This spring, Marsha Harbison made a gift to create a special endowment – The William Harbison, MD Award for Clinical Excellence and Compassionate Patient Care - to celebrate the career and legacy of her beloved late husband. Dr. Bill Harbison was a dedicated and compassionate cardiologist and enthusiastic teacher whose work over his forty-plus year career exemplified the profound impact of empathy and human connection in medicine.
“This award is deeply meaningful to me and my family as we honor the enduring legacy and spirit of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend,” shares Marsha. “With The Harbison Award, we carry forward Bill’s example—reminding us that medicine is not only a science, but a deeply human endeavor grounded in compassion and connection.
Dr. Harbison suffered an aortic dissection in 2025 with his life saved after a fourteen-hour surgery led by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Anthony Rousou at Baystate Medical Center. This July, Dr. Rousou and critical care physician Dr. Jonathon Chinea received the inaugural William Harbison, MD Award for Clinical Excellence and Compassionate Patient Care for the compassionate and high-quality care they provided Bill, for the compassion, trust and teamwork they fostered to create a healing environment for Marsha and family during the many months of Bill’s recovery, and for the precious more time that gave them together as a family.
“We are so grateful to the Harbison Family for recognizing Dr. Rousou and Dr. Chinea and the Heart & Vascular team,” shares Dr. Amir Lotfi, Chief of Cardiology for Baystate Health. “We are honored to carry on Dr. Harbison’s legacy by daily working together: providing the highest-quality care, pursuing clinical excellence, treating our patients and families with compassion, and supporting one another as a team.”