Dr. Janice Kurth active in community

Dr. Janice Kurth earned her Ph.D. in human molecular and population genetics at Stanford University and her M.D. at the University of Arizona, with post-graduate training in internal medicine. After six years of independent human molecular genetic research in academic settings, she joined the commercial sector, spending time at Sequana Therapeutics, Genset Corp., Phenogenex LLC, a Stratagene company, and Pharsight Corp. In April 2002, she joined Visualize Inc., which later became Visual Technologies, as vice president of life sciences to build and manage the company’s life sciences data visualization and software business. Kurth also consults for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

She is the current president of the Rotary Club of Del Mar and District 5340 Group Study Exchange team leader. She will be leading a team of health care professionals to East Africa in February. Her other service activities include mentoring teenage students, founding and/or serving on several educational foundations in the community, volunteering at local schools, serving on the board of the Nanotechnology Research Foundation and serving as founder and president of the Health Travel Guides Foundation.

Kurth lives in Carmel Valley with her husband of 23 years. She has two daughters, ages 18 and 20. Both are enrolled in university studies. In her free time, she enjoys running, boogie boarding, reading, hiking, biking, swimming and snow skiing.

What brought you to Carmel Valley?

I came to Carmel Valley from Phoenix in 1997 to accept a position at Sequana Therapeutics, then located on the Torrey Pines Mesa. The attraction of the biotechnology community and the improvement in the weather was too much to resist.

What makes Carmel Valley special to you?

My family was attracted to Carmel Valley for several reasons. The superb public schools available for our children were most important. Second was the great location with easy freeway access. Everything is so easy to get to (excepting high traffic times). In addition, we loved the neighborhood feel. We live in the oldest section of the Valley, directly east of Interstate 5, so trees and landscaping are well established and the homes do not all look identical. Our neighbors are among our best friends, and this “village” was important as we raised our family.

If you could snap your fingers and have it done, what might you add, subtract or improve in Carmel Valley?

Ideally, I would like to have a little more land around our homes and have a Target-type store nearer.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by courage and strength in others to go where no one has gone before to make this world a better place.

If you hosted a dinner party for eight, whom (living or deceased) would you invite?

My dear departed father, Paul Farmer, Greg Mortenson, Michael DeBakey, Madeleine Albright, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Francis Crick, Sister Ethel Normoyle of the Missionvale Care Center in Zambia.

Tell us about what you are currently reading.

“Madam Secretary: A Memoir by Madeleine Albright”

What is your most prized possession?

“Things” don’t matter that much to me. My most prized possession would be my health and strong body.

What do you do for fun?

I love the theater, running, spinning, playing in the ocean and spending time with friends and family.

Please describe your greatest accomplishment.

My greatest accomplishment is having raised two daughters who are on their way to becoming successful, well-adjusted adults who will contribute significantly in their own ways to the world we live in. They will be my only true legacy.

What is your motto or philosophy of life?

From my father - “Sometimes, you gotta just go for it!”