03/26/2026
BOOM, there it is! (another retirement 😿)
Celebrating W. Henry Boom, MD, FIDSA
A Message for UH Physicians and CMC Caregivers from Ighovwerha Ofotokun, MD, MSc, Chair, Department of Medicine, Physician-in-Chief; Daniel I. Simon, MD, President, Academic & External Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer, Ernie and Patti Novak Distinguished Chair in Health Care Leadership; and Nicole Maronian, MD, President, UHMG, Carol and Arthur F. Anton Chair in Physician Leadership
After many years of distinguished leadership as Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, W. Henry Boom, MD, will be stepping down from this role later this year. He will continue to serve as Division Chief through the transition period to ensure continuity of clinical operations, research programs, and educational initiatives until a successor is identified.
Dr. Boom has served as Chief of the Division since 2017 and has held multiple senior leadership roles within the Department of Medicine, including Vice Chair for Research. As the Scott R. Inkley Chair in General Internal Medicine at University Hospitals and Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Case Western Reserve University, he has built a career defined by sustained excellence in clinical care, scientific discovery, mentorship and global engagement.
An internationally recognized physician-scientist in tuberculosis immunology, Dr. Boom has led, for more than two decades, a multidisciplinary NIH-, CDC-, and Gates Foundation-funded research program focused on understanding the human immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). His work has advanced understanding of the molecular and cellular diversity of T-cell responses to TB and the mechanisms by which Mtb evades host immunity. He was the first to define a cohort of highly exposed individuals who do not develop classic latent TB infection, so-called “resisters,” opening a new field of investigation with important implications for vaccine development and disease prevention.
Since 1999, Dr. Boom has directed the Tuberculosis Research Unit (TBRU) and has served as lead Principal Investigator of the Uganda-CWRU Research Collaboration, a long-standing and highly productive international partnership that supports clinical trials infrastructure, epidemiologic research, and advanced laboratory capacity in tuberculosis and HIV. Under his leadership, the TBRU identified biomarkers for TB diagnosis and treatment response, host determinants of resistance and susceptibility, and immune mechanisms relevant to vaccine development.
Dr. Boom’s research accomplishments are matched by his longstanding commitment to training and mentorship. He has served as Program Director or Co-Director of NIH-funded T32 training grants since 1994 and has led Fogarty International Center D43 training grants since 2014. Through these efforts, he has trained and mentored a generation of physician-scientists and basic investigators in the United States and internationally. His trainees now hold leadership positions in academic medicine, research institutions, and global health organizations around the world.
In addition to his research and training leadership, Dr. Boom has played an important role in national and international scientific advisory efforts, NIH study sections, and editorial boards. He is an elected Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a member of the American Association of Physicians, reflecting peer recognition of his sustained scientific and academic impact.
Within the Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Dr. Boom oversaw continued growth in clinical programs, strengthened fellowship education, and supported expansion of translational and global research initiatives. His tenure has reinforced the Division’s reputation for excellence in complex infectious diseases care, HIV medicine, antimicrobial stewardship, global health partnerships, and research innovation.
A national search has been initiated through an external search firm to identify the next Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine. The search committee will be chaired by Frank Jacono, MD. We are confident this process will identify a leader who will build upon the Division’s strong foundation in clinical care, research, and education.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Boom for his exemplary leadership, sustained scientific contributions, and steadfast commitment to the missions of University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University. We look forward to his continued engagement as a faculty leader, investigator, mentor, and global health partner.
