Publisher’s note: Dr. Feigin passed away in August, 2008. His remarkable legacy lives on due to his unwavering dedication to and accomplishments as a remarkable physician, educator and leader.
Dr. Ralph D. Feigin is internationally renowned as perhaps the foremost expert ever in pediatric infectious diseases. He is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, where he was President/CEO from 1996 to 2003. He is Physician-in-Chief of Texas Children’s Hospital and Chief of the pediatrics departments of Ben Taub General Hospital and The Methodist Hospital. He was born in New York City in 1938 and received a degree from Columbia College and his M.D. degree from Boston University School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residencies at Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Feigin was on the faculty of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri and the staff of St. Louis Children’s Hospital until 1977 when he came to Houston.
In 1984, Dr. Feigin was elected to the Outstanding Faculty Hall of Fame of Baylor College of Medicine. A Distinguished Alumnus of Boston University School of Medicine, in 1995 he was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine and was the recipient of the 1997 American Academy of Pediatrics Medical Education Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Feigin was selected to receive the 2007 John Howland Award from the American Pediatric Society, the most prestigious award conferred by the American pediatric community for lifetime contributions that have improved child healthcare worldwide.
Currently serving as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Steering Committee of the City of Houston Task Force on Bioterrorism, Dr. Feigin is also a member of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals Advisory Plan on Terrorism.
The author or editor of over 500 published journal articles and medical books or chapters, Dr. Feigin is an editor of several prestigious pediatrics journals. He is married to Dr. Judith Zobel Feigin and has three children and six grandchildren.