President's Medal
George N. Abraham ’59
A native of Geneva, Dr. George Abraham graduated from Hobart College in 1959 with a bachelor of science degree in math and chemistry. While at Hobart, he was active with the Herald, Little Theatre, Schola Cantorum and Canterbury Club.
After graduation, Abraham went on to earn both his master of science degree and medical degree from State University of New York at Buffalo.
Abraham's medical career took him to California, New York and Washington, D.C. where he worked on a variety of national initiatives surrounding cancer research and treatment.
With this focus, he returned to Upstate New York where he served in a variety of leadership positions at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in addition to Director of the Center on Aging and the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.
The author of more than 100 scientific articles, three books and three patents, he is currently a Medical Center Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Microbiology, Immunology and Pediatrics, and Oncology. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.
One of the greatest credits to Abraham's career in research was the discovery of an incipient gene mutation that causes benign lymphocytes to morph into malignant tumors. The discovery of this cell receptor now serves as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment and gene therapy methods.
A dedicated philanthropist, Abraham also serves on the Board of the and Geneva Arts Development Council and donated several of artist James Rosenquist's paintings to Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
He is the recipient of the National Arthritis Foundation Research Award, the Allergic Diseases Academic Award and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Medical Scientist Training Program Grant.