Dr. Wayne Yokoyama received an endowed gift from Dr. Andrew Chee-Yuen Chan, MD, PhD, and Dr. Mary Finnorn Chan, MD to support the Division of Physician-Scientists, in the Department of Medicine, with a lecture, educational resources, and research training initiatives aimed at encouraging and inspiring patient-facing physicians interested in pursuing research. The lecture shall be known as the Wayne Yokoyama, MD, Physician Scientist Lecture.
Dr. Yokoyama is the Sam and Audrey Loew Levin Professor of Medicine, Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, Associate Dean, Division of Physician-scientists. Dr. Yokoyama’s research establishes the molecular basis for target recognition by natural killer cells, which destroy tumor and virus-infected cells. Dr. Yokoyama shows that NK cells express inhibitory receptors for histocompatibility molecules on targets and that these receptors dictate NK cell specificity, creating a paradigm shift on the nature of cell recognition.
Outside of his research, Dr. Yokoyama is recognized as an outstanding mentor, having devoted his career to training the next generation of scientists as evidenced by his heavy involvement in the Immunology PhD program and being the MSTP program director since 2007.
Dr. Andrew Chan, MD, PhD is Senior Vice President of Research-Biology at Genentech, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry from Northwestern University, his MD and PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, completed residency at Barnes Hospital and fellowship at University of California San Francisco, where he continues as an adjunct associate professor of Medicine. A loyal supporter of Washington University, Dr. Chan serves on the School of Medicine National Council. He is also the recipient of the 2019 Alumni Achievement Award and the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award.