Inaugural William Smilow Professor: Reed Pyeritz	Print Issue
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Reed E. Pyeritz has been named the inaugural William Smilow Professor of Medicine and Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The professorship was established as part of the gift from William Smilow who, with his father Joel,  made an extraordinary gift to name Penn Medicine’s Smilow Center for Translational Research (Almanac October 23, 2012).

Dr. Pyeritz is a distinguished clinician and translational research scientist who has focused his career on hereditary disorders that affect the cardiovascular system, especially the aorta. He also studies the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic research and testing. He has made breakthrough discoveries in molecular genetics and founded the National Marfan Foundation. He became one of the founders of the American College of Medical Genetics in 1991.

Dr. Pyeritz served as Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Penn Medicine from 2001 to 2011. He currently directs Penn CIGHT, the Center for the Integration of Genetic Healthcare Technologies, and is also the vice-chair for academic affairs, department of medicine, at HUP.

As the first graduate of the Harvard Medical Scientist Training Program, Dr. Pyeritz earned a PhD in biological chemistry in addition to his medical degree in 1975. After residencies at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Johns Hopkins University, he joined the faculty at Hopkins and rose to professor of medicine and pediatrics and clinical director of the Center for Medical Genetics. Dr. Pyeritz has published over 400 scientific articles, reviews and chapters in textbooks.

“The Smilow professorship is just one example of how our accomplished physicians inspire meaningful, impactful philanthropy,” said J. Larry Jameson, EVP of the University for the Health System and Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. “We are tremendously grateful for this gift, which will accelerate our work in cardiovascular disease.”

“It is a great privilege to be able to make an enduring impact on a cause that means so much to me and to so many across the nation,” said Mr. Smilow. “I believe that brilliant faculty deserve the freedom to pursue new directions and new approaches—and inspire future generations of physicians.”