

Dr. Strong has seen to it that the USCAP (and the IAP) have both the margin and the mission.

In his spare time (!) he has serves as President of the Japanese Garden Society of New Orleans which has just established the first public authentic Japanese Garden in Louisiana within the Botanical Gardens of New Orleans City Park. He is also a member of other organizations related to Japanese culture and interests, and is learning Japanese. His other hobbies include vegetable gardening and cooking (he is especially notable for his Chinese cuisine). He is an avid Saints fan having season tickets since the beginning of that NFL franchise. He lives in New Orleans with his lovely wife Mihoko. He, his wife, and his Department and School courageously survived Hurricane Katrina and the school and department are back on service! Mihoko, thanks for sharing this incredible fellow with us!

Dr. Chris Crum, President of the USCAP says it well: "I have watched him manage the finances for the past great many years and cannot come up with enough superlatives".

Dr. Bernie Wagner, Past President of the USCAP indicates: "I have known Jack Strong for many years and his importance both on the scene and behind the scenes, on behalf of USCAP cannot be expressed in words. His devotion to the organization and its survival as the number one Pathology Society in the world has earned the respect and admiration from all who had the pleasure to know and work with him. Congratulations Jack and well done".

From Dr. David Hardwick, Past President of the USCAP and IAP, and present Secretariate of the IAP: "Jack's surname says it all -- STRONG! Jack has provided wisdom and stability that have secured the USCAP and the IAP an enviable record in delivering the highest quality educational meetings over decades. The President's Award is a well deserved acknowledgement."