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By Emma Wabel
"There has never been a more exciting time to be engaged in science." This is the perspective Nancy J. Brown, M.D., carries into her new role as Chair of Keystone Symposia’s Board of Directors at the start of the organization’s fiscal year. A celebrated physician-scientist, educator, and mentor, Dr. Brown has devoted her career to building the infrastructure where breakthrough science thrives. Now she extends that mission at Keystone Symposia.
A Life’s Work for Science
Dr. Brown’s journey as a physician-scientist spans fundamental breakthroughs in cardiovascular pharmacology. Her NIH-funded research focuses on vascular biology, specifically elucidating the mechanisms of peptidase inhibitors to optimize outcomes in patients with hypertension and diabetes.
Yet, alongside her personal scientific output, Dr. Brown developed an equal passion for creating the structural foundations that allow other scientists to succeed.
At Vanderbilt, she established the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program, served as Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Scientist Development, and directed the Division of Clinical Pharmacology. In 2020, she returned to Yale to become the Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Yale School of Medicine and the C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine. Her national leadership has expanded to include election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and fellowship in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Throughout her career, Dr. Brown has also been a committed mentor and sponsor to early-career researchers. Long before joining Keystone Symposia’s Board, she routinely sent trainees from her laboratory to Keystone Symposia conferences across the globe. Each time they returned inspired, recharged and brimming with fresh ideas. She recognized something rare in Keystone’s model: an environment where world-renowned pioneers and rising stars meet as peers to push the boundaries of biomedical sciences.
“What Keystone Symposia does better than anyone is create high-quality scientific programs that bring together top scientists and rising stars from academia and industry.”
Hooked on Keystone Symposia
In 2024, Dr. Brown was invited by former Board Chair Dr. Walter Moos, and the nominating committee to join the Board of Directors. When she attended her very first Board and Scientific Advisory Board meetings, she experienced firsthand the unique energy she had seen in her trainees for years.
“When I attended my first Scientific Advisory Board meetings, I was hooked.”
After just two years of Board service, Dr. Brown stepped into the Chair role in Summer 2026. In this position, she channels her strategic energy into fostering environments where breakthrough science can thrive.
"I get my research fix by working with others to build strategic programs and infrastructure," Dr. Brown reflects. "Keystone Symposia offers the convening power that makes that strategic thinking possible for many."
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Keystone Symposia’s Leadership. Current Board of Director’s Chair, Dr. Nancy Brown (left) with CEO, Jamie Baumgartner (middle), and former Board Chair Walter Moos (right) at the June 2026 Director’s meeting.
A Clear Vision for Keystone’s Next Chapter
Dr. Brown takes the helm of the Board of Directors at a time of rapid advancement in the life sciences field.
As Chair, she is leveraging the Board’s immense collective intellectual power to expand Keystone Symposia’s global impact. Her key priorities include:
- Expanding Philanthropy & Scholarships: Increasing endowment support to ensure long-term financial sustainability and offer more scholarships for early-career researchers.
- Enhancing Digital Engagement: Developing creative digital platforms to complement core in-person gatherings, reaching scientists around the globe beyond the meeting dates.
- Fostering International & Cross-Disciplinary Networks: Identifying emerging topics, breaking down interdisciplinary silos, and deepening international connections.
Nancy’s Invitation to the Global Community
For Dr. Brown, the core appeal of Keystone Symposia has always been simple: a vibrant, welcoming home for minds dedicated to scientific discovery.
Advances in high-resolution imaging, gene editing, and AI as a tool for accelerating research, are opening unprecedented possibilities in biomedical sciences. Yet Dr. Brown realizes these breakthroughs demand more than innovation alone:
“Realizing these advances requires investment in our rising stars and collaboration across disciplines. Keystone Symposia serves as a nidus for both.”
As Dr. Brown steps into her role as Board Chair, her message to the global scientific community is clear:
“Come be part of this community.”
