“Working with David has been an awe inspiring experience. To witness his passion and commitment to assisting and supporting grieving college students nationally is not only a testament of his character, but also a reflection of his aptitude and of his extraordinary virtue in serving others. David's uncompromising vision and determination to make an impact in the lives of others will have a prodigious effect for generations to come. It is an honor to serve in collaboration with such a notable individual.”
David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
11K followers
500+ connections
About
David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, is a physician-scientist at the University of…
Contributions
Activity
Experience
Education
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University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
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- Founder/President of Penn Students of AMF
- Gamble Scholar: 21st Century Scholarship
- Developed initial Strategic Planning document for Penn Orphan Disease Center in collaboration with 46 global experts -
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- Irwin D. Mandel Wharton Fellow
- Kissick Scholar
- Robert D. Eilers Memorial Award (Health Care Management Program)
- World Economic Forum "Global Shaper"
- Joseph Wharton Award
- Core Value Leadership Award
- Student Commencement Speaker -
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- Joseph L. Albritton Scholar
- Brasenose College Crew
- Varsity American Football -
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- John Carroll Fellow
- Student Governor, Board of Governors
- Founder/President of Students of AMF
- Varsity Football
- Dean's Award
- Student Commencement Speaker, NHS
Publications
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Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race To Turn Hope Into Action
Ballantine/Penguin Random House
The powerful memoir of a young doctor and former college athlete diagnosed with a rare disease who spearheaded the search for a cure—and became a champion for a new approach to medical research.
David Fajgenbaum was a former Georgetown quarterback nicknamed the Beast, where he was also known for his unmatched mental stamina. But things changed dramatically when he began suffering from inexplicable fatigue. In a matter of weeks, his organs were failing and he was read his last rites…The powerful memoir of a young doctor and former college athlete diagnosed with a rare disease who spearheaded the search for a cure—and became a champion for a new approach to medical research.
David Fajgenbaum was a former Georgetown quarterback nicknamed the Beast, where he was also known for his unmatched mental stamina. But things changed dramatically when he began suffering from inexplicable fatigue. In a matter of weeks, his organs were failing and he was read his last rites. Doctors were baffled by his condition, which they had yet to even diagnose. Floating in and out of consciousness, Fajgenbaum prayed for the equivalent of a game day overtime: a second chance.
Miraculously, Fajgenbaum survived—only to endure repeated near-death relapses from what would eventually be identified as a form of Castleman disease, an extremely deadly and rare condition that acts like a cross between cancer and an autoimmune disorder. When he relapsed while on the only drug in development and realized that the medical community was unlikely to make progress in time to save his life, Fajgenbaum turned his desperate hope for a cure into concrete action: Between hospitalizations he studied his own charts and tested his own blood samples, looking for clues that could unlock a new treatment. In parallel, he came up with an ambitious plan to crowdsource the most promising research questions and recruit world-class researchers to tackle them. Instead of waiting for the scientific stars to align, he would attempt to align them himself.
More than five years later and now married to his college sweetheart, Fajgenbaum has seen his hard work pay off: A treatment that he identified has induced a tentative remission and his novel approach to collaborative scientific inquiry has become a blueprint for advancing rare disease research. His incredible story demonstrates the potency of hope, and what can happen when the forces of determination, love, family, faith, and serendipity collide. -
We Get It: Voices of Grieving College Students & Young Adults
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Servaty-Seib & Fajgenbaum recently co-authored a book for grieving college students and young adults (Jessica Kingsley Publishers). A unique collection of 33 narratives by bereaved students and young adults, this books aims to help young adults who are grieving and provide guidance for those who seek to support them.
Other authorsSee publication
Honors & Awards
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Excellence in Research and Patient Advocacy Award
National Disease Research Interchange
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Atlas Award
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia
Received the 2016 Atlas Award along with then Vice President Joe Biden
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30 Under 30
Forbes Magazine
Healthcare category
Recommendations received
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