During Homecoming weekend, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine awarded the school’s highest honor—the Case Medal for Excellence in Health Science Innovation—to Professor George Dubyak, PhD. Dubyak, who serves as both director of Case Western Reserve’s Biomedical Research Training Program and co-director of the MD/PhD program, is widely known for his incredible dedication to graduate education and his focus on mentorship and medical research.
“Just this past Tuesday I had the honor to watch George describe with great insight and enthusiasm his own work dissecting the complex pathways of immune response and the inflammasome,” said Dean Stan Gerson, MD, dean, School of Medicine dean, School of Medicine and senior vice president for medical affairs, Case Western Reserve University. “He has an exquisite talent to teach some of the most complex aspects of biomedical pathways.”
Dubyak, who joined the university in 1986, leads his own research lab, manages funded program project grants and reviews for the National Institutes of Health —in addition to training young medical professionals.
“Truly a remarkable accomplishment launching careers,” said Gerson. “He has graduated 24 students to their PhD from his lab, served on 156 thesis committees and currently sits on 37 committees.”
Dubyak is a member of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Immune Oncology Program and is renowned as an inflammation and monocytes and macrophages expert. He serves on the editorial board for Science, and has 150 high-impact published papers, with more than 21,000 citations.
The Case Medal for Excellence in Health and Science Innovation is not Dubyak’s first accolade at the university. Over the past 35+ years he has received many honors: the Mellon Foundation Award Support of New Faculty, 1986; Outstanding Preclinical Faculty Award, 1990; Faculty Appreciation Award Biomedical Research Graduate Student Association, 2000; Designation as Master Teacher, Academy of Scholar Educators, 2008; and, Mentor of the Year, Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program, 2017.
The Case Medal for Excellence in Health and Science Innovation honors accomplished faculty who are transforming research, education and care.