This lecture is part of an annual tribute to Harry M. Rose, a former Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology.

Dr. Rose began his career in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University, where he and his colleagues developed the first reliable test for rheumatoid arthritis, which became known as the Rose-Waaler or Waaler-Rose test. He became Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology in 1952. At the time, it was known as the Department of Bacteriology, but Dr. Rose had the name changed to the Department of Microbiology to better encompass other research in the department.

Harry placed great emphasis on teaching, and would learn the name and face every graduate and medical student in his classes, even large classes with over 100 students. As a result, he was fondly remembered by many of his former students.

Dr. Rose was also an accomplished researcher, and in addition to his work on rheumatoid arthritis, carried out pioneering studies in antibiotic mechanisms and virology, including making contributions to the development of influenza vaccines. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Immunology, and was a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Medical Association as well as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Rose's contributions to research and medicine were recognized by the Gairdner International Award, an Award of Distinction from Cornell University, the Gorgas Medial, and the Squibb award from the Infectious Disease Society. After retiring as Chair in 1973 and moving to New Hampshire, Dr. Rose recertified as a Diplomate in Internal Medicine in 1977, and continued to practice medicine until 1984.

After his death in 1986, the Department of Microbiology & Immunology established The Harry M. Rose Memorial Lecture in Infectious Diseases with the Department of Medicine. This was made possible by donations from many of Dr. Rose's former students and colleagues, and by the generous assistance of the family of Dr. Rose.

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