The infectious diseases expert will lead the medical school’s largest department

Tampa, FL (Nov. 28, 2012) – John T. Sinnott, MD, the James P. Cullison Professor of Medicine, has been appointed chair of Department of Internal Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.  Dr. Sinnott has served as Director of the college’s Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, and as the Associate Dean of USF Medicine International.  His new leadership role begins Dec. 1. 

 Dr. Sinnott is the third chair in the history of USF’s Department of Internal Medicine, the medical school’s largest department. He succeeds Allan Goldman, who served as chair for 18 years and is now the associate dean of graduate medical education, and Roy Behnke, the founding chair in 1972.

Dr. John T. Sinnott

 “Dr. Sinnott has led our Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine into an internationally recognized powerhouse,” said Stephen Klasko, MD, CEO of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.   “He is a veteran, valued and creative leader who will work with faculty to develop a vision and strategic plan for a department he describes as ‘nutrient-rich and primed to lead in medicine, research and education.’”

 “Technological advances in medicine are outstripping its humanity while business models are dramatically changing our practices,” Dr. Sinnott said. “I hope to inspire the Department of Internal Medicine to meet these challenges and synthesize a new model — a patient-centered academic department, where energized faculty conduct research, teach students and deliver outstanding care.”

Dr. Sinnott’s accomplishments across his nearly 30 years at USF include:

–          Long-regarded as a master clinician, he has trained 96 infectious disease subspecialists and countless medical and graduate students.

–          He has assembled an extensive network linking USF and the public health departments in Hillsborough and Polk Counties as well as with the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories in Tampa.  His work led to a nationally-recognized model for academicians working with health departments.

–          A federally-funded researcher, he is the principal investigator for a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant. This grant evaluates and provides technical assistance to 30 sites across the U.S. serving HIV patients co-infected with hepatitis C. It also explores optimal treatment regimens and provides alternative approaches to care for resource-poor areas.

–          His interest in innovative education spurred him to forge partnerships with training programs worldwide, including in India, China, Thailand, Colombia and Panama. These successful collaborations have yielded numerous exchanges between USF and global partners, as well as grant-funded activities in India and China.

–          Under his tenure as Division Director, USF has been at the forefront of biodefense and initiatives in response to emerging infectious diseases threatening Floridians and visitors to the state.  The Division has grown from three to 17 faculty members.  Fellowships have increased from two to 10 trainees.

–          A proponent of integrating healthcare education and technology, Dr. Sinnott worked with Dr. Richard Oehler to develop IDPodcasts.net, a premiere infectious diseases learning resource on the web, and other mobile device applications for clinicians and students.  Most recently, Dr. Sinnott created the content for USF’s first commercial app available on iTunes, MD Stats, a tool for medical students to interactively learn the basics of medical statistics.

Dr. Sinnott succeeds Dr. Allan Goldman, right, as chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. He is the third chair in the history of the USF medical school’s largest department.

Dr. Sinnott is co-director of the USF Health Signature Interdisciplinary Research Program in Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Disease. Over the years, he has served as chief of medicine, vice chief of staff, and the first university physician ever elected chief of staff at Tampa General Hospital.

After Dr. Sinnott was selected “Most Outstanding Clinical Professor” by students for six consecutive years, the competitive prize was retired and renamed the “John Sinnott Award for Outstanding Clinical Professor.” 

He has received numerous other awards from local to international levels. These include the Florida Medical Association Award for Leadership in Medical Education, the NBI Award for Humanism in Medicine, the Leadership Florida Distinguished Member Award, the Florida HIV/AIDS Red Ribbon Excellence Award, and, recently, the 2011 Healthcare Educator of the Year Award by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. He was inducted into the Leon G. Smith Infectious Disease Institute Hall Of Fame, has been a finalist for the Association of American Medical Colleges Humanism in Medicine award, and is consistently listed among The Best Doctors in America. He has been recognized for his global medicine achievements by the princess of Thailand and by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Maharashtra India.

Dr. Sinnott received his master’s degree in microbiology from USF and a MD degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in infectious diseases and tropical medicine at USF before joining the university’s Division of Infectious Diseases as a faculty member in 1983.

 Board certified in both medicine and infectious diseases, Dr. Sinnott is a fellow of the American College of Physicians.  He has published more than 180 abstracts, articles and textbook chapters, many with students and trainees.

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications 
(813) 974-3303 or abaier@health.usf.edu