George A. Macones, M.D., has been named head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Elaine and Mitchell Yanow Professor.
Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, announced Macones’ appointment, effective Sept. 1.
Macones will replace James R. Schreiber, M.D., who has served as head of obstetrics and gynecology since 1991.
“Dr. Macones is a recognized leader with impressive accomplishments as a teacher, researcher and clinician,” Shapiro said. “He is a physician-scholar ideally suited to take the reins of our obstetrics and gynecology department, which has flourished under the leadership of Dr. Schreiber, and is poised to reach new heights.
“Dr. Macones’ administrative talents will ensure that the department’s federal and private research funding continue to grow and that our medical training and clinical care programs are among the top tier in the nation.”
Macones also will become chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and will work with school and hospital leaders to manage the institutions’ combined clinical and teaching programs.
He also will direct the high-risk obstetrical and gynecological oncology services University physicians provide at Missouri Baptist Medical Center.
Macones comes to the University from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where he was associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of epidemiology.
He’s a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine, with expertise in managing medically complicated pregnancies and those at risk for preterm birth.
He is internationally recognized for his clinical research in reproduction. Macones has authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles, many focusing on issues related to preterm birth and complicated deliveries. He also serves on the editorial board of several major research journals.
Macones has been recognized for his research with awards from the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
He has served on national committees, including roles on advisory committees at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration.
He’s also active in the certification process with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and continues to serve the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on several national committees.
Board-certified both in general obstetrics and gynecology and in the subspecialty of maternal-fetal medicine, Macones has served as director of obstetrics and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for the past five years.
He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Macones holds membership in the American College of Epidemiology, the Society for Gynecologic Investigation and the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society.
Macones earned a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1998 and a master of science degree in clinical epidemiology from the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania in 1996.
He completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Jefferson Medical College in 1994.
Funds endowing the Elaine and Mitchell Yanow professorship were provided by Mitchell Yanow, M.D., in 1997, and the professorship was first held by Schreiber.
“I am excited to be joining the faculty at Washington University and being an active member of the University community,” Macones said.
“I look forward to building upon the tradition of excellence within the department established under the leadership of Dr. Schreiber and am particularly honored to hold the Elaine and Mitchell Yanow professorship.”
Yanow, an alumnus of Washington University and the School of Medicine, was a member of the medical school’s National Council.
He received the University’s Brookings Award and the Distinguished Alumnus Award. In addition to a long and accomplished medical career, Yanow was cofounder and board chairman of Medicine Shoppe International, Inc. Yanow died in 1998 at age 80.
Schreiber announced last year that it was his intention to retire from administrative duties as department head in 2005 and to return full-time to teaching, research and clinical care.
An international search was launched for his successor.
Schreiber’s clinical interests have been in evaluating treatments for infertility and developing therapy for recurrent spontaneous miscarriage.
Under Schreiber’s leadership, the research activities of the department have grown substantially.
Schreiber is also credited with enhancing the resident physician and postgraduate fellowship training programs in association with Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
He also struck a groundbreaking contractual agreement with Missouri Baptist Medical Center, in which University specialists would provide consultative and patient-care services for high-risk obstetrical and gynecologic oncology patients at the hospital.