February 22, 2023
John Bradley, MD, is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, and is the Medical Director of Infectious Diseases at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. His research focuses on the development of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents for serious infections, particularly for drug-resistant pathogens, using pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling. He currently serves as an advisor of the FDA’s Anti-Infectives Advisory Drug Committee, has been a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases (Red Book Committee), and is the Chief Editor of Nelson’s Pediatric Antimicrobial Therapy, published annually by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Bradley got involved in pediatric infectious diseases early on, getting inspiration from pioneers in therapeutics/antibiotic development like George McCracken, John Nelson, Jerry Klein, Henry Shinefield and Ralph Feigin, whom he has tried for his entire career to live up to. He served the Society and the Foundation as a member of the board early on when there was great enthusiasm, but the Society contended with hardships like the Great Recession in securing financial support for its mission to better the health of children.
“Our Society is unique in that it is basically the only one dedicated solely to taking care of all aspects of infections in children, both treatment and prevention. Every time we get together and see people who share our passion it validates that yes, I’m really lucky to be part of this Society, and we are all here to support each other as we all support children.”
Dr. Bradley has made many contributions to the Society and Foundation. In addition to his service on the board, he has helped generate Guidelines on behalf of pediatric infectious diseases specialists, starting with Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Guidelines in 1997, followed by Community Acquired Pneumonia Guidelines, and now Bone and Joint Infection Guidelines. He has also supported the high standards of pediatric infectious disease specialists by serving on the American Board of Pediatrics Sub Board of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. This is but a small sampling of his contributions which led to receiving the 2020 Walter T. Hughes Distinguished Physician Award.
As the Society and Foundation grow and mature, Dr. Bradley believes the two can work together in several areas to expand resources and support of members. He realizes, for instance, that legislation is critical to securing the mission and appeared before a congressional hearing on healthcare finance to promote assistance in combatting antimicrobial resistance in children. Dr. Bradley has also long advocated for a PIDS clinical trials network and has spoken with PIDS leadership on how to make this a reality. Such efforts demonstrate his commitment to enhancing the support that PIDS and the PIDS Foundation can utilize in fulfilling its members’ aspirations.
Dr. Bradley believes PIDS is in the strongest position it has been since he joined. That is why he has consistently chosen to support PIDS and the PIDS Foundation. He invites anyone in the Society who is considering a charitable donation to make it to the PIDS Foundation. “It will have a tremendous impact.”
Improving the health of children worldwide through philanthropic support of scientific and educational programs.
