Faculty & Staff Spotlights
Gunderman named Spinoza Chair of Medicine at University of Amsterdam
Oct. 10, 2013
Richard B. Gunderman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology and imaging sciences and vice chair of education in Radiology & Imaging Sciences at the IU School of Medicine, has been named the recipient of the Spinoza Chair in Medicine at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Richard B. Gunderman, M.D., Ph.D.
The award, one of the most respected international chair positions, has previously been granted to researchers and scholars at Oxford, Johns Hopkins and Harvard Universities.
"Richard is a stunning teacher and scholar," said Charles R. Bantz, Ph.D., executive vice president at IU and chancellor of IUPUI. "His lectures stretch disciplines, explore beliefs, challenge opinions and leave the listener asking questions more thoughtfully than before."
Established in 1995 by the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Amsterdam, the Spinoza Chair is named after Dutch Enlightenment philosopher Baruch Spinoza. Two high-profile laureates a year are chosen for this visiting professorship, one in medicine and one in philosophy.
As part of the honor, Dr. Gunderman will deliver a master class and keynote lecture at the university. His master class will include lectures on "Achieving Personal Fulfillment" and "Professionalism Gone Wrong." He will also deliver the Spinoza Lecture, “Education and the Need for Heroes.”
Dr. Gunderman, who is also a professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and professor of philosophy at the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, said his presentations will cover topics ranging from education and radiology to leadership and ethics.
Dr. Gunderman's lectures range across subjects of medicine, education, leadership and ethics.
“In view of the recent recipients who've come before, it's an honor to represent IU in this forum,” he said.
While in the Netherlands, Dr. Gunderman will also deliver the annual lectureship in radiology, “Leadership in Radiology,” at the Dutch Radiology Meeting.
In addition to the Spinoza Chair, Dr. Gunderman is a nine-time recipient of the IU Teaching Award as well as the highest teaching award of the Association of Medical Colleges. He is the author of over 380 scholarly publications and a correspondent for The Atlantic. His most recent book is "X-Ray Vision."
