James E. Mulvihill, D.M.D., '62
Those who know Jim will tell you that his passion and loyalty for friends and family are second only to his passion for ensuring that advances in health care reach the greatest number of people.
In fact, his impact on medical research, health care, and health advocacy has spanned decades and disciplines. After receiving a doctor of dental medicine from Harvard, he embarked on a distinguished career in academic dentistry and held teaching and administrative positions at Harvard, SUNY Stony Brook, and the University of Connecticut. He has served as chairman of the Travelers Health Company; senior fellow in health policy at the Association of Academic Health Centers; and president of the Forsyth Dental Center. During his tenure as president of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, he doubled annual program revenues and expenditures to support research. The Foundation became the fastest growing voluntary nonprofit health agency in the country, as well as the world's largest nonprofit nongovernmental funder of diabetes research. He continues to be involved in a host of nonprofit health care organizations, including The First Tee, a national youth development program.
Jim is the author of two books and nearly 50 scientific papers and abstracts. He has been a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and of the American and the International Colleges of Dentists. He is a past chairman of the Association of Academic Health Centers and of the National Fund for Medical Education. He received the American Dental Education Association's Distinguished Service Award. Jim currently serves on the board of directors of the National Fund for Medical Education and is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Joslin Diabetes Center.
This extraordinarily successful career may have been glimpsed as early as his very first days on Mount St. James. As part of his financial aid program, Jim was a waiter in Kimball — but it wasn't long before he became head waiter, managing staff and ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. He was president of the Purple Key Society, the man to whom everyone would turn to get things done and ensure successful results. And, yes, his exceptional scholarship was legendary in the College's rigorous premedical program. As classmate Dr. Anthony Fauci wrote in his nominating letter: "Jim is a truly shining example of the model Holy Cross graduate."
For his dedication to healing and commitment to the health and welfare of a nation, for his expertise and skill, and tireless support and loyalty to the College and community, the College of the Holy Cross presents to James E. Mulvihill the Sanctae Crucis Award.