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412-692-5970 Phone
412-692-5565 Fax

Raphael Hirsch, MD

Job Title Aldo V. Londino, Professor of Pediatrics
Job Title Vice Chair for Faculty Development
Job Title Chief, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology
Job Title Professor of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Division of Pediatric Rheumatology
One Children's Hospital Drive
4401 Penn Ave., Suite Floor 9
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
412-692-5970 Phone
412-692-5565 Fax
Email raphael.hirsch@chp.edu
Patient Appointment Information

Education and Training

Medical School:

1983 University of Illinois

Residency:

1986 Pediatric Resident, University of Minnesota
1986 Pediatric Chief Resident, University of Minnesota

Fellowship:

1989 Medical Staff Fellow, Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
1991 Biotechnology Fellow, Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
1991, Pediatric Rheumatology Fellow, Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Board Certifications

  • 1989 American Board of Pediatrics
  • 1992 Ohio State Medical Board
  • 1992, 1999, 2006 American Board of Pediatrics: Rheumatology
  • 2002 Pennsylvania State Medical Board

Awards

  • 2002 American Pediatric Society
  • 1999 Member, American Academy of Pediatrics

Publications

  • Spalding SJ, Kwoh CK, Boudreau R, Enama J, Lunich J, Huber D, Denes L, Hirsch R. Three-dimensional and thermal surface imaging produces reliable measures of joint shape and temperature: a potential tool for quantifying arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2008;10(1):R10.
  • Hirsch R. Is long-term etanercept therapy safe and effective in patients with juvenile RA? Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008 Dec;4(12):628-9. 
  • Clutter SD, Wilson DC, Marinov AD, Hirsch R. Follistatin-like protein 1 promotes arthritis by up-regulating IFN-gamma. J Immunol. 2009 Jan 1;182(1):234-9.

    View Dr. Hirsch's full list of publications from PubMed.

Biography Summary

Raphael Hirsch, MD, is the Aldo V. Londino Jr., MD, Professor of Pediatrics and chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He came to Pittsburgh in 2002, bringing a rich background in research, clinical care and teaching to the hospital, its patients and the university. Under his direction, Children's pediatric rheumatology program has grown from a one-physician division to one of the largest and most comprehensive programs in the United States, with six full-time faculty, an experienced clinical staff and a National Institutes of Health (NIH) -funded research laboratory.

Dr. Hirsch came from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where he was professor of pediatrics with tenure and was on the faculty of the graduate program in developmental and molecular biology. Prior to his academic appointment in Cincinnati, he was a pediatric rheumatology fellow at Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C. From 1986 to 1991, Dr. Hirsch was a medical staff fellow at the National Cancer Institute, focusing his research on modulation of T-cell function in transplantation and autoimmunity. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1979 and his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1983. Dr. Hirsch completed his residency at the University of Minnesota, where he served as chief pediatric resident from 1983 to 1986.

At Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Dr. Hirsch leads an NIH-funded research program focused on answering fundamental questions about arthritis. His areas of expertise include gene transfer, gene expression in arthritis, modulation of T-cell immune responses and therapy of autoimmune diseases. The NIH has continuously funded Dr. Hirsch since 1992. His work also has received support from the Arthritis Foundation, American College of Rheumatology and Ohio Cancer Research Associates.

Dr. Hirsch is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Pediatric Research, American Pediatric Society, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, American Society of Gene Therapy and American Society for Clinical Investigation. He also serves on the editorial board of Modern Rheumatology.

Active Research Projects / Grants

  • NIH P01 Gene expression in pediatric arthritis
  • NIH RO1 Adeno-associated virus-mediated synovial gene transfer
  • NIH RO1 Effects of MHC-Ig fusion proteins on T cell function
Last Update
August 3, 2010
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Last Update
August 3, 2010
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