From left: James Brink, Nancy Tarbell, namesake James Thrall, inaugural Thrall Family Professor of Radiology Ralph Weissleder and Peter Slavin. Image: Suzanne Camarata Photography
From left: James Brink, Nancy Tarbell, namesake James Thrall, inaugural Thrall Family Professor of Radiology Ralph Weissleder and Peter Slavin. Image: Suzanne Camarata Photography
In a May 9 ceremony in the New Research Building at Harvard Medical School, HMS Dean of Academic and Clinical Affairs Nancy Tarbell recognized Ralph Weissleder as the first incumbent of the Thrall Family Professorship in Radiology.
Weissleder is director of the Center for Systems Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, a senior member of the HMS Department of Systems Biology and a principal faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. He is particularly interested in developing tools for early disease detection.
“Let me recognize him as an outstanding member of our faculty, a skilled clinician, an exceptional researcher and a truly deserving inaugural incumbent for this great honor,” said Tarbell.
James Thrall is the chairman emeritus of the Department of Radiology at Mass. General, the Juan M. Taveras Distinguished Professor of Radiology at HMS and the ultimate namesake of this professorship.
Upon his retirement from the HMS faculty, the professorship will be renamed the James H. Thrall Professorship in Radiology.
“Highly regarded by Mass. General and the larger medical community as an innovator and brilliant leader, the naming of this professorship in Jim’s honor is a fitting tribute not only to his incredible contributions and dedication to the Department of Radiology, but also to his advancements made in the field of radiology during his 26-year tenure as a Harvard faculty member,” said Tarbell.
Other speakers at the ceremony included James Brink, radiologist-in-chief at Mass. General and the Juan M. Taveras Professor of Radiology at HMS, and Peter Slavin, president of Mass. General and professor of health care policy at HMS.
“By virtue of Peter’s excellent leadership, the personal contributions of Jim’s family, friends, colleagues, as well as the generosity of the Department of Radiology, the partnership between Mass. General and HMS has been strengthened through the Thrall Family Professorship, our institutions have been bolstered, and for that, we remain deeply grateful,” said Tarbell.
