NICHD Welcomes Acting Director

Susan Shurin, M.D., joins NICHD from National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Susan B. Shurin, M.D., assumed the duties of Acting Director of NICHD on October 1, 2009. Last week, Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., NIH Director, announced that Dr. Shurin would serve as Acting Director of NICHD upon the departure of Duane Alexander, M.D., for the Fogarty International Center.

Dr. Shurin comes to the NICHD from the NHLBI, where she has been the Deputy Director since February 2006. At NHLBI, Dr. Shurin oversees the clinical research portfolio, including sharing of data and biospecimens and supports its global health activities.

“My primary inspiration is the patients I have seen,” Dr. Shurin said. “I was a very active clinician and learned more from my patients than from anyone else, despite outstanding teachers. I intend to bring that inspiration with me as I begin my work at the NICHD.”

Dr. Shurin received her B.A. degree from Harvard University, her M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and trained in pediatrics at Hopkins’ Harriett Lane Home and at Boston City Hospital. She trained as a fellow in pediatric hematology-oncology at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston with a research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She served as professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and was director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital of University Hospitals of Cleveland, where she was also associate director for pediatrics of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Her research interests are in the field of pediatric hematology-oncology. In addition to her laboratory work, Dr. Shurin has been active in multiple clinical research endeavors, including developing the now-standard therapy for transfusional iron overload in thalassemia major, studies of acute leukemia and brain tumors in what is now the Children’s Oncology Group (formerly the Children’s Cancer Group [CCG]), and studies of hydroxyurea and transfusion in sickle cell disease. She also served on the Executive Committee of the CCG and founded and chaired the CCG Bioethics Committee.

Before joining the NIH, Dr. Shurin was an advisor to NIH across several Institutes. She also served as vice president and secretary of the Corporation at Case Western Reserve University. She has served in leadership positions of numerous local and national professional organizations, including the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Society of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She is a member of the American Pediatric Society and currently serves as a member of its Council.

The NICHD is pleased to welcome her to the Institute.

 

Originally Posted: October 1, 2009

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