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Adolph L. Sahs
Surg Neurol 1988;29:261-2
261
Adolph L. Sahs
Adolph L. Sahs, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Iowa, died in Iowa City on December 6, 1986, several days after a myocardial infarction. He was born in Charles City, Iowa, on May 27, 1906, the third of five sons of Herman and Bertha Sahs. His youth was spent on the prairies of South Dakota where boyhood experiences instilled a strong sense of the Midwestern work ethic. In the 1920s, he enrolled at the University of Iowa and supported his education by working as an orderly at the University Hospital. Despite the time requirements of his job and education, Dr. Sahs was first baseman for the University of Iowa baseball team and was named, "All Big Ten," an award that was always a source of pride for "Lefty" Sahs. © 1988 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.
His strong sense of being a collaborative investigator and team player probably stemmed from these experiences. Dr. Sahs graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1931. After performing an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital, he returned to Iowa for his neurological training. In 1938, he was certified in neurology and psychiatry. After doing research in Boston and New Haven under a Rockefeller fellowship, he joined the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1939, ultimately serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Neurology from 1948 to 1974. When he "retired" in 1974, he continued to work as hard and effectively as ever, caring for patients, teaching, doing research, and serving on many regional and national committees. Dr. Sahs was a member of numerous learned and professional societies. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Blindness, director and president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was president of the American Neurological Association, and was general chairman of the Joint Committee for Stroke Facilities. Dr. Sahs was one of the founders of the American Academy of Neurology, now the largest organization of neurological physicians in the world. Dr. Sahs had a distinguished academic career; he authored 185 scientific publications that covered a diverse field of topics in clinical neurology. His greatest interest and contributions were in cerebrovascular disease. He was the founder--and for almost two decades, the driving force--of the Cooperative Study of Intracranial Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Work from this international project resulted in more than 40 papers and 2 monographs. This monumental work has served as the basis for modern research on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. For several years he coauthored a series of leading texts with Drs. Grinker and Bucy. Dr. Sahs provided outstanding medical care and service to three generations of Iowans. For almost 50 0090-3019/88/$3.50
262
Surg Neurol 1988;29:261-2
years, he was the leading authority on neurological disease in the state. Despite his many other activities, he never forgot the importance o f the care of patients. His diagnostic acumen was legendary. Residents were frequently amazed by his rapid ability to dissect a complex history and establish an accurate diagnosis. While being impressed by the many advances in modern neurological technology, he decried our dependence on these tests. H e believed that a carefully obtained neurological history and examination were the keystones to quality care. If a resident was stumped by a patient's presentation, Dr. Sahs would advise repeating an analysis of the medical history. H e was distressed by the increasing intrusion of government, third-party payors, and ancillary parties into the d o c t o r - p a t i e n t relationship. Dr. Sahs believed that these developments were destroying the profession and that, ultimately, the care and compassion o f medicine would be lost. Dr. Sahs was also a skilled teacher; his best teaching was at the bedside. H e was a stern but fair teacher. While he almost never showed anger, he would be upset by people who did not perform to his high standards. Residents did not fear him; rather, they were afraid that they would not meet his expectations. His residents held him in deep affection. T o them, he was always Dr. Sahs, a title o f respect and awe. Dr. Sahs' dry sense o f humor was well known, he always had a joke or yarn available. Ady, to his friends, could not tolerate persons who were long-winded or bombastic. H e had the uncanny ability to deflate an
Adams and Kassell
overblown sense of self-worth. The excessive use of abbrevations and insider terms were anathema to him. T o show his disdain for our excessive use of "insider lingo," he once wrote an entire history in Morse code. After his "retirement" in 1974, Dr. Sahs did not remain idle. His activities were those of one several years his junior. H e continued to be an attending physician on the neurology wards at both the University and Veterans Administration Hospitals in Iowa City. For several winters, he served as a member of the faculty o f the University of Texas at Galveston. H e continued to be a coinvestigator in several of the projects of the Cooperative Aneurysm Study. H e developed strong interests in topics as diverse as the Civil War, the neurological complications of toxic shock syndrome, and the history o f medicine. When Dr. Sahs was not busy being a physician, scholar, and teacher, he was busy with his hobbies and activities at home. Dr. Sahs and his wife o f 50 years, Alice, enjoyed trips to see their three daughters, Margaret, Carolyn, and Mary. In the last few years, he combined his love of teaching with his love for baseball. His pupils were his grandsons. Dr. Sahs personified much that is great about medicine. H e was warm, humble, and caring. For the many of us who were his friends, colleagues, and students, we will always be Ady's pupils. This great man will be missed. H A R O L D P. ADAMS, Jr., M.D. NEAL F. KASSELL, M.D.
