P. Roy Vagelos

Pindaros Roy Vagelos better known as P. Roy Vagelos or Roy Vagelos (born 1929 in Westfield, New Jersey) was president and chief executive officer (1985) and chairman (1986) of Merck, he was widely admired for attracting top research scientists who developed many major new drugs. His experience gave him an unusual perspective on mastering three leading professions: medicine, science, business and went and become the Chief executive officer of the multinational pharmaceutical giant, Merck

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Biography

Roy Vagelos grew up during the Depression as a son of Greek immigrants. Vagelos attended Rahway High School in his hometown.^[1] After winning a partial scholarship, he left his family's small restaurant in Rahway, New Jersey to become a doctor.^[2] He majored in chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1950. Vagelos later earned an M.D. at Columbia University in 1954.

Vagelos was deferred from military service while in medical school, but he was obligated to serve a two-year stint as an Army doctor. As a Columbia University Medical School trained surgeon and biochemist, Vagelos obtained a two-year assignment as a research physician at the National Institutes of Health (1956-1966). For Vagelos, it was a fateful turning point. He was associated with Massachusetts General Hospital, Washington University and the Washington University School of Medicine (1966-1975) before joining Merck, Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories in Rahway (president 1976-1984).

The author of more than 100 scientific papers, Vagelos has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.

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