B. Keith English, a physician lauded for his medical expertise and his excellence as an educator, has been chosen as the new chair of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and Human Development.
English is professor and associate chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis – institutions he has served for 23 years.
“We are very pleased to announce Dr. English as the new chair of our medical school’s Department of Pediatrics and Human Development,” said Marsha D. Rappley, dean of the College of Human Medicine. “Dr. English possesses a compelling vision for improving the health of children. His understanding of children and remarkable collaborative skills for engaging colleagues across disciplines will strengthen our college in areas of medical education, patient care and pediatric research.”
The author of 65 peer-reviewed publications and several textbook chapters, English has been recognized with several awards. For playing a lead role in helping the community respond to the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, English received the Memphis Business Journal’s “Health Care Heroes” award and the “Meritorious Service by a Physician” award from the Tennessee Hospital Association, and was named “Pediatrician of the Year” by the Tennessee chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additionally, the residents at Le Bonheur three times honored him with their teaching award, reflecting his extensive involvement in medical student, resident and fellow education.
"I am very excited about this opportunity to join the College of Human Medicine at MSU,” English said. “I look forward to working closely with the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development to improve the health and well-being of children.”
English earned a bachelor’s degree in general science summa cum laude at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was an Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He then completed a pediatric residency and chief residency at Baylor and Texas Children’s Hospital, followed by a research fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
English will officially take the reins from acting chair Renuka Gera in September.