February 29, 2008

Hirsch receives Maxwell Finland Award

Awards celebration: From left, David Ho, MD, founding scientific director and CEO of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center; Carol Baker, MD, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) Board of Directors; Hirsch; and George Hill, MD, president-elect of the NFID Board of Directors

Martin S. Hirsch, MD, of the MGH Infectious Disease Unit and the Partners AIDS Research Center, (third from left) was honored as the recipient of the prestigious Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) at an awards gala Feb. 13. Hirsch was selected for the honor — given to scientists for outstanding contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases or public health — for his many achievements as a physician, researcher and educator.

During his more than 40-year career, Hirsch has become a leader in virology research and training, is widely known for his pioneering studies of therapies for viral infections and is regarded by many as the father of combination therapy for HIV/AIDS. In addition, he has trained many of today's leaders in HIV research and was awarded the first Mentor Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. A professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard School of Public Health, he also is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. Hirsch received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University Medical School and trained at the MGH, the University of Chicago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Medical Research in London.