Director of Thorndike and Retirement
Finland’s devotion to Boston City Hospital and lasting contributions to medical research and education were recognized at Harvard Medical School when, upon the retirement of William Bosworth Castle, he was named the Director of the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory and Director of the Second and Fourth Medical Services (Harvard) at Boston City Hospital. Named a Professor of Medicine a year earlier, in 1963 he also became the George Richards Minot Professor of Medicine.
In 1968, Finland “retired” but continued writing. When, five years later, Harvard Medical School and the Thorndike Memorial Laboratory left the Boston City Hospital, Finland remained, working in the Channing Laboratory directed by his close colleague Edward H. Kass. In the following years his contributions to the field of infectious disease were recognized by numerous awards and honors.