Madhusmita Misra, an Indian American physician-scientist and nationally recognized leader in pediatric endocrinology, is set to lead Washington University’s pediatric department from Jan. 4, 2027.
She has been named chair of the Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and pediatrician-in-chief at BJC HealthCare’s St. Louis Children’s Hospital, according to a university release.
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Misra comes to WashU Medicine from the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, where she serves as the Benjamin Armistead Shepherd Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and physician-in-chief at UVA Health Children’s Hospital.
“Dr. Misra is a visionary academic leader who combines world-class research with a deep commitment to compassionate care and mentorship,” said Bruce D. Levy, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of WashU Medicine.
Misra said she looks “forward to listening, learning and working together to create the next chapter of excellence across all mission areas — always with children and families at the heart of all we do.”
Previously at Massachusetts General Hospital, she guided the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology in opening regional clinics, implementing a new electronic medical record system, building a comprehensive pediatric diabetes program and establishing specialized care teams for children with rare genetic conditions.
Misra serves as director of the Pediatric Endocrine-Neuroendocrine-Sport
She established and led a similar laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her research examines hormonal changes and bone loss tied to anorexia nervosa and exercise-induced amenorrhea, the loss of menstrual periods caused by intense training paired with inadequate nutrition.
Her work has been paradigm-shifting in defining treatments for low bone density in adolescent and young adult women whose periods have stopped from being in a state of chronic energy deficit. Misra’s research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding agencies since 2000.
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Misra earned her medical degree from S.C.B. Medical College at Utkal University in India and a master’s degree in public health from Harvard University. She completed a pediatrics residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, followed by a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Her achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award from Harvard Medical School, the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the John Haddad Young Investigator Award from Advances in Mineral Metabolism-American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the Janet W. McArthur Award for Excellence in Clinical Research from Women in Endocrinology, and the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Award from Massachusetts General Hospital.