February 6, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees has appointed UAB faculty member Richard J. Whitley, M.D., distinguished professor of pediatrics at its meeting February 6.

Whitley is one of the leading figures in the field of virology and infectious disease, and is internationally recognized for his contributions in antiviral research and the engineering of herpes simplex virus for gene therapy. He has served as author and co-author of more than 525 scientific writings in books and peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. He is editor of Antiviral Research, and associate editor of the Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy.

Whitley joined the UAB faculty in 1976. He became an associate professor in 1978, and professor and vice chairman in 1981. He also is co-director of the UAB Center for Emerging Infections and Emergency Preparedness and director of the UAB Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.