West Virginia University Charleston Division Awards Warren Point Chair

The Point Chair, first endowed chair at the WVU Charleston Division, is used to develop an area of clinical research excellence. The chair's name honors one of West Virginia's most prominent physicians. Retiring in 1988, Dr. Point served as the Director of Medicine at WVU Charleston and the Charleston Area Medical Center. Currently he is professor emeritus at WVU Charleston.

A native of Charleston, Warren Point completed undergraduate studies at West Virginia University in 1942 and went on to medical school at Harvard University, finishing there in 1945. After postgraduate medical experiences at Boston City Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and a tour of duty in the U.S. Army medical corps, he established a private practice in internal medicine and gastroenterology in Boston, where he remained for 26 years. Upon his return to Charleston in 1977, he joined West Virginia University Health Sciences Center where he served as professor of medicine and director of the Department of Medicine until 1988.

The Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation, established in 1958 by Charleston lawyer, businessman and former Rhodes Scholar William J. Maier, Jr. and named in honor of his mother and wife, endowed the faculty chair at the Charleston Division of the WVU Health Sciences Center in 1995.

"This endowment signals our belief in a bright future for medical research and education in the WVU Charleston Division," said Ed Maier, director of the Maier Foundation since his father's death in 1981. "The endowment testifies to our great affection and respect for Warren Point, who has been an outstanding physician, superb administrator, admirable role model for young doctors and respected civic leader. The philosophy of the Maier Foundation is Advancement of the Pursuit of Excellence and it is fair to say Warren Point has always lived by that same philosophy."