In memoriam: George C. Hill

George C. Hill, a pioneer in microbiology and an equity and inclusion advocate, died Feb. 3, 2026. He was 86. He had been a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 1976.

George C. Hill

Born Feb. 19, 1939, in New Jersey, Hill earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University–Camden, a master’s degree from Howard University, and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from New York University. In the 1970s, he was a National Institutes of Health research fellow at the University of Cambridge and a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He then held faculty and administrative roles at Meharry Medical College and conducted research at Colorado State University. Later, he joined Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as a professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology.

Hill was best known for his groundbreaking research on the parasites that cause African sleeping sickness. His laboratory at CSU was the first to successfully culture the parasite Trypanosoma rhodesiense, enabling scientists to develop treatments for the disease. Later studies examined Trypanosoma respiration. One study evaluated trypanosome alternative oxidase, an enzyme essential for T. brucei respiration.

In 1998, Hill was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. He was also elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Microbiology. Hill served as president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases from 2008 to 2010.

Beyond research, Hill was deeply committed to supporting students in medical education, particularly those from Black and other underrepresented communities. At VUSM, he was the inaugural Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and the first Chief Diversity Officer. In 2015, he was inducted into the Student National Medical Association, or SNMA, Hall of Heroes for his work promoting a diverse physician workforce and supporting SNMA members. In 2017, he received the Association of American Medical Colleges Herbert W. Nickens Award for his contributions to justice in medical education and health care equity.

Hill is survived by his longtime partner, brother, sister, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and former wife.