Eric Austin, MD, MSCI, director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, has been elected to the council of the Society for Pediatric Research.
The SPR provides a forum for young investigators to exchange ideas, encourages research that benefits the well-being of children and allows researchers across the country the opportunity to present their work.
Austin has been a member of SPR since 2010. He is also a group co-leader for the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research Journeys Program, which focuses on supporting developing scholars.
“It is a true honor to be elected to serve on the SPR council,” said Austin, associate professor of Pediatrics and director of the Vanderbilt Master of Science in Clinical Investigation Training Program. “I am passionate about the career development of physician-scientists and scientists, with a particular interest in those individuals in the pediatric space. My primary focus will be on career development of our early and mid-career members, as well as enhancing the pipeline for the next generation of pediatric-focused researchers.”
A National Institutes of Health-funded researcher, Austin studies pulmonary hypertension and other cardiopulmonary morbidities in children and adults with and without preexisting known genetic risks.
Austin earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He attended medical school at Emory University and did residency training at Children’s Hospital Colorado (University of Colorado Health Sciences Center). He has been on faculty at Vanderbilt since completing his fellowship in pediatric pulmonary medicine in 2008.
The SPR council post adds to his service positions with various organizations, including the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Pulmonary Hypertension Association and TBX4Life.
