Skip to contents
In This Issue:
From left, Service Award recipients include Joseph Dorsey, MD, Thomas O’Brien, MD, Thomas Thornhill, MD, Winthrop Churchill, MD, and Joseph Corson, MD.
In his more than half a century at BWH, Pathology’s Joseph “Mac” Corson, MD, served as chief resident, participated in early studies of organ rejection with Joseph Murray, MD, and became the hospital’s first director of surgical pathology—a practice model that was adopted worldwide some 20 years later.
“He is a man who stands like the marble columns at 15 Francis St.—an icon for our institution,” said Michael Gimbrone, MD, PhD, chair of Pathology.
With 55 years of service each, Corson and Thomas O’Brien, MD, of the Department of Medicine, topped the list of Service Award honorees recognized during the Physician Recognition Dinner and Medical Staff Awards sponsored by BWH, the BWPO and the Brigham and Women’s Physicians’ Council at the Intercontinental Hotel this spring.
O’Brien began running the hospital’s Infectious Disease program when BWH began its pioneering work in transplantation. “He saw patients with new types of infectious disease and described it for the first time,” said Elliott Kieff, MD, chief of Infectious Disease, adding that O’Brien and John Stelling, MD, have developed software to globally track the spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance in human infections. “His love of science is really in basic bacteriology and how organisms become resistant to disease. He has been bringing that science to the bedside throughout his career.”
Awards were presented to more than 200 physicians with five to 55 years of service in increments of five years. All physicians and scientists were honored during the evening for their contributions to patient care, research, teaching and the community.
“I have no doubt we are blessed with the best clinicians and scientists, bar none,” said Allen Smith, MD, MS, president of the BWPO. “It really energizes me knowing that I am collaborating with some of the most gifted and talented people in our profession.”
BWH President Betsy Nabel, MD, thanked physicians and scientists for their contributions. “Thank you for being leaders in compassionate care and discovery and for your service to our patients and the local and global community,” she said. “This is really an environment that fosters excellence in all we do.”
Jessica Dudley, MD, chief medical officer for the BWPO, introduced the BWPO Physician Award recipients. “We had many incredible nominations, and this was by no means an easy decision for the Physician Recognition Award selection committee,” she said.
Clinical Community Service: Zeina Chemali, MD, director of Neuropsychiatry within the Center for Brain-Mind Medicine, for helping to lead neuropsychiatry at BWH while dedicating herself to the care of underserved populations worldwide, including efforts in Lebanese refugee camps and nursing homes and health care in Guatemala.
Clinical Innovation: Nina Longtine, MD, director of Molecular Diagnostics in the Department of Pathology, for positioning BWH at the forefront of personalized medicine.
Clinical Collaboration: Mehra Golshan, MD, director of Breast Surgical Services, for his dedication to providing comprehensive care of patients with breast cancer and breast disease.
Clinical Community Service: R. Morton (Chip) Bolman, III, MD, chief of Cardiac Surgery, for his leadership and guidance of Team Heart, in partnership with his wife, Ceeya Patton-Bolman, a nurse who is the volunteer program coordinator. Team Heart works with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and the Rwanda Heart Foundation to build a comprehensive, sustainable cardiovascular program in Rwanda.
James S. Winshall Leadership Award: Michael VanRooyen, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAAEM, chief of the Division of International Health and Humanitarian Programs in the Department of Emergency Medicine, for his relief efforts in massive humanitarian crises.