The Gold Headed Cane Award is given annually to a College Fellow who has demonstrated the highest standards of scientific excellence and integrity. This year, College Fellows selected Richard W. Weber, MD, FACAAI. The award will be presented during the Opening Announcements at the ACAAI 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Biography provided by Dr. Weber
“I am sincerely honored to receive the ACAAI 2025 Gold Headed Cane Award. I have been a Fellow of the College since 1983. My 40 years of College activity have been filled with reward and a strong sense of connection. My mentors are many who are Gold Headed Cane recipients. I am grateful for their kindness and guidance.
I received my medical degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1969, with internship at Brooke Army Medical Center (AMC), San Antonio, Texas (1969-70). My internal medicine residency was at Tripler AMC in Honolulu, Hawaii from 1973-76, and my allergy/immunology fellowship at Fitzsimons AMC, Aurora, Colorado under the excellent Dr. Hal Nelson (1976-78). Fitzsimons was linked to the University of Colorado and National Jewish Health (NJH) programs with Fellows-in-Training (FITs) rotating through all three facilities. I retired from active patient care in 2018 and am Professor Emeritus at NJH.
I served in the U.S. Army for 23 years. I received three Army Commendation medals, a Legion of Merit medal, and a Meritorious Service medal. I was the Allergy/Immunology Consultant for the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. At Fitzsimons, I was Training Director for the Allergy/Clinical Immunology Fellowship Program (1986-89) and Co-director (1991-93). I was Co-training Director for the University of Michigan program (1989-91). At NJH, I was Training Director (2001-04) and Associate Director (2004-12). I was Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. As Training Director, I trained 48 FITs. As Associate Director, I was involved with another 32.
With the College I served as Secretary (1987-88), Vice-President (2010-11), President-elect (2011-12), and President (2012-13). I was on the Board of Regents (1998-2001 and 2010-15) and Executive Committee (1999-2001 and 2010-2015). I served as ACAAI Foundation President (2016-20). I have been a member of more than 20 committees, including: Aerobiology (Chair, 1985-98, 2002-10); Scientific Council (1988-98, 2001-10); Recertification (Chair, 1994-2001, Vice-Chair, 2001-5); FIT Bowl Planning (1991-2025); Annual Meeting Program (2001-05, 2010-16); and Annual Meeting Abstract Review (1995-98, 2001-05, 2009-25).
From 1992-1995, I worked with Dr. Peter Boggs on Satellite Literature Review and Satellite Journal Club. I was involved with the inception of the FIT Bowl and continue on its planning committee. I gave the Bela Schick lecture in 2002, received the Distinguished Fellow Award in 2003, Distinguished Service Award in 2008, and Service Excellence Award for being cover editor of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology from 2000-2015.
I participated on the Communication Council of the World Allergy Organization (WAO). This involved conferences in Mexico, Republic of China, Taiwan, UAE, India, Bangladesh and Poland. I interacted with the EAACI with meetings in Geneva, Milan and Vilnius.
I served on committees of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER): Allergenic Products Advisory Committee (2011-2015) and Pulmonary & Allergy Drug Advisory Committee (2015-2019). I also served on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Allergy and Clinical Immunology Subcommittee Center Grant Application Review in 1988. In 1999, I was on the American Lung Association Research Grant Application Review Committee. I’ve had Visiting Professorships in 12 stateside institutions, as well as Kuwait and Germany (1987-2017). I’ve authored or co-authored more than 275 articles and 35 book chapters and continue with writing and editing.
I’ve had a full and rewarding medical career, filled with exceptional exposures, opportunities, and people. I am thankful for the opportunity to have met a number of extraordinary clinicians and academicians. I’ve learned a great deal, and hope that I’ve been successfully able to share this knowledge with others.”
Dr. Weber joins 24 past recipients of the ACAAI Gold Headed Cane Award, which began in 2001 with Dr. Hal Nelson as the first recipient.
