Speaker Information

Allen C. Steere, M.D.

Now a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, director of clinical research for Massachusetts General Hospital’s rheumatology unit, and principal investigator for the hospital’s Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Dr. Steere received international acclaim after he identified Lyme disease in the mid-’70s. The tick-borne illness, named for the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where it was discovered, may result in arthritis, as well as nervous system disorders and heart issues.

For his pioneering work, Dr. Steere has received recognition from organizations including the American Lyme Disease Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Albert Sabin Vaccine Institute. In 2001, he was honored as a “Research Hero” by the Arthritis Foundation.

Dr. Steere holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Columbia College in New York and a medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has published more than 300 articles on Lyme disease and related topics.

Given his eclectic background, it’s not surprising that Dr. Steere is a supporter of the undergraduate liberal arts tradition. “As a youngster, I was interested in music, thinking I might do that professionally,” he says. “I studied violin and even played in a string quartet with Itzhak Perlman, but I was good at science, so in college I majored in both pre-med and music. I believe strongly in liberal arts education; learning about great books, music, and art are the keys to opening up the world. I experienced that at Columbia—and my son [Allen C. Steere III ’95] had the same type of experience with the exceptional faculty at Ohio Wesleyan. Having a broad base of ideas makes choices possible.”

The Commencement ceremony, including Dr. Steere’s address, will be streamed live online at stream.owu.edu.