Richard A. Kahn, PhD, is the Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of the American Diabetes Association. 

        Dr. Kahn is responsible for all scientific and medical affairs of the Association.  He oversees the professional education activities, consisting of many clinical conferences and symposia, research conferences, and the largest diabetes-related clinical and scientific meeting in the world--the annual Scientific Sessions.  Dr. Kahn also manages the development of clinical practice guidelines and clinical consensus statements which provide guidance and direction to health care professionals around the world who deliver diabetes care.  His responsibilities include the Association’s research program, which awards nearly $45 million of support annually to both basic and clinical scientists nationwide.  In addition, Dr. Kahn provides senior staff direction for the many professional books and journals produced by the Association.  Finally, he oversees two professional certification programs--the Diabetes Education Recognition Program and Diabetes Physician Recognition Program.

        Prior to joining the American Diabetes Association in 1985, Dr. Kahn was Chief of Scientific Affairs for the American Red Cross in Saint Louis, Missouri, and an Associate Professor of Pathology at Washington University.  In these positions he established the first Tissue Bank in the Red Cross System and directed a large research laboratory concerned with the pathophysiology of blood cells and the prevention of transfusion-transmitted diseases.

        Dr. Kahn received his doctorate in physiology from Georgetown University and has published over 50 original research reports as well as numerous book chapters.  He has received many awards, honors, and invited lectureships and is a member of a variety of professional organizations.