On Monday, January 29, 2024, the Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, celebrated Dr. Gary J. Weil’s in-person installation of a professorship honoring Gerald and Judith Medoff.
Joined by friends, family and colleagues, this was a very special event with Dr. Weil being the inaugural holder of this professorship. Dr. Weil is a long time faculty member of the ID division who has dedicated his professional life to global health, developing diagnostic tests for parasitic infections and launching trials of treatments that are life altering for millions of people in the developing world. Dr. Weil is recognized internationally for his work and is the co-founder and co-director of the “Death to Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis (DOLF) Project”, funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Dr. Weil’s work earned him the 2023 Kyelem Prize, some describe as the “Oscar” of neglected tropical diseases (NTD). The prize recognizes leaders in the field who have been particularly effective in linking research advances to those who implement NTD control and elimination programs. His research has contributed key elements to the World Health Organization’s policies for global elimination of LF.
Fittingly, Dr. Weil presented a lecture titled “A physician-scientist’s career in global heath at Washington University in St. Louis” at his inauguration ceremony. The work continues, and exciting new developments are just over the horizon.
Gerald Medoff, MD, a physician scientist and one of the founding leaders of the Mycosis Study Group, was the ID Division Director for more than 20 years at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). Dr. Medoff fostered the first WUSM AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, HIV clinic and HIV/AIDS Advocacy. He provided leadership and training for programs that were novel 20 years ago, the BJH Antimicrobial Stewardship, Infection Prevention, Pharmacy & Therapeutics, and Quality & Safety Committees.
“One of the things you hear most about Jerry, is that of his incredible role as a mentor throughout his time as a leader at Washington University” said Bill Powderly, MD. Jerry was the recipient of several awards, but one he was most proud of is the IDSA Walter Stamm Mentor award”. Dr. Medoff recruited and mentored more than 70 infectious diseases fellows, including Dr. Weil. This professorship honors Dr. Gerald Medoff and his wife, Dr. Judith Medoff.
