The Marion I. Barnhart Memorial Lecture
Our dear friend and colleague, Marion Barnhart, had a brilliant career in medical and scientific research and education. Her many important discoveries in the fields of cellular physiology, blood coagulation and thrombosis, platelet vessel wall interactions and other aspects of hematology won her national and international acclaim and numerous awards and will have
a lasting impact on scientific thinking. Although she was 64 when she died, the Dean of Wayne State University's medical school noted that she was undoubtedly the youngest member of the faculty in terms of enthusiasm, excitement, energy, productivity, and her always upbeat, positive attitude.
Marion received the PhD degree in cellular physiology from the University of Missouri in 1950 and then came to Detroit as an instructor in physiology and pharmacology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. She was the first recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award given at Wayne State University in 1974. Among her contributions are the description of the cellular sites for synthesis of prothrombin, fibrinogen and other blood coagulation proteins, the demonstration of the important role played by neutrophils and eosinophils in fibrin dissolution, scanning electron microscopy of the sequence of events in platelet activation and platelet-vessel wall interactions, circulatory pathways in the human spleen and the development of the human umbilical vein model for studying platelet-vessel wall interactions.
When she met her untimely death, Marion was the Director of the Bargman Laboratory for Cell and Molecular Research, was the Principal Investigator/Director of an NIH multidisciplinary training grant in Experimental Hematology, and Professor of Physiology at Wayne State University. In addition, she was chairperson of the Hemostasis Committee of the NIH's Blood Diseases and Resources Advisory committee, and a Charter member of Wayne State's Academy of Scholars. With her vibrant personality, great enthusiasm and genuine warmth, Marion touched and enriched the lives of all who were fortunate enough to interact with her. She believed in striving for excellence in whatever one did and served as a superb role model for all--not only as a scientist and educator, but a wonderful, caring human being.
Marion Barnhart Memorial Lecturers
| 1987 J. Evan Sadler 1989 Marjorie B. Zucker 1991 Kai Simons 1993 Robert Rosenberg |
1995 Peter Carmeliet 1997 V. Fuster 1999 D. Collen 2001 Edward F. Plow |
2003 Peter Carmeliet 2005 Denisa Wagner 2007 John F. Hartwig 2009 Shaun Jackson |