Hunstad named director of pediatric infectious diseases division

Hunstad

David A. Hunstad​, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, has been named director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Hunstad, also an associate professor 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. 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,” said Hunstad, “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. With our partners at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we also look to raise our visibility in antimicrobial stewardship and in the prevention and treatment of infections in transplant patients.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A graduate of the School of Medicine, 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,” said Alan L. Schwartz, PhD, MD, the Harriet B. Spoehrer Professor and head of the Department of Pediatrics. “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.

“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 Washington University.”

A fellow of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society as well as the recipient of numerous honors during his career, Hunstad treats patients at St. Louis Children’s. 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, Hunstad completed a residency in pediatrics at St. Louis Children’s in 1999, serving as chief resident during his last year. He finished a fellowship at the School of Medicine in pediatric infectious diseases in 2003 before joining the faculty.


Washington University School of Medicine’s 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.
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