The American Association of Immunologists

Olivera J. Finn, Ph.D.

Brief Bio

Olivera J. Finn is distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the Cancer Immunology Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. She was president of The American Association of Immunologists from 2007 to 2008 and served on the AAI Council from 2002 to 2009. Dr. Finn was awarded the AAI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 and elected a Distinguished Fellow of AAI in 2019.

Oral History - Full Interview

Interview Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Location: Boston, MA

Click here to see other interviews from the Oral History Project

Oral History - Transcript

Click here to download the transcript of this interview

Oral History - Clips

Family and Personal Background (4:51)
Decision to Study Science (2:42)
On Teaching (0:50)
Research Highlights at Duke (2:49)
Eureka Moment at Duke (7:50)
Research Highlights at Pittsburgh (5:40)

Balancing Administrative and Scientific Activities (2:34)
AAI Presidency (2:59)
Women in Science and Immunology (5:45)
Role of AAI (1:54)
Final Thoughts (2:46)

AAI Service History

Joined: 1983
President: 2007–2008
Vice President: 2006–2007
Councillor: 2002–2006

Committees
Program Committee: 1991–1994
Committee on Public Affairs: 1996–1999, 2001–2002

Other Service
AAI Representative to the IUIS Council: 2004–2010
IUIS Delegate: 2004–2007

President's Address

"Immunological Weapons Acquired Early in Life Win Battles with Cancer Late in Life," Delivered April 5, 2008

The Journal of Immunology 181, no. 3 (2008): 1589–92.

President's Message

"Primum Succerrere," October 2007

AAI Newsletter (October 2007), 1, 3.

Awards and Honors

Faculty of the American Cancer Society, 1992–1997
University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award, 1996
Lifetime Achievement Award, AAI, 2016
Distinguished Fellow, AAI, 2019

Institutional/Biographical Links

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Immunology faculty page
UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences profile
Finn Lab, University of Pittsburgh