Dr. Hillman is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and did his residency training in Internal Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital, NYC, and a fellowship in Hematology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He spent the next 15 years as Professor of Medicine on the faculty of the University of Washington, serving as Chief of Hematology at the Harborview Hospital and, subsequently, as Director of the Health Sciences Learning Resource Center (HSLRC). In 1981, Dr. Hillman was recruited to the position of Chief of Medicine at Maine Medical Center, stepping down in 1999 to serve as the Director of the MMC Cancer Center until 2005.
Dr. Hillman’s hematology career has included basic research in iron and folate metabolism, resulting in 110 peer reviewed publications and chapters, and 3 books, including the hematology text – Hematology in Clinical Practice – now in its 6th Edition. As director of the HSLRC, Dr. Hillman was responsible for developing innovative educational materials and courses using multimedia and computer instruction as a part of a major medical school curriculum revision at the University of Washington, including the implementation of the WAMI program. As Chief of Medicine at MMC for 17 years, he was instrumental in the expansion of postgraduate training programs, the development of the Maine Rural Practice Network, establishment of a research effort culminating in the Maine Medical Center Research Institute, and a major expansion of specialty clinical services supported by the department.
Dr. Hillman has been elected to a number of professional organizations including: ASH (Board of Directors), AFCR, ASCI, ACP, AAP, and APDIM (Council). He has served as editor for Acta Hematologica, ASH Education Program, ACP Self Learning Series, and on the editorial board of the Annals of Internal Medicine and the Journal of Laboratory Hematology. He also has served on several NHLBI study sections, the National Board of Medical Examiners, and as a consultant to the AAMC, the NHLBI Blood Diseases Advisory Committee, and the Puget Sound Blood Center.