Michael Salem, M.D., President and CEO

Michael Salem, MD, has been President and CEO of National Jewish Health since January 2006.

A native of Washington, DC, Dr. Salem received his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, then returned to his hometown for his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed his surgical residency training at Boston University Hospital and George Washington University Hospital. He also completed research and clinical fellowships in Critical Care Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Following the completion of his medical training, Dr. Salem spent five years on the faculty at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and as a surgeon and critical care physician at George Washington University Hospital. He practiced and taught general surgery and critical care, and oversaw surgical research. He rose to become the Director of Trauma and Critical Care, Co-Director of the Intensive Care Unit, and Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery.

Beginning in 1999, Dr. Salem helped launch GMP Companies Inc., a Florida-based health care company that develops and commercializes biotechnology and medical technology products and product candidates made primarily by academic researchers. As Executive Vice President, he led the research and development operations of GMP Companies, building research facilities and programs, and navigating the regulatory process to bring discoveries to the marketplace. He was also responsible for licensing and acquisition for the company.

National Jewish Health is an academic medical center known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonsectarian, nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health has ranked as the number one or number two hospital in pulmonology on the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital list ever since pulmonology was included in the rankings. During his tenure, Dr. Salem and the team are implementing an ambitious, milestone-based 10 year strategic plan in order to allow National Jewish Health to continue to lead the world in respiratory and related diseases and personalized medicine.