Reed Pyeritz

Senior Fellow

Reed Pyeritz, MD, PhD

  • Professor Emeritus, Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
  • Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine

Reed Pyeritz, MD, PhD is the recently retired William Smilow Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pyeritz has long been recognized as an international authority on the genetics of cardiovascular disorders, especially the Marfan syndrome, other hereditary aortic conditions, and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. For over 40 years, he evaluated and counseled patients, conducted research on improving diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular syndromes, and educated health professionals at all levels of their careers. Another productive and satisfying area of research focused on the ethics and economics of genetic services.

His early research focused on Marfan syndrome and involved improving medical care, including leading the first trial that demonstrated the benefit of beta-adrenergic blockers, documenting the natural and clinical histories, which showed that by 2010 average lifespan improved to over 70 years, and co-leading the team that identified that mutations in fibrillin-1 cause Marfan syndrome. In 1979, he was instrumental in stimulating the creation of a family support group that evolved into the Marfan Foundation as we know it today. More recently, his research focused on all of the “new” clinical issues people with Marfan syndrome develop because they are now living much longer. One irony is that the family introduced to him on that first day in Baltimore, about which he got to know 4 generations, actually have a hereditary aortopathy, not Marfan.

Dr. Pyeritz is the co-editor of the standard text in his field, Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the 7th edition of which is in preparation. His bibliography lists over 700 publications. One of his fondest memories and deepest satisfactions is having collaborated and co-authored with hundreds of colleagues. In 1991, he was one of the founders of the American College of Medical Genetics and became its 2nd president. He also served as the president of the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics. At Penn, he served as the chair of the University Faculty Senate and chair of the Medical School Committee on Appointments and Promotions. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and was on active duty during Operation Desert Storm.

In his spare time, he competed in road races (PR of 2:51 in the Boston Marathon), was a nationally ranked masters triathlete, and for 15 years co-held the Guinness Book of World Records for the 100-man, 100-mile relay. Now, after multiple joint replacements, he is content with walking.

He has known his wife, Jane Tumpson, MAT, MBA, for 67 years (1st grade) and been married for 48 years. Their 2 daughters, Allyson Colaco and Abigail Hopkins, thrive in the business world. Abby presented them with two granddaughters, now 1 and 3 years old. Fortunately, they all inherited primarily dominant maternal alleles.

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