Robert D. Burk

Robert D. Burk, MD, is a Professor and Vice Chair of Translational Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with joint appointments in Pediatrics, Genetic Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, Epidemiology & Population Health, and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women’s Health. He serves as an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein, focusing clinically on cancer genetics and inherited cancer risk.

Dr. Burk earned his Doctor of Medicine from George Washington University School of Medicine (1976), completed a surgical internship at UCSF (1977), a pediatric residency at UCSF (1980), and a medical genetics fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1983). He was a Senior Research Fellow in molecular virology at Einstein (1983-1984).

His research integrates molecular epidemiology, virology, and microbiome science, with emphases on:

• HPV genomics and cervical carcinogenesis
• Microbiome-disease interactions (diabetes, CVD, cancer)
• Metabolomic drivers of cardiometabolic disorders
• Health disparities in Hispanic/Latino populations

Publication analysis reveals consistent themes:

• Multi-omics investigations of gut microbiome in chronic diseases
• HPV genotyping linked to glandular cervical lesions
• Diet-metabolite-microbiota interactions in diabetes
• Ethnic-specific disease mechanisms

Major scientific honors:

• Honorary Alumnus Award (Einstein, 2013)
• Saul R. Korey Award in Translational Science (2013)
• Elected AAAS Fellow (2015)

Dr. Burk leads large epidemiological cohort studies (e.g., Hispanic Community Health Study) investigating microbiome-metabolome-disease relationships. He maintains collaborations with virology, oncology, and public health teams.