Harold A. Kessler, MD
Professor of Medicine and Immunology/Microbiology
Section of Infectious Diseases
Rush Medical College
Associate Director, Section of Infectious Diseases
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

Research, Lecture, and Writing Topics

• HIV postexposure prophylaxis
• Complications of antiretroviral therapy
• Characterization of partially suppressive antiretroviral therapy responses
• Initiation of antiretroviral therapy
  
  
  

Current Professional Summary

Dr Kessler is Senior Attending Physician at Rush University Medical Center and John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago. He is Associate Director, Section of Infectious Diseases, and Director of the HIV Treatment Program at Rush. Dr Kessler teaches virology and pharmacology. His research interests include HIV postexposure prophylaxis, clinical trials for HIV therapy, complications of HIV therapy, and immune reconstitution.


Committees and Organizations

• Member, Board of Directors, IAS–USA (1994–2001)
• Member, CMV Guidelines Panel, IAS–USA
• The CORE Foundation for Patient Care, Education and Research of the Infectious Diseases Board of Directors (1995–)
  
  
  

Honors and Awards

• Distinguished Alumnus Award, Rush Medical College (1994)
• Alpha Omega Alpha
• James A. Campbell Alumni Service Award, Rush Medical College (1991)
• Outstanding Medical Intern, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center (1974–1975)
• Fellowship Award, Pillsbury Trust (1979–1980)
  
  
  

Education

• University of Illinois, BS in Biology (1971)
• Rush Medical College, MD (1974)
• Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Residency in Internal Medicine (1974–1977)
• Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Fellowship in Infectious Diseases (1977–1979)
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Reseach Fellowship in Virology (1979–1980)
  
  
  

Selected Publications

1. Talwani R, Falusi OM, Mendes de Leon CF, Nerad J, Rich S, Proia LA, Sha BE, Smith KY, Kessler HA. Electron beam computed tomography for assessment of coronary artery disease in HIV-infected men receiving antiretroviral therapy. J Acquir Immun Defic Syndr. 2002;30:191-195.
2. Smith KY, Kumar S, Pulivirenti JJ, Gianesin MA, Kessler HA, Landay A. CCR5 and CXCR4 expression after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). J Acquir Immun Def Syndr. 2002;30:458-460.
3. Feluridor R, Wilson B, Hou R, Landay A, Kessler H, Al-Harthi L. CD1d-restricted natural killer cells are potent targets for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Immunology. 2003;108:1-8.
4. Sanne I, Piliero P, Squires K, Thiry A, Schnittman S, for the AI424-007 Clinical Trial Group. Results of a phase 2 clinical trial at 48 weeks (AI424-007): a dose-ranging, safety, and efficacy comparative trial of atazanavir at three doses in combination with didanosine and stavudine in antiretroviral-naive subjects. J Acquir Immun Defic Sundr. 2003;32:18-29.
5. Landay AL, Spritzler J, Kessler H, Mildvan D, Pu M, Fox L, Kuritzkes D, Lederman MM, for the ACTG 5014 Team. Immune reconstruction is similar in antiretroviral (ARV) naive subjects following 1 year of therapy with a nuceloside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) or protease inhibitor (PI) containing ARV regimen. J Infect Dis. 2003;188:1444-1454.
6. Erice A, Tierney C, Hirsch M, Caliendo AM, Weinberg A, Kendall MA, Polsky B, for the AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 360 Study Team. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden, CMV end-organ disease, and survival in subjects with advanced HIV infection (AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 360). Clin Infect Dis. 2003;188:625-634.
7. Fischl MA, Ribaudo HJ, Collier AC, Erice A, Giuliano M, Dehlinger M, Eron JJ, Saag MS, Hammer SM, Vella S, Morse GD, Feinberg JE, for the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group 388 Study Team. A randomized trial of 2 different 4-drug antiretroviral regimens verus a 3-drug regimen, in advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease. J Infect Dis. 2003;188:625-634.
8. Eron JJ, Feinberg J, Kessler HA, Horowitz W, Witt MD, Carpio FF, Wheeler DA, Ruane P, Mildvan D, Yangco BG, Bertz R, Bernstein B, King MS, Sun E. Once-daily vs. twice-daily lopinavir/ritonavir in antiretroviral-naive HIV+ patients. J Infect Dis. 2004;189:265-272.
9. Tenorio AR, Smith KY, Kuritzkes DR, Sha BE, Donoval B, Young R, Jennings C, Breme J, Shott S, Landay A, Kessler HA. HIV-1-infected antiretroviral-treated patients with prolonged partial suppression; clinical, virologic, and immunologic course. J Acquir Immun Defic Syndr. 2003;34:491-496.
10. Robbins GK, De Gruttola V, Snyder SW, D'Acquila RT, Johnson VA, Morse GD, Martinez AI, Gripshover BM, Kaul P, Haubrich R, Swingle M, McCarty SD, Vella S, Hirsch MS, Merigan TC, for the AIDS Clinical Trials Group 384 Team. Comparison of four-drug regimens and paris of sequential three-drug regimens as initial therapy for HIV-1 infection. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2304-2315.