By Kristina Sauerwein / Washington University School of Medicine
Juliane Bubeck Wardenburg, MD, PhD, a nationally recognized physician with expertise in bacterial infections, has been named director of the division of pediatric critical care medicine at Washington University School of Medicine. She will begin her new position in January, and will also treat patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH).
Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg comes from the University of Chicago, where she is an associate professor of pediatrics and of microbiology, as well as chief of pediatric critical care in the department of pediatrics. At Washington University, her alma mater, she will continue her research, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on the infectious bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacteriodes fragilis in the critically ill.
“Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg is an outstanding physician-scientist who is equally adept at patient care, research and teaching,” said Gary A. Silverman, MD, PhD, the Harriet B. Spoehrer Professor and head of the department of pediatrics at the School of Medicine. “Washington University is enthusiastic about her leading the division of pediatric critical care medicine. She is a strength in every which way.”
Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg succeeds interim director F. Sessions Cole, MD, vice chair of the department of pediatrics, director of the division of newborn medicine, chief medical officer at SLCH and the Park J. White, MD, Professor of Pediatrics.
“I look forward to building upon the existing strengths in patient care, education and research in the division of pediatric critical care,” Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg said. “This field is poised to achieve considerable advances in the care of children with life-threatening illness and injury, and to define fundamental biologic processes in these disease states. I am excited to join the amazing teams at the School of Medicine and SLCH as we work together toward these goals.”
Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg began her academic career at Washington University, earning an undergraduate degree in biology in 1993 and graduating with accolades from the Medical Scientist Training Program in 2001. While here, her research contributed to defining how signals inside immune cells lead to the cells’ activation.
After completing her residency and fellowship training in 2008 at the University of Chicago, Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg became a faculty member there. The major focus of her research was and continues to be examining infectious bacteria’s role in causing serious illness in adults and children.
A member of the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg has received nearly two dozen awards for research, patient care and teaching.
“I am both delighted and honored to return to Washington University School of Medicine,” Dr. Bubeck Wardenburg said. “The rich environment provides an unparalleled opportunity to integrate clinical medicine and research to improve child health."
