We are pleased to announce the appointment of David D. Limbrick Jr., M.D., Ph.D., as the Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program in the School of Medicine. Dr. Limbrick, a graduate of the program, is a nationally recognized clinical and research leader who brings a wealth of expertise to the role. Dr. Limbrick will continue as the chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and will also continue his clinical and research efforts while serving as the Director of the MSTP.
Dr. Limbrick has extensive experience in the training of physician-scientists. At Washington University, he was Principal Investigator on an R25 training program in pediatric neurosciences and co-led a separate R25 program for neurology and neurosurgery physician-scientists. He serves on the National Advisory Committee of the Neurosurgeon Research Career Development K12 Program (NRCDP) for junior faculty and as faculty for the national Neurosurgeon-Scientist Training Program for resident trainees. We are very excited about the next chapter for the M.D.- Ph.D. program and its students with Dr. Limbrick as MSTP Director.
Dr. Limbrick graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1992 and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the VCU School of Medicine in 2001. He completed his residency in Neurosurgery in 2007 and a fellowship in Pediatric Neurosurgery in 2008 at Washington University / BJH / SLCH. He is certified by both the American Board of Neurological Surgery and the American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Dr. Limbrick previously served as the T.S. Park Chair and chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, and executive vice chair of Neurological Surgery at Washington University. He also served as neurosurgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Limbrick is an expert on pediatric brain tumors and malformations of the brain, including Chiari type I malformation. His research has been funded continuously through NIH/NINDS, PCORI, the Department of Defense, and a number of other organizations. He has published nearly 300 peer-reviewed articles and has led several federally funded randomized clinical trials.
Dr. Limbrick currently serves as chair of the Accreditation Council for Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowships (ACPNF), secretary of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Joint Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery, and on the executive committee of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ASPN). He chairs the professional development committee and the Leadership in Neurological Surgery (LeNS) fellowship for the Society of Neurological Surgeons.
His extensive experience, accomplishments, and leadership will enhance physician-scientist training and support the development of investigators poised to translate scientific discovery into meaningful clinical impact.
We thank Dr. Binks Wattenberg for serving as interim director of the MSTP, along with all others who helped support the program and its leadership for the past several months. We’re grateful to the members of the search committee, especially Dr. Gretchen Neigh for serving as its chair, and all students, faculty and staff who participated in the interview process.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Limbrick and supporting him in his role as Director of the MSTP in the School of Medicine.
Sincerely,
Mike Grotewiel, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Education
Luan Lawson, M.D., M.A.Ed
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and Student Affairs