Duke Honors Distinguished Professor, Joseph St. Geme III

Durham, N.C. (April 2007) – Duke University has awarded distinguished professorships to 22 faculty members, including Joseph St. Geme, III, MD, professor and chair of the department of Pediatrics and professor in the department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology. St. Geme was awarded a James B. Duke professorship, which was established in memory of James B. Duke, founder of the Duke Endowment, and is awarded to select tenured faculty who demonstrate outstanding scholarship.

St. Geme has been recognized for his research into the genetic and molecular basis of virulence by Haemophilus influenzae, a bacterium that causes middle ear infections, bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. He has been involved in efforts to create a pediatric vaccine to prevent these widespread infections, which are often fatal in developing countries.

St. Geme was recognized at a dinner April 25, 2007 at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club with other university distinguished professors — current and emeritus — in attendance.