Michael Donnenberg, M.D.
I am pleased to announce that following a national search, Michael Donnenberg, M.D., has been selected to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Research and Research Training and Professor of Internal Medicine. He will begin his tenure on November 2, 2016.
Dr. Donnenberg is a physician scientist whose work encompasses research in bacterial pathogenesis, care of patients with infectious diseases, and involvement in all phases of physician and physician scientist education. Dr. Donnenberg is a graduate of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed Internal Medicine residency at the Bayview Campus of Johns Hopkins and Infectious Diseases fellowship at Tufts/New England Medical Center. After additional postdoctoral research training at the Center for Vaccine Development at the University of Maryland, Dr. Donnenberg joined the faculty in 1990, where he has spent his entire career.
Dr. Donnenberg’s research is focused on the molecular pathogenesis of infections due to Escherichia coli and on the biogenesis and function of bacterial surface appendages called type IV pili, used by many pathogens to adhere to host cell surfaces. His work has been continuously funded by the NIH for 25 years. His publications include over 100 original manuscripts, numerous reviews, books and book chapters, with over 15,000 citations. He is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology and a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He is a recipient of the Oswald Avery Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Dr. Donnenberg has been honored for his commitment to education. He was an inaugural member of the Pass and Susel Academy of Academic Excellence at the University of Maryland and has been awarded numerous teaching commendations. Since 2012 he has been director of the Medical Scientist Training Program for M.D./Ph.D. students. On a personal note, he is the father of three young men and is married to a global public health entrepreneur. He is an avid runner and an amateur oyster gardener.
My thanks go to Dr. John Nestler, Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, who led the national search, and the search committee, who identified Dr. Donnenberg as the next leader of Research and Research Training.
I would also like to thank Dr. Gordon Archer, our valued founding Senior Associate Dean for Research & Research Training who retired as Dean last August. I am grateful for his many years of service at the School of Medicine.
Jerome F. Strauss, III, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean, VCU School of Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, VCU Health System