Palazzi Named Chair of Pediatrics at UT Health Sciences, Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children’s

Debra L. Palazzi, MD, MEd, has been named the Dunavant Chair of Pediatrics at UT Health Science Center's College of Medicine and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. She will begin her new roles on July 1, 2026

A nationally recognized leader in pediatric infectious diseases, Dr. Palazzi has dedicated her career to advancing clinical care, championing medical education and promoting scientific inquiry to benefit the care of children. Dr. Palazzi has demonstrated sustained professional leadership at the institutional and national levels, contributing to the growth and direction of the pediatric infectious diseases community. She currently serves as a professor of Pediatrics and division chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, and president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

Dr. Palazzi attended Princeton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in molecular biology. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, followed by a pediatric residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. She completed her pediatric infectious diseases fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, and later earned a Master of Education with an emphasis in the Health Sciences from the University of Houston.

At Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Dr. Palazzi has been recognized with numerous honors, including multiple institutional teaching awards, the Star Award for Excellence in Patient Care and the Master Clinician Award. Dr. Palazzi's passion for education extends nationally through her many editorial and teaching roles. She serves as the editor of the American Academy of Pediatric's "Nelson's Pediatric Antimicrobial Therapy," a key reference guiding evidence-based antimicrobial use in children. She is also associate editor for JAMA Pediatrics, the top-ranked journal in child health, where she helps shape the dissemination of high-impact research and scholarship affecting children. Dr. Palazzi's research interests focus on diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship with the goal of improving patient outcomes, while reducing unnecessary antimicrobial exposure.

"Dr. Palazzi is an academic physician and leader, whose work has always been grounded in service to children and families," said Michael B. Hocker, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine at UT Health Science Center. "In this role, she will serve our College of Medicine by strengthening pediatric education, clinical care, and discovery for children across our region and state. Her experience, humility, and collaborative nature make her the right leader for this moment and for the partnerships we share with Le Bonheur and St. Jude."

Dr. Hocker also expressed thanks to Terri Finkel, MD, PhD, for her leadership as interim chair of Pediatrics. "Her steady guidance, commitment to the department, and service during this transition have been appreciated," he said.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Deb Palazzi as our new chair of Pediatrics/Pediatrician-in-Chief. Her outstanding leadership, deep commitment to exceptional clinical care and passion for advancing research make her an extraordinary choice to guide our program forward," said Trey Eubanks,MD, president of Le Bonheur, the primary pediatric partner hospital for UT Health Sciences. "Having helped drive phenomenal growth at Texas Children's Hospital, she brings a proven record of building strong teams and inspiring collaboration and we are excited for the energy, vision and excellence she will bring to our entire pediatric community."

"Dr. Palazzi will further strengthen the long-standing partnership between St. Jude and Le Bonheur," said James R. Downing, MD, president and CEO of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are excited about welcoming her to Memphis and the continued collaboration between our two great organizations in the care of children in Memphis and beyond."

"There is a shared, deeply mission-driven commitment across UT Health Science Center, Le Bonheur, and St. Jude to improving the lives of children, not just locally but nationally and globally," Dr. Palazzi said. "The strength of the academic mission, the collaborative spirit and the extraordinary partnership with St. Jude create a rare environment where clinical excellence, education, research, and advocacy truly reinforce one another."

Building on the strong foundations of UT Health Science Center and Le Bonheur, Dr. Palazzi looks forward to advancing care for children and families.

"I see tremendous potential for growth and impact. Le Bonheur and UT Health Science Center are already home to strong and growing programs across pediatric subspecialties, including neonatal and critical care, cardiology, neurosciences, emergency medicine and population and community health," Dr. Palazzi said. "Looking ahead, I am excited about expanding these programs, strengthening advocacy and community health efforts across the Mid-South, and further deepening the partnership with St. Jude to accelerate discovery, translate research into practice and improve outcomes for children everywhere."