Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and long-time investigator with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), was recognized by the NCI on October 26 as a 2005 NCI Outstanding Mentor.

The NCI Outstanding Mentor award is a prestigious honor which acknowledges exemplary mentoring and guidance of trainees in cancer research. Dr. Katz was nominated by present and past trainees who view his mentorship as outstanding. This is the fifth year the Outstanding Mentor award has been presented by the NCI.

The award recognizes Dr. Katz's excellence in training both students and scientists. Dr. Katz, the former chief of NCI's Dermatology Branch who remains a senior principal investigator there, has led a program of studies in fundamental biological and clinical problems in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases of the skin. He has had the opportunity to train a large number of immunodermatologists from both the U.S. and abroad. Many of these individuals are now leading their own independent research programs.

Dr. Katz received his M.D. degree cum laude from Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans; and a Ph.D. degree in immunology from the University of London, England. In 1974, he joined NIH as a senior investigator in the Dermatology Branch of NCI, becoming acting chief in 1977 and chief from 1980-2001. On August 1, 1995, he was appointed director of NIAMS.