Howard H. Hiatt, a renowned figure in the field of medicine and public Health, passed away on March 2 at the age of 98 at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Hiatt made significant contributions to the medical community as a professor at Harvard Medical School, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, and senior physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Born in Patchogue, New York, in 1925, Dr. Hiatt overcame adversity early in his life, including facing Jewish quotas that initially denied him entry to Harvard. His passion for medicine was ignited by a personal experience with his mother’s health crisis, which ultimately led him to pursue a career in healthcare.
Dr. Hiatt’s impactful research career included a collaboration with future Nobel laureates at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, where he helped identify messenger RNA, a discovery that played a crucial role in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. He later turned his focus to global health initiatives, challenging the nuclear-arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
As Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Hiatt worked tirelessly to broaden the scope of public health issues and enhance the school’s curriculum. He emphasized the importance of prevention over “curative prevention” and recruited top experts in the field to drive progress in healthcare delivery.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Hiatt was a devoted family man, surviving by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His impact on the medical community and dedication to social responsibility will be remembered for years to come.
In memory of his legacy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital established a residency program in global health equity and internal medicine in his honor. Dr. Hiatt’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access and promoting compassionate, innovative approaches to medical care will continue to inspire future generations of medical professionals.
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