David Hunstad, MD, has been named director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) and Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM).
Dr. Hunstad, an associate professor of pediatrics and of molecular microbiology, succeeds Gregory Storch, MD, the Ruth L. Siteman Professor of Pediatrics, who served as director of the division for the past 10 years. Dr. Storch, who remains director of the Division of Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, plans to devote more time to research and continue to develop new molecular diagnostic tests.
“In terms of goals, we of course want to serve the children of our community, continue our relationship with primary providers and public health agencies in the city and county, and grow what is already a diverse and productive research program in infectious diseases,” says Dr. Hunstad. “We also look to raise our visibility in antimicrobial stewardship and in the prevention and treatment of infections in transplant patients.”
A graduate of WUSM, Dr. Hunstad previously served as director of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program and co-founded the university’s Pediatric Physician-Scientist Training Program with colleague Anthony French, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics.
“David is a triple-threat physician-scientist in the very best sense of the term,” says Alan L. Schwartz, PhD, MD, the Harriet B. Spoehrer Professor, head of the department of pediatrics and pediatrician-in-chief at SLCH. “He is an outstanding and complete clinician, modeled after Dr. Jim Keating, a legend here, and David is an excellent microbial pathogenesis investigator and an exceptional teacher.”
Adds Dr. Schwartz, “He is administratively adept and fluid in his thinking and is nationally regarded as one of the very best emerging leaders in pediatric infectious diseases. David has beautifully succeeded in every aspect of his career since he began here at WUSM.”
Dr. Hunstad is a fellow of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society as well as the recipient of numerous honors during his career. He is also principal investigator of a laboratory that focuses on pathogenic bacteria, with the goal of discovering ways to prevent and treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system.
After earning his medical degree with accolades from Washington University in 1995, Dr. Hunstad completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 1999, serving as chief resident during his final year. He finished a fellowship at the School of Medicine in pediatric infectious diseases in 2003 before joining the faculty.
