Michael Pichichero

Michael E. Pichichero
Residence Brighton, Monroe County, New York[1]
Fields Pediatrics, toxicology
Institutions University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute
Alma mater University of Rochester School of Medicine
Known for Thimerosal controversy
Notable awards Breese Award for Outstanding Contribution to Clinical Research, Teaching and Practice, 2005

Michael E. Pichichero, MD is Director, Rochester General Hospital Research Institute; Research Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology; and a clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.[2] He is the author of a number of scientific studies regarding the safety of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines.

Biography

Pichichero received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, and his medical degree from the University of Rochester.[1] He did post graduate training at the University of Colorado, Denver. He completed fellowships in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the University of Rochester, NY

Scientific career

Pichichero's studies say that ethylmercury, the metabolite of thimerosal, is rapidly metabolized and excreted after administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines, as well as that administration thereof does not raise blood mercury levels above the EPA's lower limit. In addition, his research has concluded that ethylmercury is metabolized about six times as fast as methylmercury (the kind of mercury found in fish), and that the former has a blood half-life of about 3.7 days whereas the latter has a half-life of 44 days.[3] His research says that after children receive a vaccine with thimerosal in it, their blood mercury levels return to normal within only a month.[4][5]

Pichichero has written a textbook about streptococcal pharyngitis.[6] A board-certified immunologist, he was on the team of scientists at the University of Rochester who invented the Hib vaccine.[7] His more recent research, however, has focused on ear infections and their treatment with antibiotics.[8]

Selected publications

References

  1. 1 2 "Meet our Doctors". Legacy Pediatrics. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. "Michael E. Pichichero". University of Rochester Medical Center. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. Barclay, Laurie (3 December 2002). "Mercury in Vaccines: A Newsmaker Interview With Michael E. Pichichero, MD". Medscape. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  4. Johnson, Carla K. (31 January 2008). "Study: Mercury fades quickly from blood". USA Today. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. Reinberg, Steven (23 March 2008). "Mercury in Childhood Vaccines Excreted Quickly". ABC News. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. Pichichero, Michael (2007). Clinical Management of Streptococcal Pharyngitis. Professional Communications.
  7. "Our Researchers". Rochester General Health System. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  8. Dooren, Jennifer (17 October 2007). "Ear Bacteria Resist Treatment". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.