BOSTON – April 25, 2012 – George King, MD, has been awarded the 2012 Harold Amos Diversity Award by Harvard Medical School.

Dr. King, who is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard and Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, is being recognized for his work in founding the Asian American Diabetes Initiative at Joslin, and his strong support for both the Latino Diabetes Initiative and Joslin’s new Black Diabetes Initiative. 

He was also cited for his work on the medical school admissions committee for endocrine and clinical and research fellows and his active interest in recruiting and supporting minority students. 

“His ongoing mentorship of junior faculty ensures that there is a sustainable effort to promote diversity. In addition his engagement with the senior executive team and Board of Trustees at Joslin provides ongoing guidance to integrate diversity into the institutional agenda and vision,” according to nomination papers for the award.

Dr. King is a past member of the Asian-American Commission of Massachusetts, and a member of the Asian Pacific American Diabetes Action Council of the American Diabetes Association.

In addition to his role as Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, Dr. King is co-head of the Section on Vascular Cell Biology. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance may lead to long-term complications. 

The Harold Amos award was established to recognize “faculty who have made significant achievements in moving the Harvard Medical School toward being a diverse and inclusive community.” 

The award is named for Professor Harold Amos, a prominent microbiologist who taught at Harvard Medical School for nearly fifty years and was the first African American department chair at the school.

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