NIH DIRECTOR CANDIDATE IS ALBERT EINSTEIN MEDICAL DEAN DOMINICK PURPURA, MD

NIH DIRECTOR CANDIDATE IS ALBERT EINSTEIN MEDICAL DEAN DOMINICK PURPURA, MD, a neurologist with over 35 years of experience in clinical practice and academia. Purpura, 63, discussed the top NIH post with HHS Secretary Sullivan in Washington on June 27. The post has been vacant for almost a year since the departure of James Wyngaarden in August 1989. Discussions about the NIH job have been focused by the work of the blue ribbon panel headed by HHS Assistant Secretary Mason to review the charter and mission of the institutes. That committee finished its work in late April. A similar group under the direction of ex-FDA Commissioner Edwards is conducting a review of FDA (see related item above). Purpura has been at Albert Einstein in his current position since 1984. Prior to that, he was dean of the medical school at Stanford. He had been chairman of the department of neuroscience at Albert Einstein for eight years before going west to Stanford. During his long career, Purpura has held a number of positions on NIH advisory committees and other related Washington health policy groups. He most recent NIH appointment was during the second half of the 1970's when he was chairman of a neurology study section. He is currently a member of an Office of Technology Assessment study group on dementia. He has been president of the American Epilepsy Society and the Society for Neuroscience. He is a graduate of Columbia College and Harvard Medical School. Coincidentally, Purpura is being considered for the NIH position at the same time that another top administrator from that school is being considered for the FDA commissioner's post. David Kessler, 39, is one of the short-list candidates for the FDA post. The former aide to Sen. Hatch (R-Utah) is medical director at Albert Einstein. Purpura reportedly has written to recommend Kessler to Sullivan.