Joe Leigh Simpson, MD

Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Simpson serves as professor and Ernst W. Bertner chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where is also professor in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.  He is president of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, past president of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis, the Society for the Advancement of Contraception and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

His major research interests are prenatal genetic diagnosis, genetics of the disorders of sexual differentiation, and elucidating causes of birth defects. Dr. Simpson has authored over five hundred articles and chapters, and fifteen books. In addition to serving on KS&A’s Scientific Advisory Committee, he continues to serve on a variety of editorial boards including the American Journal of Medical Genetics, the American Journal of Perinatology, Contemporary OB/GYN, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Journal of Prenatal and Neonatal Medicine, OB/GYN Survey, Prenatal Diagnosis, Reproductive Toxicology, Reproductive Medicine Journal, and Human Reproduction Update.

Dr. Simpson fulfills a host of national and international speaking obligations and committee assignments. He chaired a World Health Organization Task Force on Non-Invasive Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis (World Health Organization Bulletin) and served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Institutes of Child Health and Development and advisory boards of various other organizations. He is a member of the National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine.  Dr. Simpson has held research grants for the March of Dines, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Simpson received his Doctor of Medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine and was a Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The New York Hospital.  He also was a Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cornell University Medical College.