Dr. Razzaque Ahmed with Dean William G. Giannobile and Dr. Magda Feres, Head Dept of Oral Medicine, at the inauguration of the Ahmed Research Fund
Boston, MA – June 13, 2025
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine received a $1 million gift by A. Razzaque Ahmed, MD to support oral medicine research and faculty mentorship. He dedicates the funds to continue the vital work that launched his career.
Renowned dermatologist Razzaque Ahmed, DMSc88, PD88, MPA95, has devoted his career to treating patients with life-altering blistering diseases and advancing new treatments for autoimmune disorders. His pioneering therapies have led to clinical remissions for patients afflicted with these disorders, giving them new hope. His scientific work—including more than 350 papers on the subject—has been internationally recognized, most recently by the American Academy of Dermatology, which awarded him a presidential citation in March 2025. Ahmed credits his research experience at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) as being the foundation for his success.
“It was the solid bridge I needed between very good research and very good clinical care,” Ahmed said. “The mentorship I received at HSDM carved my career going forward and framed my scientific and clinical discoveries. For this and more, I will remain forever grateful.”
His deep gratitude to HSDM inspired his recent gift of $1 million to the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity (OMII). The funding will support forward-looking research and enable faculty in OMII to follow in the footsteps of Ahmed’s own faculty mentors—Dr. Gerald Shklar, an accomplished oral pathologist, and former Dean Paul Goldhaber, who established HSDM’s graduate programs in periodontology and oral medicine. The gift will initially function as a fund for research and, over time, with additional funding, it will mature into an endowed professorship.
Article Excerpt: Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Crescent Dermatology Association Legacy Award
Reston, VA – September 6, 2025
Dr. A. Razzaque Ahmed was honored to receive the Legacy Award by the Crescent Dermatology Association at the Crescent Dermatology Association Conference in Hyatt Regency.
International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Lifetime Achievement Award
Atlanta, GA – November 8, 2025
In addition, A. Razzaque Ahmed, MD was recognized by the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Lifetime Achievement Award by The International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF). Over several decades, his contributions to the IPPF community significantly improved the quality of life for countless patients living with pemphigus and pemphigoid around the world. Through patient support, advocacy, research, and awareness, this award is presented to someone whose body of work has changed the landscape for patients and their caregivers.
There are many things one could say about Dr. Ahmed’s career and how he has advanced research and care for patients. However, I believe the most important thing is Dr. Ahmed’s reputation and how much he cares about his patients. I hope he doesn’t mind me saying how that includes spending hours with patients, in an age when medicine rushes people and appointments have time limits. This speaks to how much Dr. Ahmed really cares for each patient as a human being.
Dr. Ahmed has been with the IPPF since the beginning, before most everyone in this room even knew about these diseases. He has been a tireless champion for patient quality of life. Please join me in thanking Dr. Ahmed for all that he has done for this community.
Selected Honors and Awards
International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Lifetime Achievement Award, The International Pemphigus Pemphigoid Foundation (IPPF)
for decades of contributions to the IPPF community for improving the quality of life for countless pemphigus and pemphigoid patients around the world (2025)
Legacy Award,
Crescent Dermatology Association (2025)
Dr. A. Razzaque Ahmed Research Fund in Oral Medicine, Harvard University & Harvard Faculty of Medicine,
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine received a $1 million gift to support oral medicine research and faculty mentorship (2025)
Presidential Citation Award, The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD),
in recognition of outstanding scientific publications and contributions to literature in autoimmune blistering diseases; this honor is bestowed annually to only one or a few physicians out of 20,000 AAD member dermatologists (2025)
Professorship in Dermatology, Tufts Medical Center
for his contributions to dermatology, immunology, and the Tufts community (2023)
Lifetime Achievement Golden Award,
The Arab Academy of Dermatologists and Aesthetics (2023)
Lifetime Achievement recognition,
Republic of Uzbekistan Society of Dermatology & Venereology (2022)
Lifetime Achievement AESKU Award,
International Congress of Autoimmunity (2022)
Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing,
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2016)
Walter F. Lever Memorial Lecture Award,
Tufts University School of Medicine (2016)
Excellence in Scientific and Clinical Advancements,
Italian Society for Oral Medicine and Pathology (2015)
Lifetime Achievement recognition,
the Turkish Society of Dermatology (2013)
Lifetime Achievement recognition,
Indian Assoc. of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (2013)
Support the Ahmed Professorship
We invite you to learn more about supporting the Ahmed Professorship — a gift to the future, and a celebration of a remarkable individual. Your gift will fuel the careers of talented researchers and compassionate caregivers, and power translational research and clinical trials to advance tomorrow’s treatments and cures. If you are interested in supporting the Ahmed Professorship, please, contact Dan Lennon, Director of Development, Tufts Medicine at Dan.Lennon@tuftsmedicine.org or 617.636.5020.