Dr. Parrish Awarded Bowditch Prize

Recognized for contributions to patient care and reducing healthcare costs

The prestigious Bowditch Prize for 2008 has been awarded to John Parrish, MD, executive director of CIMIT. The award, given by the trustees of Massachusetts General Hospital, each year recognizes a medical professional whose contributions enhance the delivery of quality patient care while reducing the cost of that care.

Dr. Parrish was an innovative leader, clinician and researcher at MGH for close to 30 years. His career included tenures as chief of the MGH Dermatology Service and director of the MGH Cutaneous Biology Research Center. He founded the first, and now the world's largest, multidisciplinary research group to systematically study the nature of laser effects on tissue, The Wellman Center for Photomedicine.

The Bowditch Prize was created in 2000 through the generosity of Charles and Nancy Munger, and the Alfred C. Munger Foundation. The award honors Nathanial Bowditch, a 19th century pioneer in celestial navigation and an active community leader. The Bowditch family has a long history of being supportive of MGH.

Bowditch, in the 1820s, worked closely with the hospital to raise funds from the sale of insurance policies. He was a self-taught scholar, a Harvard corporation member and a writer on maritime subjects. Mr. Bowditch had two sons who also were important in the development of the hospital throughout that century, one as a trustee and chairman of the MGH Corp., and the other as a doctor and researcher.

MGH President Peter L. Slavin, MD, who spoke at an award luncheon April 11, said, "Our health-care providers are committed to delivering the best care to patients," he said. "I congratulate Dr. Parrish . . . your desire to think creatively and strengthen the already high-quality care we deliver to our patients helps make the MGH a leading healthcare resources for the community, the region and the world."