Artemis Simopoulos, MD

Class Year: 1956

Specialties: Pediatrics, Endocrinology, and Nutrition

Current practice:

I continue to give lectures worldwide on Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Health and Disease and Growth and Development, as well as on Nutrigenetics/Nutrigenomics. These are the two major fields that I have been focusing on over the past 30 years. I have been asked to write chapters in books and am on the Editorial Board of numerous journals. In 2018, I received three awards for this work. In April 2018, I received The Lifetime Achievement Award by The More Love Foundation of Shanghai, China. In May 2018, I received the “Best Paper Award” from the journal Nutrients for my paper on “An Increase in the Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio Increases the Risk for Obesity,” which was the most cited paper for 2017. In November of last year, I received The Humanitarian Award from the American College of Nutrition.

Do you remember what motivated you to make your first gift to BUSM?

I feel very strongly that going to Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine was the most important factor that led me to focus on both patient care and research. I felt that the school ought to be supported by Alumni in order to continue to develop students who will focus on healthcare for their patients, public health and research. I’m also very happy that I went to Boston University because that is where I met my husband, Dr. Alan Lee Pinkerson, and we were very lucky that our daughter, Alexandra Pinkers

on, also graduated from Boston University.

Why do you continue to give to BUSM?

I want other students to have the opportunity to attend Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. That’s why I believe in giving to the Annual Fund for whatever needs the school wants to use the funds for. I’m very impressed with the diversity of the student body and its faculty.

What would you tell current students about the importance of giving back to BUSM?

Because Boston University is an outstanding medical school and has been a pioneer in both healthcare delivery and research, it provides an opportunity and experience for the students to be well informed in deciding whether they are going to practice medicine, administer medicine or do research. Funding is the most important factor in maintaining the various programs that BUSM has been a pioneer in.

Fond memory of BUSM: 

In the 1950s there were many outstanding professors at the medical school. I remember having discussions with Isaac Asimov who was not only an outstanding professor of biochemistry but also an outstanding writer. In fact, both my husband, Alan,  and I continue to maintain a relationship with Professor Asimov and we met with him in Washington at the Mayflower Hotel when he was discussing one of his famous books. Another fond memory is the surgical clerkship at Boston City Hospital that Professor John J. Burns ran. Alan and I used to leave notes with him as to where we would meet!

Favorite professor or course at BUSM: 

Professor William Boyd was very active in immunology, and in the summer he used to go to various parts of the world and check lectins. At the end of the first year, he had asked me if I were interested in working in the lab for the summer because he had immunized a number of rats that had to have their blood drawn and measure antibodies. He was going to be in India and at that time it was very difficult communicating. However, he used to send telegrams and we used to respond by telegrams and provide all the data. He really influenced me in spending time in research.