A doctor from the University of Louisville Department of Medicine is garnering international acclaim.

Julio Ramirez, M.D., FACP, Chief of the U of L Division of Infectious Diseases, has been named the recipient of the 2013 ERS Presidential Award.

"I am very honored to have been chosen to receive this award," Ramirez said. "This award is the result of the years of hard work of our University Clinical and Translational Research team in the area of pneumonia."

Given by the European Respiratory Society, the award is "in recognition of (Ramirez') outstanding contribution to research in respiratory infections and clinical management of pneumonia," ERS president Dr. Francesco Blasi said.

"Receiving a Presidential Award from one of the top respiratory societies in the world is a wonderful accomplishment," Dr. Jesse Roman, Chairman of the University of Louisville Department of Medicine said. "Dr. Ramirez has distinguished himself as a world-class clinician, educator and researcher, and we are very proud."

Ramirez will receive the award at the ERS Annual Congress 2013 held in Barcelona, Spain in September.