Stephen E. Straus, M.D., 60, the first director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), died of brain cancer May 14, 2007, at his home in Potomac, Maryland.

"As NCCAM's first Director, Dr.

Straus articulated an uncompromising and compelling agenda for scientific research and research training that engendered broad interest and collaboration," noted Elias A.

Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health. "His success stemmed from the fact...