In September 2020, Eric P. Winer, MD, was honored with the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award, presented by the Office for Diversity, Inclusion & Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Winer is Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Breast Oncology Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Insitute, Boston. William Silen, MD, is Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery, Emeritus, and was the first Dean for Faculty Development and Diversity at Harvard Medical School.
Eric P. Winer, MD
William Silen, MD
Nancy Lin, MD
Nancy Lin, MD, Associate Chief, Division of Breast Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, presented the award to Dr. Winer. She commented: “The most important measure of Dr. Winer’s dedication to mentorship is the success of those he has mentored; a large number of his mentees have gone on to very successful academic careers and are now established investigators and excellent mentors themselves.”
History of the Award
The Lifetime Excellence in Mentoring Award was established in 1997, and in 2001, it was renamed the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award. This distinction was made to honor and acknowledge the lifetime commitment Dr. Silen made to mentoring students, residents, and faculty.
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Silen helped to shape the future of academic medicine by fostering multiple generations of talented trainees and faculty through mentorship to enable them to attain their full potential. He recognized the importance of mentoring in maximizing one’s potential in academic medicine, which at times included his role as a didactic instructor, a nurturer, a seeker of talent, an upholder of impeccable standards, a tough taskmaster when necessary, a compassionate listener, a dedicated and patient teacher, and a friend.
