P. Roy Vagelos, M.D., C'50
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The School of Arts and Sciences' 1998-99 Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to P. Roy Vagelos, M.D., C'50, retired chairman and CEO of Merck & Company. Dr. Vagelos was recognized for his achievements in the sciences and humanities.
Dr. Vagelos earned his B.S. in chemistry from the College of Arts & Sciences and his medical degree from the Columbia University School of Medicine. Dr. Vagelos is chairman of the board of directors of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals; co-chairman of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center; a trustee of The Danforth Foundation, Inc.; and a director of PepsiCo, Inc., the Prudential Insurance Company of America, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, the Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.; and a former director of McDonnell Douglas. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society.
Dr. Vagelos is discoverer of acyl-carrier protein and the
author of more than 100 scientific papers. He serves on visiting
committees or in an advisory capacity on a number of academic
and medical institution panels, including the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Columbia University College of
Physicians and Surgeons. He received the Enzyme Chemistry
Award of the American Chemical Society in 1967, the National
Academy of Science's Chemistry in Service to Society Award
in 1995, and he was inducted into the National Business Hall
of Fame in 1995. This year, in addition to receiving the
School of Arts and Sciences' Distinguished Alumni Award,
he is being honored by the Franklin Institute with the Bower
Award for Business Leadership.
At Penn, Dr. Vagelos serves as chairman of the board of trustees, chair of the trustees' executive and nominating committees, and a member of the undergraduate financial aid committee and the Agenda for Excellence Council.