Dr. James Whorton, professor of medical history and ethics, has been named acting chair of the department, effective Feb. 1. Dr. Albert Jonsen, professor and chair of the department since his arrival from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1987, retired on Sept. 30. He plans to continue his professional activities at the medical school on a reduced schedule for the next few years. Dr. Ronald Schneeweiss, professor and past chair of family medicine, heads the search committee for the new chair. Whorton previously served as acting chair between 1985 and 1987. ¶