In 1946 Dr. Saul Krugman joined NYU Medical Center and developed his interest in Infectious Diseases by teaming with Robert Ward. This duo subsequently produced the first book on Pediatric Infectious Diseases in 1958.
Dr. Krugman became chairman of Pediatrics at NYU in 1960. Over the years he made significant contributions to the study of measles vaccine efficacy, helped establish a center for the care and study of congenital rubella infection, and participated in the testing of the rubella, mumps, varicella, hepatitis A, and polio vaccines.
His greatest contributions were the definitive epidemiologic studies of serum and infectious hepatitis and the conceptualization and testing of the hepatitis B vaccine. In 1993 he was awarded the Lasker award for his "persistent leadership in conceiving, developing and testing vaccines against various viral diseases, especially hepatitis B, with vast impact on world health."
Today, the NYU Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases uses state-of-the-art research to ward early diagnosis of HIV in children.
Directors of Infectious Diseases at NYU
- Philip Brunell (1960-75) described passive prophylaxis of varicella.
- Anne Gershon (1975-85) tested the first varicella vaccine in the USA.
- William Borkowsky (1985- )
Infections of Interest
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection
Cytomegalovirus infection
Tuberculosis
Pneumocystis Carinii infection
Measles Virus infection
Hepatitis B and C infection
Pneumococcal infections
The NYU Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases has offered and continues to offer a fellowship training program. The division has been funded as a Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) since 1988, and was funded as a Reaching for Excellence in Adolescent Care and Health (REACH) study site from 1994 to 1997.
