Gorstein biosketch

FRED GORSTEIN, M.D.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. Fred Gorstein is the Jacob and Sophie Rubin Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Prior to moving to Philadelphia in 1994, he served as the Chairman of the Department of Pathology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville , Tennessee . Dr. Gorstein received his undergraduate education at the University Heights College of New York University and his MD from NYU in 1955. He completed a residency in internal medicine on the NYU service of Bellevue Hospital in New York City after which he joined the Pathology Department of the same institution as a resident and USPHS postdoctoral fellow in Pathology in the laboratory of Dr. Baruj Benacerraf.

Under the supervision of Dr. Benacerraf and subsequently, Dr. Peter Miescher, Dr. Gorstein investigated the mechanisms of autoimmune disease and immune platelet destruction. These studies conducted almost a decade prior to the discovery of T and B cells, demonstrated the importance of lymphocytes in the induction of (auto)immune damage. Subsequently, Dr Gorstein joined the laboratory of Germ Free Animal Research (NIAID) at NIH where utilizing a germ free system, he and his co-worker, Dr. Bruce Phillips demonstrated the critical role of a bacterial component in initiating amebic infection in the germ free animal. With Dr. Bertram Gesner, he demonstrated that autoimmune murine thyroiditis could be transferred with lymphocytes. Dr. Gorstein has had a long time interest in gynecologic pathology and served as the director of the combined NYU-Bellevue Hospital Service for several years. In collaborative studies with Drs. Ann Thor, William Rodgers, and Kevin Osteen, utilizing cultured endometrial cells, they demonstrated the role of epithelial-stromal interaction in the regulation of metalloproteinase expression in normal endometrium and endometriosis. These and other studies have been published in over 80 peer reviewed publications.

Over a period of more than 28 years Dr. Gorstein served as the associate editor and editor and editor in chief of Human Pathology. During this time more than 7500 original research studies were published. The Journal was established based on the vision of Dr. Stanley Robbins and several of his colleagues. It was their concept that clinical pathologic correlation and translational research were the keystone of our understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of disease. The Journal has attempted to be true these ideals Monthly editorials, commentaries and open forums provided a voice for the expression of wide ranging opinions on many topics of contemporary interest to pathologist and physicians in other specialties.

Doctor Gorstein has had a long term and continuing interest in undergraduate and graduate education. He served as the director of Residency Training at two institutions and has been a strong advocate for a competency based structure for residency programs for more than a decade. He estimates that he has participated in the training of more than 250 residents and clinical fellows in pathology over the past 40 years.

As the chair of Pathology at Vanderbilt University , and more recently at Thomas Jefferson University , he has participated in intramural and national organizations concerned with health policy issues and medical administration. As the chair of the College of American Pathologists he was instrumental in establishing the CAP Foundation Scholars Award program. He served as the president of UAREP (Universities Associated with Research and Education in Pathology), was an officer of the many boards of many organizations such as the American Registry of Pathology. the council of the Association of Pathology Chairs. He has been the recipient of distinguished service awards from Vanderbilt University and the Association of Pathology Chairs.

Training the Pathologist for a Challenging Future. Reasons for Optimism and Concern
Stanley L. Robbins Lecture
March 14, 2006