April 30, 2004

Symposium honors respected MGH physician

Laughter filled the O'Keeffe Auditorium April 23 as colleagues and friends gathered for a symposium in honor of Morton Swartz, MD, (below), for his 80th birthday. Swartz was chief of the Infectious Disease Unit at the MGH from 1956 to 1990, and since 1990 has served as the chief of the Jackson Firm of the MGH Department of Medicine.

The symposium activities included 12 physicians from the MGH, Harvard Medical School and other medical institutions presenting half-hour sessions about various topics ranging from "Challenges in the Global Fight Against HIV" to "The MGH Infectious Disease Unit: Thoughts and Observations About the Early Years."

In a session entitled "Mort Swartz as Mentor and Firm Chief, or If You Can't Imitate Him, Don't Copy Him," Lawrence Friedman, MD, chair of the Newton-Wellesley Hospital Department of Medicine, reflected on Swartz's teaching style. "Swartz is an encyclopedia of human knowledge and possesses the 'reflected glow' where we all benefit from being in his presence," said Friedman.

The day concluded with a few words from Swartz. "I am truly fortunate in four ways in my life. I am fortunate for the era I have lived in; I am fortunate for the mentors I have had; I am fortunate for teaching students and learning from them; and I am fortunate to work in an environment that is both collegial and encouraging," said Swartz.