For the City Times

MARSHFIELD – Jim Donahue, Ph.D., a nationally-recognized vaccine safety researcher known for his work with influenza and human papillomavirus vaccines, was awarded the Gwen D. Sebold Fellowship for Outstanding Research.

Donahue, a project scientist at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute’s Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Population Health, was honored Oct. 10, during a presentation at Marshfield Medical Center.

“Epidemiology is a team sport and Jim is the quarterback for much of our research,” said Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Population Health Director Dr. Edward Belongia. “It’s a privilege and honor to have worked with (Donahue) the past 15 years, and I hope for the next 15 years.”

The fellowship has been given by D. David “Dewey” Sebold since 1988, to recognize an outstanding medical researcher and support continued research in his or her field. Sebold is a former president and CEO of Tombstone Pizza.

Donahue is the 31st researcher to receive the annual Gwen D. Sebold Fellowship for Outstanding Research. Recipients receive $5,000 for continuing research in their field and a memorial plaque presented by Sebold in memory of his sister, Gwen, who grew up in Dorchester. She joined Marshfield Clinic as a medical stenographer in 1955 and died in July 1974.

Donahue, who specializes in vaccine safety research, joined the Research Institute in 2003 to work on the Vaccine Safety Datalink. This is a long-term, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded project to conduct vaccine safety research using large linked databases at health care systems across the U.S.

Over the past 15 years, Donahue has become a leading vaccine safety investigator with more than 36 published research articles since joining the Research Institute. He recently led a near-real time analysis to assess the safety of a new human papillomavirus vaccine. He was invited to present the study results to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in February 2018.

Donahue credited his epidemiology colleagues and the Research Institute as a whole for contributing to his success.

“These people are so good, they inspire me to do a better job each and every day,” Donahue said. “How can a town seemingly in the middle of nowhere attract such talent? They can go and work anywhere but chose to come to Marshfield.

“Make no mistake, I’m here because of the great people I work with. I’d hate to think where I’d be without them.”