Carilion Biomedical Institute Names Medical Director

Andre Muelenaer, Jr., M.D. brings clinical expertise to research development.

ROANOKE, Va. (January 24, 2002)—The Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI) has named Dr. Andre Muelenaer, Jr. Medical Director. Muelenaer, a pediatric pulmonologist, is known throughout western Virginia for his private medical practice and work with the Carilion Pediatric Asthma Clinic. For more than a decade, families from North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia have traveled to his practice in Roanoke to seek treatment for their children.

"Andy’s extensive background in medicine and research gives him the unique ability to facilitate communication between the business community, researchers and physicians," said Dr. Dennis Fisher, president and chief executive officer, Carilion Biomedical Institute. "By understanding the challenges doctors face in meeting the needs of their patients and the problems research scientists face daily, Andy is able to assist the teams in finding creative solutions which will result in bringing innovative healthcare products to market more quickly."

"In working with the dedicated researchers at our partner universities, I have the opportunity to share with them the vision of how their research could be used in a hospital or doctor’s office," said Muelenaer. "The ability to maintain close communication with the university research teams from the earliest stages of research creates a shared vision that moves these projects forward."

Muelenaer holds a B.S. in biology and M.S. in zoology from Virginia Tech. He earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, completed his residency in pediatrics at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas, and completed a fellowship in pediatric pulmonology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Before coming to Roanoke in 1991, he was acting chief in pediatric pulmonology at Duke University Medical Center and was center director at the Duke University Cystic Fibrosis Center. He currently serves as director of Pediatric Pulmonology for the Carilion Medical Center for Children at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital. He holds teaching faculty appointments at the University of Virginia and Radford University. In addition, he is also a Lt. Colonel with the Medical Corps 5502^nd US Army Hospital.

Muelenaer is active in the community serving as medical advisor and board member of Child Health Investment Project of Roanoke Valley (CHIP). He also is a board member of the American Lung Association of Virginia and the Roanoke Area Asthma/Air Pollution Coalition.

The Carilion Biomedical Institute is a private, nonprofit organization. CBI’s core partners are the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Carilion Health System. The Institute exists to accelerate research in life sciences, biomedical science and engineering, to create economic development opportunities in western and central Virginia, and to improve the health of individuals worldwide.

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