Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

174 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION A fter experiencing the tragic loss of his father from colon cancer at a young age, Dr. Karl Erik Hellstrom became passionate about dedicating his life’s work to colon cancer research. Since 1953, he has led a successful career in both academia and medicine. A professor emeritus in the department of pathology at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, Dr. Hellstrom began his career as a research fellow and research associate for the department of histology at the Karolinska Institute. During his time studying tumor immunology, he was responsible for publishing some of the first evidence for cell- mediated immune responses to a variety of human cancers, demonstrating that these reactions can be inhibited by tumor antigen and antigen-antibody complexes by a mechanism that involves suppressive T lymphocytes. Dr. Hellstrom immigrated to the United States in 1966 and began his tenure with the University of Washington School of Medicine as an associate professor of pathology. Throughout his 39 years at the institution, he excelled as a professor of pathology, affiliate professor of pathology, and adjunct professor of microbiology and immunology before earning the title of professor emeritus in 2006. From 1975 to 1983, he was a member and head of the program on tumor immunology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. A former member of the scientific advisory council of the Cancer Research Institute and member of the board of directors of Seattle Genetics, Inc., he has also been affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Clinical Immunology Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has received many awards for his contributions and has many patents in the field. Dr. Hellstrom earned a Doctor of Medicine and PhD from the Karolinska Institute. KARL ERIK HELLSTROM PROFESSOR EMERITUS University of Washington Seattle, WA Millennium Magazine Featured Listee