Richard S. Legro, M.D.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complicated disorder, and the etiology and treatment choices remain controversial. In this issue of Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Richard S. Legro, M.D., who is also a member of the editorial board of the journal, has agreed to serve as Guest Editor for an issue entitled “New Directions in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.”

Dr. Richard S. Lego is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Dr. Legro received his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, New York, and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Magee Womens Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he first became exposed to bench research under the tutelage of Dr. Tony Zeleznik with input from Dr. David Guzick. He subsequently completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles under the direction of Dr. Mark Sauer, Dr. Rick Paulson, and Dr. Roger Lobo. He joined faculty at Penn State upon completing his fellowship and worked closely with Dr. Andrea Dunaif, who sparked his interest in insulin resistance in PCOS, Dr. Jan McAllister, who has illuminated the abnormal steroidogenic capacity of PCOS thecal cells, and Dr. William Dodson, who kept his interests focused on ovulatory dysfunction in the disorder. He has enjoyed a productive academic career over the past 15 years at Penn State, working closely with such intramural as well as extramural collaborators.

His research and clinical practice are primarily focused on PCOS including the pathophysiology, genetic/environmental influences, and treatment. He is particularly interested in the familial contributions to the syndrome, as well as developing treatments that improve fertility and reduce the risk for endometrial cancer and type 2 diabetes. He has published more than 175 articles in medical journals and books in the field of reproductive endocrinology. His research has been funded by a variety of sources including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through grants including the U54 National Cooperative Program in Infertility Research, the U54 Minority Reproductive Cooperative Program in Reproduction Research, the U10 Reproductive Medicine Network, as well as by several investigator awards. He has served as a member of the NIH study section Reproduction, Andrology, and Gynecology (RAGS) and is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Endocrine Reviews, as well as this journal. He has received many awards including an Outstanding Service Award from the national PCOS patient support group (PCOSA) and the Presidential Achievement Award from the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.

Dr. Legro is an expert on PCOS and has invited several outstanding scientists working in the field of PCOS to contribute to this issue. I am sure that this issue will become a classic for all those interested in this complex but interesting disorder.