Karen Murray, M.D., named Chair of Pediatrics, Physician-in-Chief at Cleveland Clinic Children’s

Karen F. Murray, M.D., a national leader in pediatric gastroenterology, has been named chair of the Cleveland Clinic Pediatric Institute, Physician-in-Chief of Cleveland Clinic Children’s and President of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, effective in early July. Dr. Murray will succeed Rita Pappas, M.D., who served as interim chair since 2017.

Dr. Murray joins Cleveland Clinic Children’s from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, where she served as vice chair of Clinical Affairs for the Department of Pediatrics and Professor-in-Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Recently, she has also served as interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief of Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Her clinical interests include clinical care in gastroenterology and transplantation. She has focused her research on hepatology, primarily in the treatment and pathophysiology of childhood liver disease, such as hepatitis B and C viral infections, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cholestatic liver diseases in childhood. She has spearheaded efforts to wipe out hepatitis C by bringing two highly effective adult drugs to infected children. She also has a passion for mentoring pediatrics residents.

In her new capacity, Dr. Murray will oversee the Pediatric Institute at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, which includes more than 300 pediatricians, practitioners and specialists – and more than 50 outpatient sites – providing the full spectrum of primary, specialty, and subspecialty care to the largest patient population of any children’s hospital in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Clinic Children’s consistently ranks among the “Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S.News & World Report and has earned national recognition among the top 50 hospitals for 11 consecutive years.

“I’m excited to help lead and make the nation more aware of the pediatric program at Cleveland Clinic,” Dr. Murray said. “A program and group of professional staff that deliver world-class, state-of-the-art clinical care in a visionary setting designed to assure that all patients, families, and the community receive care at the cutting edge of excellence and efficiency, and are advancing pediatric knowledge and care through innovation and research.”

Dr. Murray chaired the Gastroenterology Sub-board of the American Board of Pediatrics from 2010 to2011. She has served on the steering committees of three National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases clinical research networks related to her research. From 2006 to 2013, she served on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. In 2016, she become president of the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has received many awards including selection as a “Top Doctor” in Seattle from 2006-2018.

“Dr. Murray is nationally recognized for her academic accomplishments, as well as her experience in leadership and operations. We anticipate the contributions she will bring in her leadership role,” says Herbert Wiedemann, M.D., Cleveland Clinic’s Chief of Staff.

Dr. Murray earned her medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore in 1990. In 1993, she completed her internship and residency in pediatrics from the Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, where she went on to serve as chief resident from 1993-1994. In 1997, she completed a clinical and research fellowship at the Combined Program in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition from Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School.