Joe Leigh Simpson MD, FACOG, FACMG, FRCOG

Joe Leigh Simpson, M.D., FACOG, FACMG, FRCOG, received his undergraduate and medical education at Duke University (M.D., 1968) and postgraduate training at Cornell University Medical College (New York City). Academic positions have included: Professor at Northwestern University (1975-1986), Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Memphis (1986-1994), Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine (1994-2006), and Professor and Founding Executive Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Florida International University, College of Medicine (2007-2011). He served as Senior Vice President for Research and Global programs, March of Dimes, (MOD) (2012-2018).  He remained Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics/ Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Florida International University throughout time at March of Dimes.

During the time he was on leave of absence from FIU, Dr. Simpson oversaw the MOD programs for conference support and individual investigator proposals. He developed a $60M program involving six prematurity research centers dedicated to discovering the causes of labor and, hence, preterm labor. Each center was chosen for its prowess in a given domain of discovery research and its ability to pursue collaborative investigations with other centers. Major discoveries have been made in genes associated with preterm birth, microbiome, fetal gene expression patterns during gestation, gene regulation, and uterine pacemaker functions.

Dr. Simpson has contributed to many aspects of reproductive genetics, prenatal genetic diagnosis, and birth defects. He is certified in Medical Genetics as well as in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has written over 800 articles and chapters. His major books include seven editions as co-editor of Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies and three editions of Genetics in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has received research funding from NICHD, March of Dimes, USAID, and the Department of Defense.

Dr. Simpson has served in leadership roles for numerous grant review panels, prestigious national and international committees, and many professional organizations. He has been President of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the International Society of Prenatal Diagnosis, and Society for Gynecologic Investigation, the American College of Medical Genetics, and the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis International Society. He has been a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences since 1994.

Simpson is active in many global initiations, especially in organizations in official relations with the World Health Organization. As immediate Past President of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Dr. Simpson is Chair of the Scientific Committee for the 23rd IFFS World Congress (Shanghai, April 11-14, 2019).