Barry J. Materson, MD, MBA

 

Doctor Materson received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Miami and the majority of his specialty (Internal Medicine) and subspecialty (Nephrology) training at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami. His early research was in measurement of glomerular filtration rate and the use of diuretic agents for treatment of edema in patients with decompensated hepatic cirrhosis. He published data on the use of low-dose chlorthalidone. His interest in diuretics led to studies with new diuretic agents and their application to treatment of hypertension. This work provided a natural segue to the study of other antihypertensive agents. He had the opportunity to work closely with Drs. Eliseo Perez-Stable and Edward D. Freis and became involved with the Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents. He has contributed to the concepts of the use of lower doses of antihypertensive agents, particularly diuretics, captopril and atenolol, individualization of antihypertensive drug therapy and combination therapy. He has over 190 published papers and over 30 book chapters. He was appointed to the Executive Committee that developed and published the JNC-7 guidelines. He is a tenured professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Presentation of the results of his research and invited lectures has lead to extensive national and international travel. He chaired the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee at the Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center for 14 years and the P&T Committee at the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics for another 10 years.

After 28 years with the Miami VA Medical Center, most recently as Associate Chief of Staff for Education, he joined the Department of Business Development at the University of Miami as Medical Director for Managed Care, University of Miami Medical Group. He was the Medical Director of UM Health Trust, the University of Miami's medical network, and was the Medical Director for UM Care, the University of Miami’s self-insured health plan. In January 2003, he was appointed Director of the Self-Insurance Program and Corporate Representative of the University of Miami School of Medicine. His present administrative assignment is as Physician Liaison, Office of Patient Protection and Risk Prevention. He continues to be involved in research, teaching, administration, risk avoidance education, and patient care.

He and his wife, Biruta Donins Materson, have two daughters and five grandchildren.