History

History

The Department of Physiology was originally established at the University of Louisville in 1909 and was known as the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. It became the Department of Physiology in 1941. One of the most noted chairs of the department was Thomas B. Calhoon, who served as professor and chair of Physiology during the 1960's and 1970's. Calhoon's legacy encompassed a distinguished educational journey, marked by significant contributions as an investigator, medical educator and mentor. In the 1980s the department became the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and developed a strong emphasis in the area of cardiovascular research under the chairmanship of Patrick D. Harris. The department developed a national and international research reputation in microcirculatory control, cardiac function and hypertension. Irving Joshua has chaired the Department of Physiology since the mid-1990s. The research emphasis remains in the areas of cardiovascular function, metabolic disorders and environmental factors influencing cardiac and respiratory function. International science meetings sponsored by the department include the 5th World Congress in Microcirculation in 1991 and the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences Meeting in 2013. The department also has an extensive education mission that involves teaching professional and graduate students, online teaching initiatives and STEM-related community engagement efforts.