Maxwell Finland

Maxwell Finland (March 15, 1902 — October 25, 1987) was an American scientist, medical researcher, an expert on infectious diseases.[1][2][3][4] Finland led seminal research of antibiotic treatment of pneumonia.[1]

Early life and education

Finland was born on March 15, 1902 in Zhashkiv near Kiev, Ukraine. He immigrated as a child to the United States at the age of 4. Finland graduated from the Boston English High School and cum laude from Harvard College in 1922. He then graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1926.[4]

Antibiotic research

In 1944, he worked with Chester Keefer at the Boston Medical Center on the first studies using penicillin to treat infectious diseases.[5]

He was noted for his strong criticism of pharmaceutical companies for their marketing of fixed-dose antibiotics. [6] His outspoken criticism helped in withdrawal of those drugs from the market.[1][7] He also made significant contributions to early identifications of new infectious issues, such as resistances of bacteria to antibiotics.[1]

Legacy

Finland was a member of the National Academies of Sciences.[3] His name appeared on about 800 scientific papers.[1] Finland turned over the money he received for numerous awards to Harvard endowment.[1] It is estimated that between his money and the money he influenced companies to give to the school, the total contribution was around 6 million dollars.[1] An annual Maxwell Finland Award was established in 1988 by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.[2] The National Academies Press called Finland "a giant in the field of infectious diseases".[3] National Foundation for Infectious Diseases called Finland "a distinguished scholar and scientist who pioneered work in epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance, and helped define the discipline of infectious diseases as we know it today".[2][8]

A building on the Boston University School of Medicine campus on Albany Street is named The Maxwell Finland Building and has housed The Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases.[9]

Awards and distinctions
  • inaugural president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America[10][11]
  • a member of the National Academy of Sciences[3]
  • the Kober Medal of the Association of American Physicians[3]
  • the Bristol Award of the Infectious Diseases Society of America[3]
  • the Chapin Award of the City of Providence[3]
  • the Philips Award of the American College of Physicians[3]
  • the Oscar B. Hunter Award of the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics[3]
  • the Sheen Award of the American Medical Association[3]
  • honorary degrees from Western Reserve and Thomas Jefferson Universities[3]
  • honorary doctor of science (honoris causa) degree from Harvard University (1982)[3]
  • Minot Chair at Harvard[12]
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References
  1. Cook, Joan (October 27, 1987). "Dr. Maxwell Finland, 85, Dies; Expert on Infectious Disease". New York Times. p. D34. Retrieved May 2, 2018.]
  2. "Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement". nfid.org. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  3. Robbins, Frederick C. (1999). "Maxwell Finland – 1902–1987" (PDF). nasonline.org. National Academiy of Sciences.
  4. Harvard, A Centennial Celebration, March 15-17, 2002
  5. "Firsts at BMC". Boston University Department of Medicine. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  6. "Impartial Tests of Drugs Sought – Harvard Expert Urges Panel to Evaluate Products – He Accuses Industry". New York Times. United Press International. September 13, 1960. p. 21. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  7. Toth, Robert C. (August 18, 1963). "Drug Agency Proposes a Ban On Antibiotics in Cold Remedies – New Curb Asked for Antibiotics". New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  8. "Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement", The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Accessed May 2, 2020
  9. "Boston Combined Residency Program: The Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases". Boston Children's Hospital/Boston Medical Center. Accessed May 2, 2020.
  10. "Infectious Diseases Society of America – Forming the Society". idsociety.org. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. "Infectious Diseases Society of America - Presidents". idsociety.org. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  12. "Minot Chair at Harvard Is Given to Dr. Finland". New York Times. June 24, 1963. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
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