Hiroshi Mashimo, M.D., Ph.D., Williamsville North High School, Class of 1978 (Inducted 2017)
Dr. Hiroshi Mashimo is a physician scientist and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, the VA Boston Healthcare System, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He provides clinical consultation and specialized endoscopy, with expertise in novel technologies involving endoscopic treatments, clinical imaging, and gastrointestinal motility. Over the past two decades, Dr. Mashimo has been involved as principal investigator with innovative studies, including the development and application of endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography through Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which promise significant advances toward the early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal and gastrointestinal cancers. He also directs basic and translational stem cell research involving cell-based therapies for gene delivery and biomarkers for progression of gastrointestinal cancers.
Valedictorian of his class at Williamsville North, Dr. Mashimo went on to obtain his A.B. at Harvard College, and his M.S., M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his medical internship, residency, and gastroenterology fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. His interest in molecular physiology led to advanced research and clinical training at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital.
Dr. Mashimo is an eminent gastroenterologist and an investigator whose pioneering work has led to important understandings of neurotransmitters such as nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide in the field of Neurogastroenterology. As Chief of Gastroenterology at VA Boston Healthcare (VABHS) from 2001-2007, he established and now continues to serve as Director of the Swallowing and Motility Disorder Center that is the main referral center for all VAs in the Northeast. He is involved with teaching and mentoring of students, residents and fellows at Harvard and Boston Universities. Dr. Mashimo has published extensively, authoring over one hundred original and review articles in various medical and scientific journals. He serves on editorial boards of several journals and on national and foreign scientific grant review committees. His work is acknowledged nationally and internationally through invited presentations, lectureships, and visiting professorships.
Despite a demanding schedule, Dr. Mashimo has been an active volunteer for the Boys Scouts of America for many years and is a dedicated martial artist. He resides in Sudbury, MA.