Hollander named interim chair of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology

John Hollander, Ph.D., senior advisor for research development in the Office of Research and Graduate Education, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, effective Sept. 1.

“I am excited for the opportunity to work with the outstanding faculty, staff and students in the department and continue to build on its wonderful accomplishments to date,” Hollander said. “With its strong presence in education, research and service, the department is critical to the School of Medicine’s mission of training the next generation of educators, scholars and clinicians that can address the needs of our Appalachian population.”   

Hollander previously served as a senior assistant dean for research and graduate education in the Department of Human Performance and the director of Graduate Studies in the Division of Exercise Physiology’s Pathophysiology, Rehabilitation and Performance Graduate Program. Hollander also previously served as the interim vice-chairperson for Research and Graduate Education in the Division of Exercise Physiology.

Hollander has a Ph.D. in nutritional science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s degree in mammalian physiology from the University of California, San Diego.

He is the primary investigator on two R01 grants, one from the National Institutes of Health and the other from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. He also serves as a co-investigator on R01, R21, and R15 grants. Hollander is the principal investigator for the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley – Whipkey Trust Endowment, which has been consistently funded since 2017.

He also serves as a consultant on an NIH K99 award, is a sponsor on an American Heart Association grant and is a mentor on an NIH R25 grant.

Hollander steps into the role recently vacated by Timothy Nurkiewicz, Ph.D., who has stepped down to focus more on research and leading the Center for Inhalation Toxicology.

“We’ve been fortunate to have Dr. Nurkiewicz’s experience and innovation during his time as chair,” Clay Marsh, M.D., chancellor and executive dean for WVU Health Sciences, said. “We’re excited for his continued work as a leading researcher in inhalation toxicology and as a mentor to our students.”

Nurkiewicz has served as chair since 2019. As a longstanding faculty member, he has held various leadership positions during his tenure, including associate chair of Research, professor, and vice chair within the department.

For more information on the department, visit medicine.wvu.edu/physiology-and-pharmacology.