Dr. L. Maximilian Buja, joined The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston faculty in 1989, and is a former executive vice president for Academic Affairs. Internationally recognized for his research in cardiovascular pathology, he is author of over 240 research articles, 150 book chapters, and two books in his scientific field. Buja served as dean of the UT Medical School at Houston from 1996 to 2003.
As the former chair of the Department of Pathology at the Medical School (1989–96), Buja held the Distinguished Chair in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. In 2000, he was named dean and the H. Wayne Hightower Distinguished Professor in the Medical Sciences.
Buja earned a bachelor of science degree in biology, graduating magna cum laude from Loyola University of the South in 1964. In 1967, he earned an medical degree with honors from Tulane University School of Medicine. In 1968, he received a master’s of science degree in anatomy from Tulane’s graduate school.
Buja served a medicine internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans from 1967–68. From 1968–70, he was a staff associate in the pathology section of the National Heart and Lung Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. From 1970–72, he was a resident in pathology with the National Cancer Institute, and from 1972–74 a senior investigator at the National Heart and Lung Institute. He was certified in anatomic pathology by the American Board of Pathology in 1972 and re-certified in 1997.
In 1974, Buja joined The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School as an assistant professor in pathology. By 1981, he was appointed a professor of pathology and was selected to hold the school’s A. J. Gill Professorship of Pathology.
Buja is a member of numerous scientific societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Heart Association, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society for Investigative Pathology, International Academy of Pathology, Society for Cardiovascular Pathology, and International Society for Heart Research. He also holds membership in the American College of Cardiology (Fellow), American Society of Clinical Pathologists, College of American Pathologists, Texas Society of Pathologists, and Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists. He is a member of the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Association.
Buja also holds an appointment as chief of Cardiovascular Pathology Research at Texas Heart Institute.
In April 1997, Buja received the Harlan J. Spjut Award presented by the Houston Society of Clinical Pathologists. He was also elected to the rank of Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1997. In 1998, he received the Award of Merit from the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology.