Among the distinguished guests at Lu’s installation ceremony were (from left) William R. Brody, Karen Horton, Stephen J. Gange, Hanzhang Lu, Elias Zerhouni and Theodore L. DeWeese.

In November 2023, the department celebrated the lasting legacy and impact of professor emeritus Elias Zerhouni during the installation of Hanzhang Lu as the inaugural chairholder of the Zerhouni Professorship.

Now a towering figure in his field, Elias Zerhouni had just come to America from Algeria when he started his residency with the Johns Hopkins Department of Radiology and Radiological Science. He would go on to become a professor, department head and vice dean for clinical affairs and research, while conducting impactful research. Zerhouni was head of the National Institutes of Health from 2002 to 2008, and, since then, has served as a presidential U.S. science envoy.

Hanzhang Lu also came to Johns Hopkins as a young student, earning master’s and doctoral degrees in biomedical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He completed his postdoctoral education at New York University Medical Center. Lu joined the faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center before returning to Johns Hopkins. He is director of the MRI Service Center and chief of the neurofunction section.

Faculty and guests came together to celebrate the contributions of both men during a ceremony held at The Johns Hopkins University’s William H. Welch Medical Library. In addition to Zerhouni and Lu, distinguished attendees included Theodore L. DeWeese, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine; Stephen J. Gange, executive vice provost for academic affairs for The Johns Hopkins University; and William R. Brody, president emeritus of The Johns Hopkins University and professor emeritus in the Department of Radiology.

During his comments, Zerhouni reflected on the impact the department has had on his career. He called Johns Hopkins his “home away from home,” noting, “I would not be anywhere without Johns Hopkins.

In his remarks, Lu thanked Zerhouni and other department mentors. He also praised the world-class education he obtained at Johns Hopkins, noting, “The rigorous training at Johns Hopkins built a solid foundation for my career.”