October 30, 1998

Roman DeSanctis, MD, of MGH Cardiology has been named the first incumbent of the Evelyn and James Jenks/Paul Dudley White Professorship in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

The $2.75 million academic chair was established by Evelyn and James Jenks as well as through gifts from MGH patients. This is the first endowed chair for MGH Cardiology.

Paul Dudley White, MD, known as the founder of cardiology, had a long and prestigious tenure at the MGH. He also was a close friend of Evelyn and James Jenks and periodically gave advice to James Jenks about his business, Sanborn Company, which produced medical diagnostic equipment.

Evelyn and James Jenks also were patients of DeSanctis. The Jenks left $500,000 in their estate for the academic chair. Another $1 million comes from the Jenks Foundation, and the remaining funds come from patients and friends.