Jean-Francois Pittet, M.D., DEAA, has been named Distinguished Professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

Pittet has risen through the academic ranks—from beginning as a faculty member at the University of California San Francisco to now serving as the David Hill Chestnut Endowed Professor in Anesthesiology at UAB. His research spans from groundbreaking basic science on the molecular mechanism of lung injury to the context of sepsis. His work on the role of the innate immune response and activation by microbial products was seminal; leading to publications in some of the highest impact journals in medicine, including The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Pittet’s current innovative work addresses the interaction between pneumonia and brain dysfunction in critical illness. He is also a valuable collaborator with various UAB surgeons in examining mechanisms of coagulopathy in trauma and therapeutic approaches to its treatment.

As a testament to his research, Pittet has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for almost 30 years. He has published 266 peer-reviewed papers, including 18 editorials and more than 40 review articles in various areas of clinical and basic translational science.

“Dr. Pittet has been an outstanding clinical and scientific citizen; mentoring many students, post-doctoral fellows, and young faculty – a number of whom have gone on to become independent investigators,” says Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D., Alfred Habeeb Professor and Chair of the department. 

At UAB, Pittet serves as Professor of Surgery; Investigator for the Pulmonary Injury and Repair Center at UAB; and Senior Scientist at the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and UAB Microbiome Center. He also holds the title of Editor-in-Chief of the journal Anesthesia & Analgesia – the official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society which is emerging as the preeminent society for academic anesthesiologists around the world.

“Dr. Pittet’s contribution to our department, our Institution, and our specialty are highly worthy of bestowing upon him this honor,” Berkowitz says. “He is an innovative scientist, a well-respected clinician, and exemplary mentor and teacher. His service to our profession through enhanced scholarship is beyond reproach.”