Prof John Mills '57, M.D., received a prestigious award from the Australian government in recognition of his work in clinical medicine, medical research, and biotechnology business. 

Following his graduation from Harley, he went on to receive a bachelor of science degree from the University of Chicago and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. His clinical training began at Harvard, was interrupted for 3 years by a stint doing research on respiratory viruses at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and completed by training in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). 

He was appointed to the faculty of UCSF in 1973, rising to the rank of professor in 1987. At UCSF he was the chief of the Infectious Disease Unit in the Department of Medicine, where he conducted both basic research in bacteriology and virology as well as many clinical trials. He was the principal investigator of one of the first grants in the AIDS Clinical Trial Group funded by the US NIH to ensure that clinical research on HIV infection and AIDS progressed rapidly, and from 1986 to 1990 he chaired the Opportunistic Infection Committee of the ACTG, developing and conducting many important studies to determine how best to treat the "opportunistic" infections common in patients with late-stage HIV infection. 

In 1991 he took sabbatical leave at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, Australia, working on malaria infections. While at WEHI he was recruited and ultimately appointed as the (managing) director of a virology research institute in Melbourne, the Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health (BI). He took up that position in 1992, and expanded the BI and moved it from its relatively distant location to the site of a tertiary hospital, The Alfred Hospital, where he also had a clinical practice. While at the BI he continued his research interests in respiratory viruses and HIV, making a number of important discoveries including that of an attenuated strain of HIV which was reported on the front page of the NY Times. 

He left the BI in 2002, and although he continued his clinical activities as well as research in respiratory virology and HIV, he also undertook a business career. He has been a director of eight companies, including three "non-profits" and two public companies listed on the Australian stock exchange. In addition he was executive chairman of a Swedish biotechnology company, chairman of an Australian listed company and CEO of another Australian listed company. At present he is continuing his clinical activities, his research into respiratory viruses and HIV, and his business career. 

Asked about his time at Harley, Mills said, "Harley played an extraordinarily important part in my life--far more than either university or medical school. I entered Harley in the fifth grade after very unsuccessful experiences at public primary schools, and graduated in 1957. The education at Harley was terrific--the faculty were all extraordinary in knowledge and commitment--and I was able to mature (which I certainly wasn't when I started!) under their tutelage. More importantly, Harley had a real commitment to all students, regardless of economic circumstances, and that taught me a lesson as well. I've visited Harley recently and although the buildings and grounds have changed dramatically--for the better--the ethos remains as strong as ever.  What I learned at Harley has served me well for the nearly 60 years since I graduated, and I'm sure it contributed to my award of as an "Officer in the Order of Australia" awarded by the Australian Government." 

Congratulations John!

Craig Wadsworth '80 was recently featured in the Geneseo Scene alumni magazine for his recent historic flight to Normandy.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

On May 15, 2014, Whiskey 7, a twin-engine Douglas C-47A, took off from the grass airfield of Geneseo's National Warplane Museum, banked over the college and the village and flew back into history. Seventy years before, the now-storied warplane carried Allied paratroopers across the coast of France on a dangerous, history-making mission in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944. The troops dropped behind the Normandy beaches that would be the scene of the D-day invasion set to begin a few hours later.

...Whiskey 7 was headed east from Geneseo to fly paratroopers to France again as part of D-day anniversary ceremonies...the plane's crew of five included Naomi Wadsworth (Harley class of '77) and Craig, who is a pilot and an airplane mechanic...In France, the Whiskey 7 recreated its role in the invasion, dropping paratroopers over Normandy. Everywhere the crew went, it was met with thanks for being there and for America's part in liberating France 70 years ago.

Read the entire story about this incredible journey.