BOSTON – Elijah Paintsil, MD, has been named the new Chief of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Chair of Pediatrics at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
Paintsil is currently the Section Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Yale School of Medicine, where he has risen progressively in leadership over the past 18 years. He is a professor in pediatrics and pharmacology, as well as a professor of epidemiology at Yale University School of Public Health and a professor at the Yale School of Management. He will join BMC and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in August.
"Dr. Paintsil brings great leadership and innovation in pediatrics to BMC, along with his enduring commitment to health equity," said Alastair Bell, MD, MBA, President and Interim CEO of Boston Medical Center Health System. "Dr. Paintsil is nationally recognized for his research, and his extensive strategic leadership experience will continue to advance pediatrics care for the communities we serve."
“We welcome Dr. Paintsil as Chair of Pediatrics and look forward to the experience and expertise he is bringing to expand the education, training, and research of our medical school,” said Karen Antman, MD, BU Medical Campus Provost and Dean, BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.
Paintsil is a leading physician-scientist and an NIH-funded investigator, focusing on antiretroviral therapy induced mitochondrial dysfunction, transmission of hepatitis C among injection drug users, and pediatric HIV treatment outcomes in resource limited countries.
He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Pediatric Research, Academic Pediatric Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Board, a scholar of the Pediatric Leadership Development Program sponsored by the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs (AMSPDC), and a consultant to Africa CDC in their continent-wide COVID-19 mitigation efforts in Africa.
Paintsil began his career in his native country of Ghana, where he completed his medical degree at the University of Ghana. He went on to complete clinical positions at Korle-Bu teaching hospital, Accra and Battor Catholic Hospital. He then moved to the U.S. and completed his pediatric residency training in New York City before he began his journey at Yale School of Medicine.
Paintsil's appointment follows the decision by Bob Vinci, MD, to step down as Chief and Chair of Pediatrics after 44 years of lasting contributions to the hospital, medical school and the broader community. Vinci will continue to lead the department until Paintsil's arrival.
About Boston Medical Center
Boston Medical Center models a new kind of excellence in healthcare, where innovative and equitable care empowers all patients to thrive. We combine world-class clinicians and cutting-edge treatments with compassionate, quality care, that extends beyond our walls. As an award-winning health equity leader, our diverse clinicians and staff interrogate racial disparities in care and partner with our community to dismantle systemic inequities. And as a national leader in research and the teaching affiliate for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, we’re driving the future of care.