Ladder to success
After graduating from the College summa cum laude with a B.A. in biochemistry and a minor in piano performance and mathematics, Kauffman found himself inundated with acceptance letters from the medical schools of Harvard, John Hopkins and Yale Universities. He was offered a full scholarship to both Johns Hopkins and Yale.
"I was impressed by how a small college could prepare you to compete for $150,000 scholarships to these top schools," he said.
Eventually, Kauffman went on to study at John Hopkins Medical School. In 1992, he completed the M.D. and Ph.D. program in cell and molecular biology and biochemistry. He went on to complete his post-doctoral training at Beth Israel Hospital and Mass. General Hospital, both part of the Harvard Medical School system. During his term at Mass. General, he participated in a fellowship in rheumatology.
In 1995, Dr. Kauffman, who had already established his rheumatology practice, decided to challenge himself. He was approached by Biogen Corporation-a biopharmaceutical company in Mass.-and offered the position of associate medical director of the inflammation program. For the next two years, he worked at Biogen in this capacity before being promoted to medical director of the program. He also involved himself with various aspects of business development, internal management and corporate strategy.
Armed with his experiences, Kauffman left Biogen in 1997 to co-found Millennium Predicative Medicine, Inc. As senior medical director and head of medicine, he was responsible for strategic planning, medical issues and overseeing clinical trials. He also developed business relations with numerous medical and pharmaceutical associations.
In 2002, Kauffman entered his current position as CEO and president of Predix Pharmaceuticals. "At Predix, we aim to change the way drugs are discovered-to make the process more efficient so that we can get new drugs to people who need them," he said. "I love running the company-there are always new challenges, new issues, problems to solve and diseases to attack. After what felt like 50 years in school training to do science and medicine, I am really thrilled to be able to apply both to improve the human condition."
At the time of Kauffman's appointment, Haim Aviv, Chairman of Predix Pharmaceuticals, spoke highly of Kauffman. "I am confident that his experience and enthusiasm will drive our drug candidates into pre-clinical and clinical studies, helping us to attain our vision of changing the way drugs are discovered and developed," he said. In addition to his responsibilities at Predix Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Kauffman is a member of the board of directors for Bioenvision Inc., a company that seeks to develop and distribute cancer treatment drugs and technologies.
The professor speaks up
The sentiments expressed in Haim Aviv's statement are mirrored in those of the professors who knew Kauffman during his time at Amherst. "Michael is one of the very best students that I have ever had," said Professor of biology and John W. Smith lecturer Richard Goldsby, Kauffman's collegiate advisor. "As a sophomore, he was taking classes that typically only had seniors." Regarded by professors with emotions ranging from fondness to awe, Kauffman was widely respected for not only his intelligence, but for the determination and eagerness he exhibited when pursuing scientific inquiries. Professor of biology David Ratner had only positive remarks. "Michael was as excited about [biochemistry] labs as a student could be," he said. "It was a pleasure to see the thrill and the imagination he brought to bear in his work. His determination was impressive. He definitely did not lack in self-confidence. In order to become accomplished in the sciences, these are key factors," he said.
As a student, not only was Dr. Kauffman the only one in his biochemistry class to receive an A+, he also took the time to explore, allowing his scientific imagination to run free, often taking labs beyond the parameters of the class. Ratner recalls a young Kauffman coming to his door and asking to take a particular lab in a completely different direction. "He came to my room that week, with a proposal that would take the lab beyond what was intended. His proposed lab used completely different reagents, ones that we didn't have readily available," said Ratner. Undeterred, he went scrounging, from floor-to-floor, for the reagents he wanted in various chemistry and biology rooms."
Professor of jurisprudence and political science Austin Sarat sums up what many professors thought of Kauffman. "It seems almost impossible to imagine that it has been 20 years since Michael Kauffman graduated Amherst.," said Sarat. "During his time at the College he made a great impression on me. I was lucky to have him as a student and to have had the chance to get to know him."
Of college and Kauffman
Kauffman reciprocates the sentiments from his professors, recalling the excitement he felt when he first arrived at Amherst. Not only was the campus gorgeous, but the classes were of the highest caliber. "Every professor knew your name, every class was a reasonable size. You could easily meet with professors after classes in order to discuss the previous class or even career paths if you so desired," he said.
Kauffman, as the premier capitalist in his class, recalls bantering with Sarat about Karl Marx. For Kauffman, the professors even compensated for the lack of certain facilities: "The biology building was a disaster, a total nightmare," he said. "The professors more than made up for it."
During his free time, Kauffman was often on the fields and quads of Amherst playing intramural football and squash. Though he picked up the sport in college, Kauffman grew to love squash while at Amherst, and played on the junior varsity squad. He could also often be found at the Arms Music Center, where he spent time perfecting his art on the center's Steinway pianos.
Kauffman frequently tickled the ivories in Northampton as well, playing under the tutelage of a Smith College professor. For him, the Five College consortium offered him the chance to "enjoy the best of both worlds." "Smith College had a strong music department and excellent professors, but they lacked practice rooms of the caliber found at Amherst," he said.
Looking back on his time at the College, Kauffman's only regret was that he did not have more time at Amherst. "If I could, I would have spent more time biking at Amherst, the campus is gorgeous," he said.
The Kauffman Fellowship
Motivated by his experiences and fond memories of Amherst, Kauffman continues to be an important part of the College community. Not only does he return for College events, he remains in contact with many of his professors and contributes generously. "The thing that impresses someone who watches students come along and develop, like the way I have, is that [Kauffman] continues to help with the College, and not only financially," said Goldsby. "He is extremely generous with his time and advice, teaching students, and delivering seminars on the future of medicine."
Dr. Kauffman also sponsors a biology grant here at Amherst. Every year, one applicant is chosen to study at any laboratory in the world, the expenses being covered in full by the grant. Kauffman often takes an interest in the application process and always makes time in his schedule to meet with and get to know the chosen applicant. "I initiated the Kauffman Fellowship in biomedical research because it is becoming increasingly competitive for students to get into M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. programs and any research experience can help with this," he said.
Kauffman visits the campus in March each year and interviews each of the students, though the College makes the choice. "I'm really thrilled to see some of the Kauffman Fellowship recipients-it's over five years old now-having received M.D.s, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s, and get into some great graduate programs. I believe that the experience of the Fellowship has helped students get into their programs and helped them focus on what they really like," said Kauffman.
Where is he now?
Kauffman currently resides in Concord, Mass., with his wife, Christine. Together, they can often be found biking through the scenic landscapes of Mass. or scuba diving off the coasts of the Caribbean. Kauffman continues to pursue the activities he enjoyed at Amherst, particularly squash. At home, the Kauffmans share their living space with a variety of fish-they have a 500-gallon aquarium in their living room and a 180-gallon tank in the dining room. He also continues to play piano on his recently acquired Steinway, another precious reminder of his exciting times at Amherst.