Established by his family, the fund supports an annual lecture by an outstanding clinical teacher at the NIH Clinical Center.  
 
Dr. John Laws Decker was director of the NIH Clinical Center (1983-1990) and chief of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch in what is now the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, serving as clinical director from 1976-1980 and scientist emeritus following his retirement in 1990.  He was a recognized leader and teacher in the NIH research community with interests in rheumatology and immunology.