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DURHAM, N.C. – Joseph St. Geme, III, M.D., professor of
pediatrics and molecular microbiology at Washington University
School of Medicine, has been named chair of the department of
pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center.

St. Geme, 47, is a nationally-recognized expert in basic
research and clinical treatment for pediatric infectious
diseases. He will oversee clinical activities and research in
the department of pediatrics, which offers primary care,
consultations and comprehensive services for infants, children
and adolescents. Duke
Children's Hospital & Health Center is one of the
largest health care providers for children in the
Southeast.

St. Geme begins his duties July 1, 2005. His appointment was
announced by R. Sanders Williams, M.D., dean of the school of
medicine and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Duke
University Medical Center.

"Joseph St. Geme is an outstanding clinician with a strong
track record of leadership who will build on the strengths of
our pediatrics faculty and research," Williams said.

St. Geme has been recognized for his research into the
genetic and molecular basis of virulence by Haemophilus
influenzae, a bacterium that causes middle ear infections,
bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia and meningitis. He has been
involved in efforts to create a pediatric vaccine to prevent
these widespread infections, which are often fatal in
developing countries.

"I am thrilled to be joining the esteemed academic community
at Duke, and I look forward to contributing to the tradition of
excellence in patient care, teaching, and research that have
characterized the Duke Department of Pediatrics for a long
time," St. Geme said.

St. Geme graduated from Stanford University in 1979 and
earned a medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1984. He
completed residency training in pediatrics at the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia. He served as chief resident in
pediatrics at Children's Hospital from 1987 to 1988 and was a
postdoctoral fellow in infectious diseases and microbiology at
Stanford University from 1988 to 1992. He has been with
Washington University since 1992.

St. Geme is president-elect of the Pediatric Infectious
Diseases Society. His numerous awards include the American
Heart Association Established Investigator Award, Infectious
Diseases Society of America Squibb Award, the Pediatric
Infectious Disease Society Young Investigator Award, and the
March of Dimes Foundation Basil O'Connor Award. St. Geme was
also named Clinical Teacher of the Year three years in a row,
from 2001 to 2003, at Washington University School of
Medicine.

"Duke is very lucky to have attracted Dr. St. Geme. He
brings a rare blend of leadership, honesty, humility, and
scientific excellence. Since he is one of the leaders in my
field, pediatric infectious diseases, I've known Dr. St. Geme
for many years. He's built a superb annual conference that
focuses on career development for fellows and junior faculty in
pediatric infectious diseases. And best of all, he's a really
good person who will be an asset for the department and
community," said Ross McKinney, M.D., vice dean of research at
Duke University School of Medicine.