Dr. James Cherry, a distinguished research professor of pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been awarded the 2016 Bill Marshall Award. This is the highest honor awarded by the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in pediatric infectious diseases and child health.
The award is named after Dr. William Courtney Marshall, a founding member of the society. Cherry first met Marshall when they were both presenters at a 1968 international rubella vaccine meeting in London. The doctors had many similar virologic interests and kept in touch until Marshall’s death in 1983.
The award is another prestigious achievement in Cherry’s long career — spanning over five decades. He established one of the first formal pediatric disease fellowship programs in the world and during his 43-year tenure at UCLA, his mentorship has helped numerous trainees become leaders in the field.
Cherry was part of the team that carried out an extensive seven year (1989-1996) pertussis efficacy trial in Erlangen, Germany. He has published hundreds of research papers, editorials, commentaries, and book chapters. He is the senior editor of "Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases," now in its seventh edition.
Cherry has been recipient of numerous awards, most recently, election to honorary membership in the society and the Ronald P. Bangasser, MD, Immunization Leadership Award from the California Immunization Coalition.
