Dr. Marc Moss '79

The Chestnut Hill Alumni Association recognizes an alumnus who has made significant, far-reaching contributions to society and who is widely respected by peers in his field with the Roll of Fame Award. This year’s recipient is Dr. Marc Moss, Class of 1979.

Marc is a world-renowned physician who was elected and is currently serving as the President of the American Thoracic Society. As President, Marc leads more than 15,000 physicians, research scientists, nurses and other healthcare professionals who help the world breathe better by improving health worldwide through the advancement of research, clinical care and public health in respiratory disease, critical illness and sleep disorders.

In his role as President of the American Thoracic Society, Marc spends a considerable amount of time traveling to work with, teach and support other pulmonary physicians. He also meets with members of Congress to advise them about pulmonary and critical care issues. Marc has also assisted the National Institutes of Health for many years by reviewing grant proposals and currently receives funding for some of his research projects.

Marc is the Roger S. Mitchell Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is Vice Chair of Clinical Research and Head of Critical Care Medicine. Marc has published in journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.  

Prior to joining the University of Colorado, Marc worked at Emory University and was annually recognized for his ability to teach and mentor young doctors and medical students with various teaching awards for nine years in a row.

The scope of Marc’s research is diverse. It ranges from attempting to understand a pulmonary syndrome found in intensive care units to focusing on the quality of life of critically ill patients to assisting critical care unit nurses with psychological distress. For many years, Marc has studied the effect of alcohol abuse on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Marc’s research has led to a better understanding of the relationship between alcohol abuse and the syndrome and resulted in improved treatment of those afflicted.

The foundation of Marc’s success started at CHA in the Jordan Building as a kindergarten student. The spark for Marc’s teaching ability may have come from the many excellent teachers who interacted with him at CHA. Two such examples are Mr. Charles and Mr. Talbot. Marc capped off his CHA days by being the goaltender on CHA’s second Inter-Ac championship soccer team. Mr. Talbot still remembers the penalty shot that Marc saved just before half-time at the end of the season against Episcopal in a critical game that CHA won 2-1. As a lifer, there was much that happened during those thirteen years at that prepared Marc for his accomplishments after he graduated from CHA.