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NEWS RELEASES
HOUSTON – (June 16, 2009)
– Dr. Mark Kline, internationally recognized leader in pediatric
HIV/AIDS, has been named chair of pediatrics at Baylor College of
Medicine and physician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital.
A member of the BCM
faculty and on staff at Texas Children’s since 1990, Kline’s
appointment to succeed the late Dr. Ralph D. Feigin was made by the
boards of trustees of both institutions today. The appointment is
effective July 1.
In a joint statement to
the hospital and medical school communities, Mark A. Wallace, Texas
Children’s president and CEO, and Dr. William T. Butler, Baylor’s
interim president and CEO, said the appointment marks the
culmination of an extensive national search.
“It signals an exciting new era of growth and vitality for the
hospital and the department under Kline’s leadership,” they said in
the joint letter.
Describing the yearlong
review of top-tier candidates, Butler and Wallace said the rigorous
selection criteria encompassed experience, reputation, leadership
and commitment to excellence in patient care, education and
research.
“Like his predecessor and mentor, the late Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, Dr.
Kline exemplifies these characteristics and possesses a clear and
dynamic vision for the hospital and the department – one that will
further secure our positions as leaders in pediatric health care,
research and academics,” they said.
An infectious diseases
expert, Kline has been serving as a professor of pediatrics and head
of the retrovirology section in the pediatrics department at BCM and
chief of the Texas Children’s Retrovirology Service since 1997. He
founded the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI)
at Texas Children’s Hospital in 1996, and has led the organization
in establishing programs in 14 countries. He will continue to be
involved with BIPAI, but will announce a new leadership structure
for the organization in the next several weeks.
In the joint letter,
Wallace and Butler noted Kline’s long history at the two
organizations and his prominence in the global medical community,
giving him a “unique perspective to the opportunities and challenges
facing health care today.”
Baylor College of Medicine
and Texas Children’s Hospital are primary affiliates in providing
pediatric care. The institutions long have been seen as among the
top national leaders in children’s healthcare. Feigin served as
physician-in-chief and chair of pediatrics from 1977 until his death
in August of last year.
"Being asked to lead
pediatrics at Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of
Medicine at this point in time is an incredible privilege and
opportunity,” Kline said. “The two institutions are poised for
preeminence in pediatric medicine, driving innovation that will
enhance the health care of millions of children locally, nationally
and internationally over the coming years."
Kline, 52, a native of San
Antonio, graduated summa cum laude from Trinity University,
graduated with honors from BCM in 1981 and completed residency
training at BCM and Texas Children’s in 1984. He served as the chief
resident in pediatrics and was a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric
infectious diseases. After serving as an assistant professor of
pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine for two years,
he returned to BCM and Texas Children’s, serving as an infectious
diseases specialist and building the international pediatric
HIV/AIDS program.
He has authored more than
250 scientific articles and textbook chapters and has presented
throughout the world on child health issues. He has earned many
honors and awards, including the Association of American Medial
Colleges Humanism in Medicine Award in 2002, the Medical Award of
Excellence from Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2007 and the
Distinguished Faculty Award of Baylor College of Medicine in 2007.
About Baylor College of
Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the only private medical
school in the Greater Southwest, is ranked among the top 20 medical
schools by U.S. News and World Report. The College is recognized as
a premier academic health science center and is known for excellence
in education, research, patient care and community outreach. For
more information, visit www.bcm.edu.
About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy
children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education
and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough
developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is
ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News and
World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest
primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the
greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5
Billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a Neurological
Research Institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on
high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston.
For more information, visit
www.texaschildrens.org.
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