Ralph D. Feigin, M.D.
April 3, 1938 - August 14, 2008
Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Former President and CEO, Baylor College of Medicine
Physician-In-Chief, Texas Children's Hospital
Ralph D. Feigin, born in New York City April 3, 1938, was a dynamic leader, outstanding physician, top infectious disease expert, distinguished educator, revered teacher, research pioneer, and visionary.
Dr. Feigin received his A.B. degree from Columbia College in New York City in 1958 and his M.D. degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1962. He completed a pediatric internship at the Boston City Hospital from 1962-63 and served as a pediatric resident at the Boston City Hospital from 1963-64 and at the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1964-65.
Long-time advocate for children
Dr. Feigin subsequently completed a research assignment with the United States Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick, Md., from 1965-67. He was board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics (1967) and the American Board of Pediatrics Subboard of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (1994). From 1967-68 he served as chief resident of the Children's Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Feigin joined the faculty of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo., as an instructor in pediatrics in 1968. He was promoted to assistant professor of pediatrics in 1969, associate professor in 1972 and professor in 1974. He served as director of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Department of Pediatrics from 1973-77 and as director of the Bacteriology and Serology Laboratories at the St. Louis Children's Hospital from 1972-77.
In July of 1977, Dr. Feigin was appointed as the J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Pediatrics and chair of the department of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and physician-in-chief of Texas Children's Hospital. From 1987 to 1989 he served as executive vice president (interim executive director) of Texas Children's Hospital.
Outstanding leadership
In addition, Dr. Feigin served as physician-in-chief, pediatric services, Ben Taub General Hospital (Harris County Hospital District), and chief of the pediatric service, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. In 1990, he was named by the board of trustees of Baylor College of Medicine as a Distinguished Service Professor. In September of 1992 he was appointed senior vice president of Baylor College of Medicine and in 1994 he was appointed dean of medical education for Baylor College of Medicine, positions he held until his appointment as president and chief executive officer of Baylor College of Medicine in January of 1996.
Dr. Feigin served as president and chief executive officer of Baylor College of Medicine until March 2003. Dr. Feigin had a major goal for the College - to make it one of the top medical schools in the nation. Under his leadership:
- New programs in cell and gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation and breast cancer were initiated
- BCM's Human Genome Sequencing Center was designated as one of three centers to finish the Human Genome Project
- New, expanded problem-based curriculum was introduced
- BCM was recognized in the top 10 percent of all United States medical schools
Memberships
Dr. Feigin was a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, which he served as president from 1982 to 1983, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Pediatric Society, which he served as president from 1997 to 1998, and the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairmen, which he served as president from 1991 to 1993.
He was a member of numerous other national, state and local organizations, including the board of governors and finance committee of the National Institutes of Health Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center. He served as a member of the National Association of Children's Hospitals Advisory Plan on Terrorism and Children's Hospitals. He was chairman of the Medical Advisory Steering Committee of the City of Houston Task Force on Bioterrorism and was a member of the Texas Governor's Council on Science and Biotechnology Development. He served on numerous committees for Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, and was a visiting professor at numerous medical schools.