MacGlashan Named Director of Allergy & Clinical Immunology

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Donald MacGlashan will assume the role of director of the Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology effective September 5, 2016. He will succeed interim director Susan MacDonald, who graciously stepped in after Bruce Bochner’s departure in August 2013. We want to thank Dr. MacDonald for her interim leadership during a period of transition.

Don has a long history with the division, joining the faculty in 1983 after earning his medical degree and studying under the legendary Dr. Lawrence M. Lichtenstein to earn a Ph.D. in Immunology from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is now a Professor of Medicine and senior laboratory investigator.

Don will continue his research focusing on understanding the regulation of secretion from human basophils and mast cells, which are considered central participants in the allergic reaction as well as having a variety of other physiological or pathophysiological roles in other diseases.

Don’s vision for the division involves several projects that leverage the division’s basic and clinical expertise with the intention of developing centers of excellence focusing on immunodeficiency disorders, chronic cough and anaphylaxis. Growth of these centers will include recruiting junior faculty to advance these projects, and diversify the faculty, which, in turn, will aid in the education of the division’s postdoctoral fellows.  We want to thank Dr. Rick Bennett for financial support to catalyze the building of these centers.

Having published extensively in his field with more than 250 peer-reviewed publications, reviews and book chapters, he is a frequent speaker both nationally and internationally. He is a member of the American Association of Immunologists and has served on NIH study sections for immunology, cancer, virology and allergy and immunology.

Please join us in congratulating Don and offering support as he assumes his new leadership role.