On June 20, about 50 friends, colleagues and family members gathered to celebrate Mark Denison, MD, whose three decades of research on coronaviruses at Vanderbilt University Medical Center helped rein in the worst pandemic in more than a century.
At the end of June, Denison, professor emeritus of Pediatrics and former director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, will close the door to his lab for the last time and embark on new adventures in retirement.
During a luncheon in the theater of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, current Division Director Anthony Flores, MD, MPH, PhD, the Edward Clairborne Stahlman Professor and professor of Pediatrics, announced a new endowed directorship in Pediatrics would be established in Denison’s name July 1.
James Crowe Jr., MD, Ann Scott Carell Professor, University Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics and Chemistry, and director of the Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics, gave a brief history of Denison’s achievements in science and science policy.
The discoveries about coronavirus biology that Denison and his colleagues made were foundational for the rapid validation of antiviral drugs and development of new vaccines that helped bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control.
Denison also contributed to the development of national biosafety policies that promote safe handling of potentially hazardous biological materials. “He was a leader and vocal proponent of doing the right thing,” Crowe said.
Monroe Carell President Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, who has known Denison since his arrival at Vanderbilt in 1991, described his impact as a mentor to dozens of undergraduate, medical and PhD students, resident physicians and postdoctoral fellows, not to mention the positive influence he has had on everyone around him.
“You’ve touched our lives with a steadfastness and a strong presence, a rational voice, sometimes passionate, but always rational, thoughtful, and always with kindness,” Rush said. “(For) everybody here and people around the world, your career has touched lives and made a difference.”
During his remarks, Denison described the “amazing legacy” of his predecessors and colleagues. “I’m among people who fundamentally care,” he said.
“Stay with those virtues,” he urged his listeners. “… You are working to discover truth. You are working for the future. You are working for children and their families. You are committed to creating a better world.”
