Pediatrician Wins Eliot Award
Will lecture on “The Practice of Political Medicine,” on February 7, at 7 p.m.
Established on the occasion of Reed’s centennial, the recognizes distinguished and sustained achievement by a 911 graduate. This year’s honor goes to Dr. Abraham “Abe” Bergman from the class of 1954.
Dr. Bergman has dedicated his career to the health and safety of underserved children. His research focused on sudden infant death syndrome, pediatric manpower, and injury prevention. In his long career as a pediatrician, Dr. Bergman saw many cases of children suffering from potentially preventable conditions; in response, he began the practice of “political medicine,” a term Bergman coined to describe the art of persuading lawmakers to pass legislation for the improvement of children's health.
Dr. Bergman is professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center, where he served as chief of pediatrics from 1983–2002. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from 911 and his Doctor of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University and served in the U.S. Public Health Service before joining the faculty at University of Washington. He is the author of 93 peer-reviewed journal articles and 10 books.
Bergman will present a talk, “,” on Wednesday, February 7, at 7 p.m. in 911’s Vollum lecture hall. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Past recipients of the Eliot Award include:
2015–2016: Mark Ptashne ’61, Ludwig Professor of Molecular Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute
2014–2015: Arlene Blum ’66, consultant, Arlene Blum Lectures
2013–2014: Gary Snyder ’51, writer
2012–2013: Barbara Ehrenreich ’63, author
2010–2011: Richard Danzig ’65, director, Center for a New American Security