Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, a nationally renowned physician-scientist focused on women's health, has been named the chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the UCSF School of Medicine.

Currently at Stanford University School of Medicine, Giudice is the Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor of obstetrics and gynecology, the director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Division, the director of the Center for Research on Reproduction, Women's Health, and Genomic Medicine, and the director of the "Women's Health @ Stanford" Program. She is also chair of
the Human Embryonic Stem Cell/Nuclear Transfer Committee in Stanford's Program in Regenerative Medicine.

"Dr. Giudice is one of the finest scientific and clinical leaders in women's health," says David A. Kessler, MD, dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and vice chancellor for medical affairs at UCSF.

"Under her leadership, what is already one of the world's top departments of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences will be able to grow, as she works to advance translational medicine by fostering research in basic science, clinical science and health policy, to advance clinical care by planning for a world-class women's hospital at UCSF Mission Bay, and to advance the field by
training the next generation of leaders in women's health."

Widely recognized for her scientific and clinical expertise, Giudice was recently elected president of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and is on the board of directors of the Society for Women's Health Research and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In 2002, she was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health.

Giudice chairs the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee, and has been a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and March of Dimes study sections, which review the qualifications of research grant applications.

Called an "outstanding biochemist, gynecologist and reproductive
endocrinologist, and a dedicated teacher and mentor" by Kessler, Giudice will assume her new position on Oct. 15, 2005.

"Becoming chair of the department at this time in UCSF's history is extremely exciting," says Giudice. "The quality of the University's scientific and clinical programs, and its vision for translational medicine -- which aims to translate new technologies and discoveries made in the research laboratory to patient care -- support my own goals for advancing women's health.

"Stem cell research, molecular reproductive biology, genetics, cancer,
neuroscience and immunologic research are all relevant to women's health. The opportunity to integrate them is great," she says. "Furthermore, health policy must keep pace with the new, translational paradigms, and UCSF is well poised to accomplish this.

"As part of each endeavor, I'm strongly committed to supporting the
professional and personal growth of the physicians, scientists and staff involved to help them achieve their personal best," says Giudice, who has trained more than 75 undergraduate and graduate students, and post-doctoral and clinical fellows.

UCSF has been home to a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health since 1996, the first year the competitive federal designations were awarded. There were six institutions designated the first year; today there are 19 nationwide. The UCSF Center, a universitywide program focused on five areas -- clinical care, research, professional education, leadership development and community outreach -- is building a multi-disciplinary health care system focused on the needs of all women.

"With her career-long commitment to excellence in women's reproductive health, Dr. Giudice will be a wonderful addition to the Center of Excellence community of scientists, clinicians, educators and advocates who are working collaboratively to advance the health of women and girls across diverse communities," says Nancy Milliken, MD, vice dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and director of the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health.

As a clinician, Giudice has focused on endometriosis, infertility requiring advanced reproductive technologies, and menopause, and she will continue to see patients in her new position. As a scientist, she has focused on endometrial biology and placental-uterine interactions. Increasingly, her research will focus on translating her research findings to diagnostics and therapeutics for women with infertility, endometriosis and endometrial cancer. Recently, she's
begun investigating putative endometrial stem cells and their relevance to endometrial regeneration and endometrial disorders.

Giudice is a co-editor of the textbook, The Endometrium.

Giudice received her BS degree from Columbia University, and her PhD degree in biochemistry from UCLA. She was a postdoctoral fellow at Rockefeller University and at the National Institutes of Health. She subsequently received her MD from Stanford School of Medicine, and did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine and Washington University in St. Louis, and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at Stanford School of Medicine. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology.

Giudice is married to Sakis Theologis, PhD, and they have two children, ages 20 and 17. She is an avid runner and reader, particularly of historical fiction, and loves listening to classical guitar. She was born and raised in New York City.

Source: Jennifer O'Brien