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November 13, 2023 / 2023 Connecticut's Healthcare Heroes Awards

2023 Healthcare Hero: Dr. Jeffrey S. Hyams

Dr. Jeffrey S. Hyams, Connecticut Children’s Division of Digestive Diseases Return to the honorees homepage
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Winner Category | Advancement in Healthcare - Innovation

Dr. Jeffrey Hyams is one of the world’s leading experts in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). He has led clinical trials of biological agents in children with IBD.

As a co-author of 400 scientific papers, he has received numerous awards for his research and teaching, and has worked with the Food and Drug Administration developing endpoints for pediatric clinical trials.

What have been your significant contributions to your organization in the past year?

The National Institutes of Health awarded me a $14 million, five-year grant to investigate the triggers behind the chronic intestinal inflammation seen in Crohn’s disease, and why some children respond quickly to current therapies and others do not.

This research grant is the largest grant awarded to Connecticut Children’s in its history, and it will help doctors nationally to collect substantial data on pediatric Crohn’s disease patients that will improve understanding of the pronounced variability in treatment response.

My colleagues and I from children’s hospitals across the U.S. hope to one day match specific therapies to the biology of each newly diagnosed pediatric patient.

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Tell us about a challenge in your job that you were able to overcome.

Trying to organize and start a 26-center, $14 million NIH trial has been extremely challenging. With a fixed budget and limited time, we’ve had to work with leading pediatric centers in North America to come onboard.

I have personal relationships dating back more than 20 years with colleagues around North America, which has helped considerably.

What’s your next major goal and/or challenge?

It is all about research. It is all about finding better and safer ways to return children to health. Unfortunately, securing the financial support to do this is very challenging.

Personal Side

Favorite way to relax: Watching sports (huge Yankees fan!)

Hobbies: Reading military history

Favorite movie: “Field of Dreams”

Currently reading: “The Long Gray Line,” by Rick Atkinson

Favorite cause: Food America

Fun fact: First career choice was center fielder for the New York Yankees, but lack of baseball talent drove me to medical school.

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