2004 Wylie Scholar
Michael Watkins, MD
Former Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard University
Former Associate Director, Massachusetts General Hospital
“My greatest success has been developing an exciting translational non‐invasive tool with collaborators at the Massachusetts General Hospital to detect spinal cord injury prior to the onset of neurologic symptoms. This has significant clinical potential as a tool to help patients undergo vascular surgery procedures on the thoracoabdominal aorta safely. Since receiving the award I have obtained $300,000 from the American Diabetes Association and $2.4 million from the NIH.”
Dr. Watkins developed new ways to repair thoracic aortic aneurysms and addressed complications that occur after restoring blood flow in patients with critical limb ischemia. Surgery is the primary treatment for these but can cause spinal cord injury. Dr. Watkins’ experimental treatments showed promise in understanding and potentially preventing the paralysis that may occur after surgery to repair aortic aneurysms.
Dr. Watkins also researched why tissues become damaged after blood flow is restored in patients with peripheral artery disease, which can cause chronic inflammation and even strokes. Dr. Watkins hoped to develop new treatments that will save patients’ limbs without complications.
Since receiving the Wylie Scholar award, Dr. Watkins served as Director of the Vascular Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, which received grants from the NIH and American Diabetes Association. Dr. Watkins was awarded the Joint Services Commendation from the Department of Defense, the Care and Compassion Award from the VA Boston Healthcare System, and teaching awards from the University of Rochester and Boston University. He was member of the Research Council of the Society of Vascular Surgery.