Dr. Richard Pearson is the Senior Associate Dean for Education, University of Virginia School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree in 1973 from the University of Michigan and conducted his residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester. That is also where he earned his certifications in internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Research Interest
Dr. Pearson's research interests include immunogenetics, epidemiology and the natural history of Leishmania chagasi infection and visceral leishmaniasis in residents of northeastern Brazil. The majority of persons infected with L. chagasi develop protective, cell-mediated Th1 responses to leishmanial antigens that result in asymptomatic, self-resolving infection. A subset of infected persons fails to develop protective Th1 responses and progress to visceral leishmaniasis. Dr. Pearson and his collaborators are currently addressing the genetic correlates of infection using a family cohort. Dr. Pearson has also participated in the development of novel approaches to antileishmanial chemotherapy. Finally, he has worked with Janine Jagger, Ph.D., and her colleagues on the prevention of sharp object and needle stick injuries among medical workers.

Publications
Dr. Pearson is the author of more than 250 scientific and clinical articles, reviews and major textbook chapters. His most recent publications include a chapter entitled Parasitic Infections in the Merck Manual, 18^th edition, 2005, Infected physicians and invasive procedures: safe practice management, Clinical Infectious Diseases', 2005 and Immunopathogenesis of infection with Leishmania Species in the publication Microbial Pathogenesis. 2005. See PubMed Listings for Dr. Pearson.