Samuel O. Thier
Encyclopedia
Samuel Osiah Thier is professor of Medicine and Health Care Policy at Harvard University
.
He previously served as the president of Brandeis University
from 1991–1994 and the president of the Massachusetts General Hospital
from 1994-97. Thier is an authority on internal medicine
and kidney disease and is also known for his expertise in national health policy, medical education and biomedical research.
, New York
, in 1937. He attended Cornell University
, and then earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1960 from the State University of New York
at Syracuse
. In addition, he has received sixteen honorary degrees and the UC Medal of the University of California, San Francisco
.
, progressing from Intern in 1960, to Chief Resident in Medicine in 1966, to Assistant in Medicine and Chief of the Renal Unit in 1967.
He served as Associate Director of Medical Services at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
and then Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University’s School of Medicine
.
In 1975, he became Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine
at Yale University School of Medicine, where he was the Sterling Professor, and Chief of Medical Service at Yale-New Haven Hospital
.
Thier served as President of the Institute of Medicine
, National Academy of Sciences
, from 1985 to 1991.
Thier was the President of Brandeis University
from 1991 to 1994. At Brandeis, he was largely credited with improving the financial situation of the institution.
Thier was the President of Massachusetts General Hospital and President of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. until 1996. He became Chief Executive Officer in 1996, stepping down in 2002. He continues to teach at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
, Johns Hopkins University
, and Cornell University
. He recently stepped down as chair of the Board of Directors of The Commonwealth Fund. Dr. Thier continues to teach several undergraduate lectures at Brandeis University each semester.
, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and a member of the American Philosophical Society
. He received the John Stearns Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Medicine from the New York Academy of Medicine
in 2005.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He previously served as the president of Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
from 1991–1994 and the president of the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
from 1994-97. Thier is an authority on internal medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
and kidney disease and is also known for his expertise in national health policy, medical education and biomedical research.
Early life and education
Thier was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in 1937. He attended Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, and then earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1960 from the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
at Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. In addition, he has received sixteen honorary degrees and the UC Medal of the University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
.
Career
Thier began his career at the Massachusetts General HospitalMassachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
, progressing from Intern in 1960, to Chief Resident in Medicine in 1966, to Assistant in Medicine and Chief of the Renal Unit in 1967.
He served as Associate Director of Medical Services at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and then Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University’s School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
.
In 1975, he became Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine
Internal medicine
Internal medicine is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists. They are especially skilled in the management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes...
at Yale University School of Medicine, where he was the Sterling Professor, and Chief of Medical Service at Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital , Connecticut's largest hospital with 966 beds, is located in New Haven, Connecticut.The hospital is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System, Inc...
.
Thier served as President of the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
, National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, from 1985 to 1991.
Thier was the President of Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
from 1991 to 1994. At Brandeis, he was largely credited with improving the financial situation of the institution.
Thier was the President of Massachusetts General Hospital and President of Partners HealthCare System, Inc. until 1996. He became Chief Executive Officer in 1996, stepping down in 2002. He continues to teach at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Other Positions
Dr. Thier has had many leadership positions, including membership on the Board of Trustees of Yale-New Haven HospitalYale-New Haven Hospital
Yale-New Haven Hospital , Connecticut's largest hospital with 966 beds, is located in New Haven, Connecticut.The hospital is owned and operated by the Yale New Haven Health System, Inc...
, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He recently stepped down as chair of the Board of Directors of The Commonwealth Fund. Dr. Thier continues to teach several undergraduate lectures at Brandeis University each semester.
Awards and honors
He was named Honorary Fellow of the New York Academy of MedicineNew York Academy of Medicine
The New York Academy of Medicine was founded in 1847 by a group of leading New York City metropolitan area physicians as a voice for the medical profession in medical practice and public health reform...
, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
. He received the John Stearns Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Medicine from the New York Academy of Medicine
New York Academy of Medicine
The New York Academy of Medicine was founded in 1847 by a group of leading New York City metropolitan area physicians as a voice for the medical profession in medical practice and public health reform...
in 2005.