Ellner Appointed BUSM Professor of Medicine, New Chief of Infectious Diseases at BMC

Jerrold J. Ellner, MD, has been appointed chief of the section of infectious diseases at Boston Medical Center and professor of medicine in the department of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine. Ellner previously had served as chair of the department of medicine at the New Jersey Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey from 2002 to 2006, and was most recently professor of medicine and scientific director of the Center for Emerging Pathogens at UMDNJ.

Jerrold J. Ellner, MD
Jerrold J. Ellner, MD

Ellner received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore. He received post-doctoral training in Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Ellner joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University as an assistant professor in 1976 and was promoted to professor of medicine and pathology in 1983. He served as chief of the division of infectious diseases at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland from 1979 through 1996. Ellner also served as vice-chair, executive vice chair and interim chair of the department of medicine at Case Western Reserve University.

He was director of the Tuberculosis Research Unit at Case Western Reserve University from 1994 through 1999. Ellner was recruited to UMD-New Jersey Medical School in 1999 as Emerging Pathogens Endowed Professor of Medicine and director of the Ruy V. Lourenço Center for the Study of Emerging and Re-Emerging Pathogens. He was appointed as the first University Professor of UMDNJ and served as vice-chair for research and chief of infectious diseases of the department of medicine, and then as interim chair before becoming chair of medicine June 2002.

Ellner is internationally recognized for his research on tuberculosis and its interactions with HIV infection. He has published more than 250 original articles in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. He was the principal architect of the Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, which was extended to UNMNJ and is a founding member of the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa. Ellner is principal investigator of the recently awarded Clinical Diagnostics Research Consortium from the NIH which will evaluate investigation TB diagnostics in endemic areas.

Ellner’s accomplishments have been recognized by his election to the American Society of Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He received the Squibb Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 1990.

Ellner has served as chair of the Tuberculosis Panel of the U.S.-Japan, Cooperative Medical Sciences Program. He was member and chair of bacteriology and mycology-1 study section of the NIH, and a member of the National Advisory Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council, the Immunology of Mycobacterial Diseases Steering Committee of the World Health Organization and the Public Health Service Advisory Council for Elimination of Tuberculosis. He received the Northeast Ohio Live, Outstanding Achievement in Health/Medicine Award in 1998 and was named Best Doctor in New York, 2001 by New York Magazine and Top Doctor in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly on numerous occasions.

Ellner was co-editor-in-chief of “Tuberculosis” formerly known as “Tubercle and Lung Disease” and section editor of the Journal of Immunology and currently serves as executive editor of Clinical and Translational Sciences. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Heiser Program on Tuberculosis and Leprosy and chairs the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Aurum Center for Global Health.