Congratulations to Aubrey Morrison, MBBS, MACP, FASN, Professor Emeritus, Division of Nephrology, who was bestowed the 2021 Distinguished Graduate Award by the Association of Medical and Dental Graduates Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
The Association of Medical and Dental Graduates present the Distinguished Graduate Award to a medical or dental graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to health care, education, research, humanitarian aid and patient care. The award was established in 1988. Dr. Morrison, class of 1970, is the 17th awardee of the medal.
Founded in 1932, the Association of Medical and Dental Graduates promotes social and professional connections between fellow RCSI graduates throughout the world. All graduates from the School of Medicine and former School of Dentistry become life members automatically upon graduation and are invited to attend and get involved with the annual program of events and awards.
The ceremony, held August 21-22, 2021, was virtual again this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online gathering provided an opportunity for the alumni to reflect on their lives since graduating, share their experiences, and to catch up with friends and reconnect with classmates.
“I am delighted and honored to be awarded and receive this prestigious award from my alma mater,” says Morrison.
The Association of Medical and Dental Graduates virtual presentation of the Distinguished Graduate Award was broadcast via the RCSI Alumni YouTube channel.
In the video of the award presentation, a fellow Guyanese and personal friend of Morrison’s, Dr. Pamela Mangal, class of 1971, details Morrison’s distinguished career, awards and accomplishments.
Presenting the award to Morris is Dr. Patrick Troy, President of the Association of Medical and Dental Graduates, who says, “The [medal] is in safe keeping here in the college and awaits your return to your alma mater, hopefully next year!”
After earning his medical degree from the Royal college of Surgeons in Dublin and the University of London in 1970, Morrison came to WashU because of its rotating internship program and stayed to complete his residency and fellowships in nephrology (1975) and pharmacology (1978) at Barnes Hospital. He subsequently joined WashU as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine on the tenure track in 1978.
Morrison, a physician-scientist, became a pioneer in the study of inflammatory processes in the body. In recognition of his research, he was elected to the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 1982, being the first Black physician elected to the honorary society and one of only four Black men elected to ASCI pre-2000. When Morrison was promoted to Professor of Medicine in 1987, he was the first Black faculty member at the School of Medicine to achieve a full professorship.
When he retired from WashU Nephrology in October 2020, Morrison had been at Barnes-Jewish Hospital for over 45 years. Read more about his outstanding career here, including his receipt of the 2020 Barnes-Jewish Hospital medical staff association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Please watch the video of Distinguished Graduate Award presentation: