February 10, 1931-February 17, 2021
On February 17, 2021, Dr. Jerome O. Klein, of Chestnut Hill,
Massachusetts, died. He was an outstanding educator, scientist, clinician,
who was 90 years old at the time of his death. At that time, he was
Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM).
During a career of more than 50 years, he was a highly respected, productive,
and distinguished leader in pediatric infectious diseases.
Dr. Klein inspired generations of trainees and colleagues in Pediatrics
and Infectious Diseases. He was an inspiring person who took personal
interest in those whose paths crossed his to provide mentoring, support, and
guidance; each becoming part of his professional family. He spent nearly
all of his professional career at Boston City Hospital and Boston Medical Center
(BMC) following in the footsteps of his mentor, Dr. Maxwell Finland. He
took exceptional pride in being able to care for his patients, to teach his
medical students, residents and fellows and in being a role model for subsequent
generations of physicians. He was especially generous in giving of his
time and knowledge to provide guidance for many of us throughout our careers.
Dr Klein had a national and international reputation as educator and
scholar and was the recipient of the Distinguished Physician Award of the
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the Bristol Award for Distinguished
Achievement of the IDSA, Clinician of the Year Award of the Massachusetts ID
Society, Lifetime Achievement Award for Clinical Research of the Society of Ear,
Nose and Throat Advances in Children, and the Maxwell Finland Award for
Scientific Achievement from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases,
just to name a select few.
Dr. Klein was active in a number of organizations, including the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
(PIDS), and the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). He was
Editor of the 1982 Red Book of the AAP, and was Treasurer of the IDSA. He
also was a member of other major leadership committees, particularly the
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the National Vaccine Advisory
Committee of the US Department of Health and Human Services. He was a
member of the Executive Committees of IDSA and PIDS. Dr. Klein was
also an associate editor of major scientific journals, specifically Clinical
Infectious Disease Journal and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.
He had more than 500 publications including peer-reviewed manuscripts, book
chapters and books on important topics such as infection in the newborn, otitis
media, bacteremia, bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, Haemophilus influenzae and
antimicrobial therapy. He co-authored a sentinel book, namely
Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infants.
Dr. Klein earned his medical degree from Yale University in 1956 and
completed his internship in Minneapolis. He then served as a Senior
Assistant Surgeon for the CDC before completing his residency training at Boston
City Hospital in 1961. He remained at Boston City Hospital, under the
tutelage of Dr. Maxwell Finland, first as a Research Fellow in Infectious
Diseases, Visiting Physician, and Associate Director in Pediatrics, until being
named to the Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in 1977 at BUSM. A
position he held until 1996. He also was a lecturer at Harvard Medical
School. Dr. Klein became an Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics at BUSM when
he retired in 2017.
In 2011, to honor his legacy and many contributions to Boston City
Hospital and Boston Medical Center, the Jerome Klein Award for Physician
Excellence was established. This award is presented annually to a
physician who shares Dr. Klein’s attributes, commitment and dedication as an
outstanding mentor, clinician and/or physician scientist, leader and supportive
of colleagues and trainees. Dr. Klein was very well respected by his
colleagues – his work family! He was genuine, kind and truly an
inspiration. He was the eternal optimist. He lived his life to the
fullest and will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him
