CLEVELAND, May 10, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Michael Konstan, MD, has been appointed Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's (UHCMC) Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (CWRUSOM). Dr. Konstan, a pioneer in cystic fibrosis (CF), has been a clinical and academic leader at UHCMC and CWRUSOM for 25 years.
Dr. Konstan and his team are among the world's most innovative researchers in pediatric pulmonology, developing new treatments and leading the search for a cure for CF. His seminal work has led to novel therapies, early detection through newborn screening and extending significantly the lives of children with this disease.
"Mike has dedicated his professional life to improving the care of children with cystic fibrosis, and this appointment gives him the opportunity to extend his reach to all of Cleveland's children," said Pamela Davis, MD, PhD, Dean of the CWRUSOM and VP for Medical Affairs. "His dedication, intelligence, and compassion are legendary in the CF community, and will now be applied to the Department of Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University. I look forward to his success." "Michael embodies the clinical and academic mission of University Hospitals Case Medical Center and we are so pleased to have him assume this leadership role in our renowned pediatrics department," said Fred Rothstein, MD, President, UHCMC.
"Through his research and dedication to pediatrics, he has played a pivotal role in our Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital becoming one of the nation's top children's hospitals." Dr. Konstan has served as Interim Co-Chair of the Department of Pediatrics for nearly two years. He also served as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy/Immunology, and as Director of the LeRoy W. Matthews Cystic Fibrosis Center.
Dr. Konstan has spent his career serving patients with CF. One of his major contributions has been devising successful strategies to treat CF with anti-inflammatory therapy to control inflammation in the lungs of patients.
Additionally, he has led first-in-human gene therapy trials that have shown promise in cystic fibrosis patients.
Dr. Konstan received his MD from CWRUSOM. He completed his pediatrics residency at The Children's Hospital of Buffalo and a pediatric pulmonology fellowship at CWRUSOM and UHCMC's Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.
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