Nobel Laureate to Deliver Address at 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, an esteemed figure in medical research, is set to deliver the commencement address at the Feinberg School of Medicine’s 167th ceremony. This event will take place on Monday, May 18, 2026, and will honor graduating students and their guests.
Nobel Laureate to Deliver Address at 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Dr. Lefkowitz is the Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Medicine, also holding positions in Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University School of Medicine. He is celebrated for his groundbreaking work on β-adrenergic receptors and the proteins that regulate them, namely G protein-coupled receptor kinases and β-arrestins.
In recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field, Lefkowitz was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2012. He shared this honor with his former trainee, Brian Kobilka, MD, who currently holds the Hélène Irwin Fagan Chair of Cardiology at Stanford University. Their discoveries elucidated the mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptors, a family crucial to many pharmaceutical applications, as over half of all prescription medications target these receptors.
Academic Background
- Lefkowitz earned his MD from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1966.
- He completed his internship and general medicine residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 1968.
- From 1968 to 1970, he served as a clinical and research associate at the National Institutes of Health.
- In 1973, he finished a general medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital.
- That same year, he joined the faculty at Duke University School of Medicine.
Acknowledgements and Honors
Dr. Lefkowitz’s contributions have earned him a prestigious place in the scientific community. He is a member of several distinguished organizations, including:
- U.S. National Academy of Sciences
- National Academy of Medicine
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences
His accolades include:
- Gairdner Foundation International Award
- American Heart Association’s Basic Research Prize
- Research Achievement Award
- Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research
- Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine
- National Medal of Science
With a remarkable career marked by significant achievements, Dr. Lefkowitz’s address at the 2026 commencement ceremony will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of medical professionals.
