George H. McCracken Jr., M.D., Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics and a pioneer in infectious diseases, died on July 2. He was 89. Dr. McCracken’s work laid the foundation for diagnosis and management of infectious diseases in infants and children that are the standards of care today, such as the antibiotic treatment of meningitis and other life-threatening infectious illnesses of childhood.

His research touched upon nearly every major childhood infectious disease. Dr. McCracken was instrumental in identifying the potential benefits of steroid administration in bacterial meningitis, specifically the protective effect of steroids on hearing. His investigations provided essential insights into the epidemiology and microbiology of infections in all pediatric age groups.

During his 49-year career at UT Southwestern, Dr. McCracken held leadership positions that included Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and interim Chair of the Department of Pediatrics. He published more than 500 peer-reviewed papers describing the epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of several bacteria and viruses. His work impacted the fields of pediatrics, infectious diseases, epidemiology, microbiology, and pharmacology.

“Dr. McCracken’s dedication to UT Southwestern and to the field of pediatric infectious diseases has helped countless children around the world. His legacy will benefit generations to come,” said W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School.

Dr. McCracken also directed the UTSW Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship for decades, training generations of subspecialty fellows, many of whom have gone on to be worldwide leaders in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases (ID). At the beginning of his tenure, very few institutions had programs to train pediatric ID physicians. Under his direction, 120 physicians from 24 countries completed their fellowship training. In addition, Dr. McCracken trained and mentored countless medical and graduate students, residents, and subspecialty fellows in pediatric ID and other subspecialties over nearly five decades.

“Dr. McCracken was truly a pillar of the pediatric infectious diseases subspecialty and deservedly enjoyed an iconic reputation among pediatricians throughout the world,” said Jeffrey S. Kahn, M.D., Ph.D., Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology. “He was generous with his time, advice, and mentorship. He was universally beloved by trainees and colleagues, here at UTSW, nationally, and globally.”

After receiving his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medicine), Dr. McCracken completed an internship in internal medicine followed by a residency in pediatrics at New York Hospital. He was Chief Resident in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern. Dr. McCracken served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine and then at Georgetown University School of Medicine before returning to UT Southwestern as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Dr. McCracken was a founding member of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. He and his colleague, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics John Nelson, M.D., founded The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal – the first journal dedicated to the field of pediatric infectious diseases. They also organized and led the annual National Pediatric Infectious Disease Seminar, a postgraduate education course that for 27 years provided a platform for sharing knowledge and advancements in the field, with a focus on clinical care, research, and public health.

His contributions to patient care, teaching, and research were recognized with multiple honors that included the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Distinguished Physician Award for Lifetime Achievements in Research and Training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases (2001), the Infectious Diseases Society of America Mentor Award for a Distinguished Lifetime Record of Mentorship in Infectious Diseases (2003), and the Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement given by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (2004), among many others.

Dr. McCracken’s research accomplishments, mentorship, and overarching contributions to the field of pediatric infectious disease will define his long-lasting legacy.