Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
Director
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Dr. Katz was born in New York City in 1941 and grew up in the Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Md., areas. He earned a B.A. degree cum laude in history from the University of Maryland, College Park; an MD degree cum laude from Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans; and a Ph.D. degree in immunology from the University of London, England. He completed a medical internship at Los Angeles County Hospital, a residency in dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida, military service at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC, and postdoctoral work at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

In 1974 he joined NIH as a senior investigator in the Dermatology Branch of NCI, becoming acting chief in 1977 and chief from 1980 - 2001. From 1989 to 1995, he also served a Marion B. Sulzberger professor of dermatology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda. On August 1, 1995, he was appointed director of NIAMS.

Dr. Katz' studies of Langerhans cells and epidermally derived cytokines have demonstrated that skin is a critical component of the immune system both in its normal function and as a target in immunologically mediated diseases. He has also made seminal discoveries in the field of inherited and acquired blistering skin diseases.

At NCI, he has led a program of investigations in fundamental biological and clinical problems in neoplastic and inflammatory diseases of the skin. He has trained a large number of immunodermatologists from the U.S. and abroad. These individuals are now leading their own independent research programs.

Dr. Katz has received many government and private sector honors and awards, including the Presidential Executive Meritorious Rank Award, PHS Superior Service Award, NIH Director's Award, Master Dermatologist Award and Sulzberger Lecture Award from the American Academy of Dermatology, Lifetime Achievement Award and D. Martin Carter Mentor Award from the American Skin Association, Outstanding Alumnus Award of Tulane University School of Medicine, Stephen Rothman Memorial Award of the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID), Inflammatory Skin Disorders Research Award, Scleroderma Foundation's Messenger of Hope Award, honorary membership in many international dermatologic societies, and election into the NAS Institute of Medicine.

He has served many scientific organizations in leadership positions such as president of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, membership on the board of directors of SID and of the Association of Professors of Dermatology, secretary-general of the World Congress of Dermatology, and secretary-treasurer of the Clinical Immunology Society. In addition, he was named president of the International League of Dermatological Societies in 1997, for a 5-year term.

Dr. Katz has also served on the editorial boards of most clinical and investigative dermatology journals and many immunology journals. He has authored or coauthored more than 180 scientific articles and 50 book chapters and edited several conference proceedings and books.