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The Dartmouth
July 4, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Green receives award for immunology work

Green, who has been at DMS since 1983, is the chair of the microbiology and immunology division and served as the dean of the Medical School from January 2008 to September 2010. Faculty at the medical school said that Green is one of the leading voices at DMS.

"He is an outstanding leader and an excellent scientist," DMS professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology James Gorham said. "He's a very caring person. In the time I have known him, he thinks about the broader community and what is best for the people he works with and those around him."

Gorham said Green's work on the national level has also been reflected in his work at DMS.

"I think what he won the award for is his general attitude, which he displays here, encouraging junior researchers to carry out research," Gorham said. "It's not surprising to me that he won the award at a national level because I've seen him do it effectively at a local level."

At the AAI, an international organization of immunologists that promotes access to immunology research, Green worked with the Committee of Public Affairs from 2005 to 2009. During his last two years, he served as the head of the committee. The Committee of Public Affairs primarily worked to educate the public and elected officials about the work done by immunologists and to explain how funding and regulatory issues affect immunology work.

Green said he is honored to be receiving the award.

"It's a lot of extra work beyond our day jobs of doing science and teaching," Green said. "Working for your professional society is putting some extra things on your plate, but I feel like it is so important that I had to put a lot of energy in it the last five years. When you get an award like this, it's rewarding to feel that others feel like you made a real contribution."

Lauren Gross, director of public affairs and government issues at the AAI, said that although the institution's work is above and beyond what most researchers do, it is still important.

"Bill understands that you can't just do your research," Gross said. "You have to be engaged, and you have to be willing to speak up. He was able to engage all of the members of his committee, so they would use their best effort to advance the issues that were important."

There is still work to be done in advocating the importance of immunology, according to Green.

"I would just like to encourage my colleagues to consider putting in some energy in working with societies to get our word out," he said. "The public in general does not have a great idea of how the National Institutes of Health and immunologists work. Given the funding difficulties of the budget, now more than ever we need to work on getting our message out and emphasize how important and crucial this funding is."

An immunologist of Green's caliber is a valuable asset to DMS, Dean Wiley Souba said.

"Being recognized so prominently by his peers in the AAI says a lot about Dr. Green and the impact of his public policy leadership and his dedication to research and academic medicine," Souba said. "Dr. Green's leadership has clearly made Dartmouth Medical School and the discipline of immunology overall stronger. He's a wonderful role model, and he embodies the type of outstanding faculty we're fortunate to have teaching our medical and graduate students."