Gerald Fischer '68

Gerald Fischer has had a long and distinguished career in the medical sciences. For 23 years, Gerald served as an active duty U.S. Army officer, retiring as a colonel in 1993. During that time, in addition to receiving multiple accolades including National Defense medals for the Vietnam and Gulf wars, he earned his medical degree from the University of Oregon Medical School and completed his pediatric and pediatric infectious diseases fellowship training.

Gerald founded and served as president and chief executive officer of two biomedical research firms, Virion and Biosynexus. Both of these companies have played key roles in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in children.

Gerald is currently professor of pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is also senior advisor to the Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, after having served as director of the program from 1982 to 1997.

Gerald has published more than 100 papers on prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and immunoglobulin therapy, written or contributed to 16 books, and received membership in 10 medical societies, including fellowship status in the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has also received many awards and honors, including the University Medal from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and the Jay P. Sanford Memorial Award for Excellence in Military Infectious Diseases.

Gerald lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife Kay.

(Updated December 2007)