Belmont resident Dr. Barry M. Manuel is honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society with its Award for Distinguished Service

Waltham, Mass. – May 20 – Barry M. Manuel, M.D., Associate Dean for Continuing Medical Education from 1980 to 2014 and Professor of Surgery from 1982 to 2014 at the Boston University School of Medicine, has been honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society with its 2015 Award for Distinguished Service to the Massachusetts Medical Society. The honor is given each year to a member of the Society who has made a lasting contribution to the practice of medicine over a lifetime and who has made significant contributions to the goals of the Society.

The award, one of the most prestigious given by the Society, was presented to Dr. Manuel at the Society’s Annual Meeting May 1 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. It is the second major recognition from the Society given to Dr. Manuel. In 2010, he was honored with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

A member of the Medical Society since 1962, Dr. Manuel has a long and distinguished record of service with the organization. He was the Society’s 1990-1991 President, following terms as President-Elect and Vice President. He has been a member of its House of Delegates, its Board of Trustees, and many of the organization’s committees, including the Committees on Administration and Management, Finance, Professional Liability, and Occupational Health, all of which he chaired at various times over the years.

His activity in organized medicine also extended to the national level. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons from 1979-1985, was Chairman of the Board of Governors Committee on Professional Liability, Chairman of the Regents Committee on Patient Safety, and was elected president of the College’s Massachusetts Chapter in 1982-1983. He was also a member of the Massachusetts delegation to the American Medical Association for six years.

Dr. Manuel was also Chairman of the Board for 12 years of Coverys (formerly ProMutual Medical Professional Insurance Company), one of the largest medical malpractice carriers in the U.S. and upon retirement there was honored with the title of Chairman Emeritus. He also founded and served for seven years as Chairman of the Professional Liability Foundation, Ltd., an organization composed of all healthcare providers in Massachusetts dedicated to reforming the tort system. He was also honored with the title of Chairman Emeritus upon his retirement.

Dr. Manuel has spoken extensively in this country and abroad on the reform of the national system dealing with medical errors. He has published many articles on the subject in peer- reviewed literature and conducted many postgraduate courses on Professional Liability and Patient Safety for the American College of Surgeons. He has published editorials on health policy, professional liability and patient safety in leading U.S. newspapers and has written book chapters and co-edited a book on Patient Safety.

While at the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Manuel was Executive Director of the Boston University School of Medicine Alumni Association for more than 35 years and was Faculty Councilor to Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Honor Medical Society for 23 years. He has served as a member or chairman of many medical school committees. He also served as a member of the school’s Executive Committee and the Dean’s Committee throughout his tenure.

Upon his retirement on June 30th of this year, he will be confirmed with the titles of Associate Dean, Emeritus and Professor of Surgery, Emeritus, and the Office of Continuing Medical Education will be renamed the Barry M. Manuel Office of Continuing Medical Education at Boston University School of Medicine.

A graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Manuel has previously been recognized by the school with its Distinguished Alumnus Award and by the American College of Surgeons with its Distinguished Service Award, the highest award presented by the College of Surgeons. He is a resident of Belmont.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 24,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the patients and physicians of Massachusetts. The Society, under the auspices of NEJM Group, publishes the New England Journal of Medicine, a leading global medical journal and web site, and NEJM Journal Watch alerts and publications covering 13 specialties. The Society is also a leader in continuing medical education for health care professionals throughout Massachusetts, conducting a variety of medical education programs for physicians and health care professionals. Founded in 1781, MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country.