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Birdwell Finlayson, MD, PhD 1932–1988
TRIBUTE
Birdwell Finlayson, MD, PhD 1932-1988
T
HE SUDDEN and unexpected death of Birdwell Finlayson, MD, PhD, on the eve of his departure for the 6th International Symposium on Urolithiasis held in Vancouver, was a shock to friends and colleagues and leaves a void in the field of urolithiasis research. Birdwell Finlayson was a most unusual individual with varied and surprising interests and a number of notable skills. Born and raised in rural Idaho, where his Mormon parents inculcated within him a strong commitment to the Mormon church, Birdwell obtained his premedical education at Idaho State College and the University of Utah. At the University of Chicago School of Medicine, from which he received the MD degree in 1957, his interest in urology was stimulated by contacts with Dr C.w. Vermeulen. After an internship, residency, and 3 years of postdoctoral fellowship in urology under the tutelage of Dr Vermeulen, Birdwell Finlayson is quoted as saying he felt the need to go back to school to learn more. It was then that he began a 4-year stint in the Physics Department of the University of Chicago from which he received a PhD in Biophysics in 1967. He was then induced to come to the University of Florida College of Medicine by Dr George Miller, a former urological associate at Chicago, who recognized Finlayson's potential as a urologic investigator and teacher. At the University of Florida, where he was to spend all of his professional and investigative career, he rapidly rose through the academic ranks to achieve a full Professorship in 1973. In 1986 he was appointed Graduate Research Professor, an honor that pleased him immensely. Dr Finlayson was a remarkably prolific investigator who was the co-editor of six monographs on renal lithiasis and the author or co-author of 188 articles, most of which were directed to the development of a better understanding of kidney stone formation. In particular, his development of the EQUIL program, which was designed to solve 364
free ion concentration in complex polyelectrolyte solutions, was a notable contribution that is now widely used by various investigators and health laboratories worldwide and provides valuable insight for the better understanding of renal calculus formation. Although his scientific productivity was significant, other attributes stimulated and endeared Dr Finlayson, known as "Bird," to his friends and associates. He was possessed of a tireless energy, an eagerness to learn something new, and always with a friendly twinkle in his eyes. A sparkling, warm, and giving person, Bird was available to anyone for advice on research, personal, or academic matters. His wit was legendary among stone researchers, and although he was often in scientific disagreement with others on specific points, these discussions were always educational to the participants. His associates were surprised to learn that as a young man he had been an expert skier sufficiently skilled to be asked to try for the US Olympic team, but even then he was too busy to undertake such a diversion. While in Chicago he was a Mormon Sunday School teacher and his knowledge of the Bible was truly profound. After moving to Florida, he became a skilled airplane pilot who enjoyed stunting and was qualified to fly twin-engine planes. He also became an adept skateboarder who was occasionally detected at this activity near the hospital by his amazed patients. Much of Dr Finlayson's scientific productivity and enthusiasm for diverse activities would not have occurred had it not been for the tireless efforts and support of his devoted wife, Carol. Married while he was a medical student, they developed a loving and mutually supportive relationship that was quite evident to all who knew them. They raised two lovely daughters who married and both are now parents. It is difficult to summarize in a few words the accomplishments of a skilled scientist and even more so when the personal warmth and friendli-
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol XVII, No 4 (April), 1991: pp 364-365
TRIBUTE
ness of that scientist have been such a stimulating influence on his associates and students. Birdwell Finlayson will be remembered and respected for his many accomplishments, but for those who had the privilege of working with him, the most meaningful remembrance will be his infectious enthusiasm for solving medical questions. His death at age 56, due to idiopathic hypertrophic myocar-
365
diopathy, represents a continuing loss for family, friends, and colleagues and deprived the field of urolithiasis research of one of its major figures.
William C. Thomas, MD Raymond L. Hackett, MD Gainesville, FL
Birdwell Finlayson, MD, PhD 1932-1988
T
HE SUDDEN and unexpected death of Birdwell Finlayson, MD, PhD, on the eve of his departure for the 6th International Symposium on Urolithiasis held in Vancouver, was a shock to friends and colleagues and leaves a void in the field of urolithiasis research. Birdwell Finlayson was a most unusual individual with varied and surprising interests and a number of notable skills. Born and raised in rural Idaho, where his Mormon parents inculcated within him a strong commitment to the Mormon church, Birdwell obtained his premedical education at Idaho State College and the University of Utah. At the University of Chicago School of Medicine, from which he received the MD degree in 1957, his interest in urology was stimulated by contacts with Dr C.w. Vermeulen. After an internship, residency, and 3 years of postdoctoral fellowship in urology under the tutelage of Dr Vermeulen, Birdwell Finlayson is quoted as saying he felt the need to go back to school to learn more. It was then that he began a 4-year stint in the Physics Department of the University of Chicago from which he received a PhD in Biophysics in 1967. He was then induced to come to the University of Florida College of Medicine by Dr George Miller, a former urological associate at Chicago, who recognized Finlayson's potential as a urologic investigator and teacher. At the University of Florida, where he was to spend all of his professional and investigative career, he rapidly rose through the academic ranks to achieve a full Professorship in 1973. In 1986 he was appointed Graduate Research Professor, an honor that pleased him immensely. Dr Finlayson was a remarkably prolific investigator who was the co-editor of six monographs on renal lithiasis and the author or co-author of 188 articles, most of which were directed to the development of a better understanding of kidney stone formation. In particular, his development of the EQUIL program, which was designed to solve 364
free ion concentration in complex polyelectrolyte solutions, was a notable contribution that is now widely used by various investigators and health laboratories worldwide and provides valuable insight for the better understanding of renal calculus formation. Although his scientific productivity was significant, other attributes stimulated and endeared Dr Finlayson, known as "Bird," to his friends and associates. He was possessed of a tireless energy, an eagerness to learn something new, and always with a friendly twinkle in his eyes. A sparkling, warm, and giving person, Bird was available to anyone for advice on research, personal, or academic matters. His wit was legendary among stone researchers, and although he was often in scientific disagreement with others on specific points, these discussions were always educational to the participants. His associates were surprised to learn that as a young man he had been an expert skier sufficiently skilled to be asked to try for the US Olympic team, but even then he was too busy to undertake such a diversion. While in Chicago he was a Mormon Sunday School teacher and his knowledge of the Bible was truly profound. After moving to Florida, he became a skilled airplane pilot who enjoyed stunting and was qualified to fly twin-engine planes. He also became an adept skateboarder who was occasionally detected at this activity near the hospital by his amazed patients. Much of Dr Finlayson's scientific productivity and enthusiasm for diverse activities would not have occurred had it not been for the tireless efforts and support of his devoted wife, Carol. Married while he was a medical student, they developed a loving and mutually supportive relationship that was quite evident to all who knew them. They raised two lovely daughters who married and both are now parents. It is difficult to summarize in a few words the accomplishments of a skilled scientist and even more so when the personal warmth and friendli-
American Journal of Kidney Diseases, Vol XVII, No 4 (April), 1991: pp 364-365
TRIBUTE
ness of that scientist have been such a stimulating influence on his associates and students. Birdwell Finlayson will be remembered and respected for his many accomplishments, but for those who had the privilege of working with him, the most meaningful remembrance will be his infectious enthusiasm for solving medical questions. His death at age 56, due to idiopathic hypertrophic myocar-
365
diopathy, represents a continuing loss for family, friends, and colleagues and deprived the field of urolithiasis research of one of its major figures.
William C. Thomas, MD Raymond L. Hackett, MD Gainesville, FL