(February 11, 2008 - Chicago, IL) Dr. Joshua J. Jacobs has been named chairperson of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center. Jacobs succeeds Dr. Gunnar B.J. Andersson.

"Dr. Jacobs brings a rare combination of clinical, academic, and administrative experience to the position of department chairperson, and he is certain to continue the culture of outstanding leadership that has characterized the department of Orthopaedic Surgery since the inception of Rush Medical College," says Dr. Thomas A. Deutsch, dean, Rush Medical College and provost of Rush University.

Jacobs is currently involved in several research studies supported by the National Institutes of Health focusing on the biocompatibility, wear and corrosion of implanted joint prostheses. He has been a faculty member at Rush since 1987, and currently is the Crown Family Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also serves as associate chairman for academic programs in the department, and associate dean for research development in the college.

He has served in leadership positions in numerous medical societies and national committees including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association, the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIH) Advisory Council, the American Society for Testing and Materials International and the Orthopaedic Research Society, of which he recently served as president. Jacobs has presented on this topic extensively throughout the world and has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, over 30 book chapters and two books.

Jacobs received his bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University and his doctorate in medicine from the University of Illinois. Jacobs was an orthopaedic surgery resident at the Combined Harvard Program, a chief resident at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and was a fellow in Joint Replacement Surgery at Rush.