Alan D. Cherrington, Ph.D., is Chairman of the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics anx the Charles H. Best Professor of Diabetes Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In 2004, Cherrington became the first non-M.D. to hold the position of president of the American Diabetes Association.

He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physiology from the University of Toronto in 1969 and 1973, respectively. From 1967-68 he worked as a biologist, for the Department of National Health & Welfare, in Ottawa, Canada. In 1973 Cherrington was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

In 1982, he became Professor of Physiology, and from 1986-98 he served as Vice Chairman of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics. Cherrington served as Director of Graduate Studies for Molecular Physiology & Biophysics from 1987 to 1991 and has worked as the Associate Director of Diabetes Research and Training Center at VUMC. He became Professor of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics in 1985; Professor of Medicine and Director of DRTC Analytical Services Core in 1994, and Chairman of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics at VUMC in 1998.