UMSOM Names Dr. Karen Kotloff as the John A. Scholl, MD and Mary Louise Scholl, MD Professor in Pediatrics

Professorship Recognizes Critical Mission “to Improve the Lives of Children”

On March 28, 2023, before a large audience of family members, UMSOM faculty and staff, and distinguished invited guests, Karen L. Kotloff, MD, an internationally renowned pediatric infectious disease physician who has made outstanding contributions to scientific research, was invested as the John A. Scholl, MD and Mary Louise Scholl, MD Professor in Pediatrics. Dr. Kotloff is a Distinguished Professor in UMSOM’s Department of Pediatrics and also serves as the Head of the Division of Infectious Disease and Tropical Pediatrics and Associate Director of Clinical Studies at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD).

Steven J. Czinn, MD, the Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UMSOM and the Director of the University of Maryland Children's Hospital (UMCH), served as the host of the event, along with UMSOM Dean Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor.

“In her long career as a pediatric infectious disease expert, Dr. Kotloff has focused on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and their prevention with the use of vaccines and other interventions,” said Dean Gladwin. “She has led a number of large groundbreaking studies in developing countries, including her seminal research on diarrheal diseases that uncovered their infectious causes and their impact on early childhood. It's very clear that she is worthy of this remarkable honor and will make the Scholl family proud.”

An UMSOM faculty member since 1986, Dr. Kotloff is recognized internationally for her research on diarrheal diseases, a leading cause of malnutrition and death in children throughout the world. She has conducted large multicenter epidemiologic studies in the U.S. and in multiple countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to characterize the disease burden and identify the causes, risk factors, and health consequences of infectious diseases in children. This research has led to the introduction of life-saving vaccines that had been available for many years in the U.S., but many barriers had prevented them from reaching children in developing countries.

She has worked extensively in Mali, West Africa, one of the world's poorest countries with very high under-5 mortality rates. Currently, she is leading a randomized placebo-controlled trial in Mali among 50,000 pregnant women and their infants funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Known as SANTE, this trial will determine whether spaced doses of the antibiotic azithromycin reduce infant mortality. In recognition of her contributions to child health in Mali, she was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mali (Knight of the National Order of Mali) by the President of Mali.

Among the speakers at the ceremony were Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FACP, the Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH Professor of Vaccinology and Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health; Samba Sow, MD, MSc, FASTH, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at UMSOM, Director General for Mali’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP), and Director General of the Center for Vaccine Development in Mali (CVD-Mali); and James D. Campbell, MD, MS, Professor of Pediatrics at UMSOM.

Speaking of Dr. Kotloff’s indispensable research role in identifying successful vaccine candidates during the recent pandemic, Dr. Neuzil said, “She was at the epicenter of research into SARS-CoV-2, channeling her considerable energy, her global and national influence, her intellect and her experience to tackle COVID-19 from every angle. Her work during the pandemic has had a profound effect on the lives of millions, including every person in this room.”

“It's hard to put into words what Karen has meant, not only to me, but all my colleagues, and in fact, the whole of Mali,” said Dr. Sow. “Without her belief in me, and her vision of CVD-Mali, I don't think we would have been able to achieve what we have. It has been her compassion and her partnership that has driven all of our success and evidence-based change.”

Dr. Campbell remarked, “She is one of those giants… Karen is one of the hardest working people on the planet. Through her actions, words and humility declares that we should not let infections get in the way of this simple truth: all children deserve what our children have.”

In thanking the assembled members of the audience, Dr. Kotloff referenced the accomplishments of the late Mary Louise Scholl, MD, ‘42, whose philanthropy, together with her husband, John A. Scholl, ’41, MD, created this endowed professorship. Attending the investiture remotely was the Scholl’s niece, Mary Ann Porter.

“Dr. Scholl courageously entered the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1937, when most medical schools in the U.S. were denying entrance to women. Alongside her beloved husband, this independent woman went on to achieve great academic and clinical success,” Dr. Kotloff said. “These special people not only chose to give back to their alma mater, but specifically wanted to support work that would improve the lives of children. I am honored to have the opportunity as the recipient of this professorship to continue work that will further enhance the wellbeing of children.”