261
Adolph L. Sahs
Adolph L. Sahs, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Neurology at the University of Iowa, died in Iowa City on December 6, 1986, several days after a myocardial infarction. He was born in Charles City, Iowa, on May 27, 1906, the third of five sons of Herman and Bertha Sahs. His youth was spent on the prairies of South Dakota where boyhood experiences instilled a strong sense of the Midwestern work ethic. In the 1920s, he enrolled at the University of Iowa and supported his education by working as an orderly at the University Hospital. Despite the time requirements of his job and education, Dr. Sahs was first baseman for the University of Iowa baseball team and was named, "All Big Ten," an award that was always a source of pride for "Lefty" Sahs. © 1988 by Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.
His strong sense of being a collaborative investigator and team player probably stemmed from these experiences. Dr. Sahs graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1931. After performing an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital, he returned to Iowa for his neurological training. In 1938, he was certified in neurology and psychiatry. After doing research in Boston and New Haven under a Rockefeller fellowship, he joined the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1939, ultimately serving as Professor and Head of the Department of Neurology from 1948 to 1974. When he "retired" in 1974, he continued to work as hard and effectively as ever, caring for patients, teaching, doing research, and serving on many regional and national committees. Dr. Sahs was a member of numerous learned and professional societies. He was a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Blindness, director and president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, member of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the Advisory Board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was president of the American Neurological Association, and was general chairman of the Joint Committee for Stroke Facilities. Dr. Sahs was one of the founders of the American Academy of Neurology, now the largest organization of neurological physicians in the world. Dr. Sahs had a distinguished academic career; he authored 185 scientific publications that covered a diverse field of topics in clinical neurology. His greatest interest and contributions were in cerebrovascular disease. He was the founder--and for almost two decades, the driving force--of the Cooperative Study of Intracranial Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Work from this international project resulted in more than 40 papers and 2 monographs. This monumental work has served as the basis for modern research on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. For several years he coauthored a series of leading texts with Drs. Grinker and Bucy. Dr. Sahs provided outstanding medical care and service to three generations of Iowans. For almost 50 0090-3019/88/$3.50
262
Surg Neurol 1988;29:261-2
years, he was the leading authority on neurological disease in the state. Despite his many other activities, he never forgot the importance o f the care of patients. His diagnostic acumen was legendary. Residents were frequently amazed by his rapid ability to dissect a complex history and establish an accurate diagnosis. While being impressed by the many advances in modern neurological technology, he decried our dependence on these tests. H e believed that a carefully obtained neurological history and examination were the keystones to quality care. If a resident was stumped by a patient's presentation, Dr. Sahs would advise repeating an analysis of the medical history. H e was distressed by the increasing intrusion of government, third-party payors, and ancillary parties into the d o c t o r - p a t i e n t relationship. Dr. Sahs believed that these developments were destroying the profession and that, ultimately, the care and compassion o f medicine would be lost. Dr. Sahs was also a skilled teacher; his best teaching was at the bedside. H e was a stern but fair teacher. While he almost never showed anger, he would be upset by people who did not perform to his high standards. Residents did not fear him; rather, they were afraid that they would not meet his expectations. His residents held him in deep affection. T o them, he was always Dr. Sahs, a title o f respect and awe. Dr. Sahs' dry sense o f humor was well known, he always had a joke or yarn available. Ady, to his friends, could not tolerate persons who were long-winded or bombastic. H e had the uncanny ability to deflate an
Adams and Kassell
overblown sense of self-worth. The excessive use of abbrevations and insider terms were anathema to him. T o show his disdain for our excessive use of "insider lingo," he once wrote an entire history in Morse code. After his "retirement" in 1974, Dr. Sahs did not remain idle. His activities were those of one several years his junior. H e continued to be an attending physician on the neurology wards at both the University and Veterans Administration Hospitals in Iowa City. For several winters, he served as a member of the faculty o f the University of Texas at Galveston. H e continued to be a coinvestigator in several of the projects of the Cooperative Aneurysm Study. H e developed strong interests in topics as diverse as the Civil War, the neurological complications of toxic shock syndrome, and the history o f medicine. When Dr. Sahs was not busy being a physician, scholar, and teacher, he was busy with his hobbies and activities at home. Dr. Sahs and his wife o f 50 years, Alice, enjoyed trips to see their three daughters, Margaret, Carolyn, and Mary. In the last few years, he combined his love of teaching with his love for baseball. His pupils were his grandsons. Dr. Sahs personified much that is great about medicine. H e was warm, humble, and caring. For the many of us who were his friends, colleagues, and students, we will always be Ady's pupils. This great man will be missed. H A R O L D P. ADAMS, Jr., M.D. NEAL F. KASSELL, M.D.