Allan R. Tunkel, MD, PhD, received his BS from Seton Hall University in 1976 and his PhD and MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School in 1980 and 1984, respectively, where he was elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his residency and served a chief residency at the Hospital of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and did a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center.

During his fellowship, Dr. Tunkel initiated his interest the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis and central nervous system infections; he has authored or co-authored more than 220 publications, original articles, reviews, editorials, books and book chapters. He is co-author of the textbook, Medicine: A Competency-Based Companion. Dr. Tunkel also served as Chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Practice Guideline Committee which developed practice guidelines for Bacterial Meningitis and Encephalitis.

Previously, at Drexel University College of Medicine, Dr. Tunkel’s roles included Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine, Associate Dean for Admissions, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Campuses, and Faculty Councilor of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. In January 2006, he became Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ.

Dr. Tunkel has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including six Golden Apple Awards, three Dean’s Awards for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, the Trustees’ Award, two Gender Equity Awards from the American Women’s Medical Association, two Excellence in Teaching Awards from the Internal Medicine Residents, the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching at Drexel University, the Laureate Award from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians, the APPLE Award from the New Jersey Institute for Nursing, and he has been listed as one of the Best Doctors in America. Dr. Tunkel was inducted as a Master of the American College of Physicians in 2008.

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