Background
Neel, James Van Gundia was born on March 22, 1915 in Hamilton, Ohio, United States. Son of Hiram Alexander and Elizabeth (Van Gundia) Neel.
Neel, James Van Gundia was born on March 22, 1915 in Hamilton, Ohio, United States. Son of Hiram Alexander and Elizabeth (Van Gundia) Neel.
AB, College Wooster, 1935. Honorary Doctor of Science, College Wooster, 1959. Doctor of Philosophy, University Rochester, 1939.
Doctor of Medicine, University Rochester, 1944. Honorary Doctor of Science, University Rochester, 1974. Honorary Doctor of Science, Medical College Ohio, 1981.
Instructor zoology Dartmouth, 1939-1941. Fellow zoology National Research Council, 1941-1942. Intern, assistant resident medicine Strong Memorial Hospital, 1944-1946.
Associate geneticist laboratory vertebrate biology, assistant professor internal medicine University Michigan Medical School, 1948-1951, geneticist Institute Human Biology, associate professor medical genetics, 1951-1956, professor human genetics, chairman department, 1956-1985, professor internal medicine, 1957-1985, Lee R. Dice University professor human genetics, 1966-1985, professor emeritus, from 1985. Galton lecturer University London,, 1955. Cutter lecturer Harvard University, 1956.
Russel lecturer University Michigan, 1966. Wilhemene E. Key lecturer American Genetic Association, 1982. Jacobson lecturer University Newcastle upon Tyne, 1988.
Baker lecturer Pennsylvania State University, 1989. Andros lecturer University Chicago, 1991. Lederberg lecturer Rockefeller University, 1995.
Consultant United States Public Health Service, Atomic Energy Commission, National Research Council, World Health Organization, Environmental Protection Agency, VA. President 6th International Congress Human Genetics. Chairman 7th International Symposium Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 1981.
Author medical articles. Member editorial board: Blood, 1950-1962, Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, since 1956, Human Genetics Abstracts, since 1962, Mutation Research, 1964-1975.
Served to 1st lieutenant Medical Corps Army of the United States, 1943-1944, 46-47. Acting director field studies Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission, 1947-1948. Fellow American College Medical Genetics (honorary), Royal Society Medicine.
Member American Philosophical Association, American Academy Arts and Sciences, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences (member council 1970-1972), Genetics Society of America, American Society Human Genetics (vice president 1952-1953, president 1953-1954), International Genetic Epidemiology Society (president 1992-1993), American Federation Clinical Research, American Society Naturalists, Association American Physicians, American College of Physicians (Laureate award 1987), Brazilian Society Human Genetics, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Alpha Omega Alpha.
Orchid cultivation.
Married Priscilla Baxter, May 6, 1943. Children– Frances, James Van Gundia, Alexander Baxter.