Posthumous honor for hematology legend Aaron Marcus
Aaron J. Marcus, M.D., formerly of Weill Cornell Medical College and the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, was posthumously recognized at the American Society of Hematology's 57th Annual Meeting with the 2015 Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology, which is intended for an individual who has demonstrated lifetime achievement and leadership in education, research, mentoring, and practice.
As noted in Oncology Times, Marcus was recognized for his groundbreaking research in hemostasis and thrombosis, and for his unwavering dedication to the field of hematology throughout his nearly 60-year career.
“With his pioneering studies on platelets, aspirin, and CD39 and steadfast commitment to patients, students, and colleagues, Dr. Marcus embodied the values of the Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology,” ASH President David A. Williams, M.D., of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Harvard Medical School, said in a news release. “Dr. Marcus was well known for his dedication, passion, and creativity."
Marcus served as Chief of Hematology-Oncology at the Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System and an Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from 1958 until his death. He also joined Weill Cornell in 1973 as Professor of Medicine, and became Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He researched platelets and their interaction with other cells that can lead to thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and inflammation, his research having helped lay the foundation for modern anti-thrombotic therapy for heart attack and stroke. His consistent successes earned him continuous funding beginning in 1958 from the National Institutes of Health and Veterans Affairs Administration. Marcus was chosen to receive the award prior to his death in May.
