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Presentation of the Julius M. Friedenwald Medal to Sidney Cohen, M.D
GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:2064 –2068
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Presentation of the Julius M. Friedenwald Medal to Sidney Cohen, M.D.
Sidney Cohen, M.D.
he Julius M. Friedenwald Medal is the most prestigious award given by the American Gastroenterological Association in recognition of lifetime achievement in and contributions to the field of gastroenterology. It is named for the distinguished Baltimore gastroenterologist who became our eighth president. It is fitting that the AGA has chosen to recognize Sidney Cohen, M.D., for his multiple contributions to our field, as the recipient of the 2002 Friedenwald medal. Sidney has had impact on the field of gastroenterology at many levels, by his research contributions, from leadership positions in academic medicine in Philadelphia and at the national level in professional and governmental organizations. He has contributed to every endeavor with energy and foresight and has been recognized as a visionary, able to distill problems and to view issues in a broader context.
T
In addition to recognizing his superb leadership skills, everyone who has worked with Sidney speaks of his integrity, warmth, and loyalty to his friends. Martin Brotman, M.D., President-elect of the AGA comments, “Sid is one of those unique individuals who can achieve successful research, clinical, education, and organization leadership careers simultaneously.”
Formative Years Sidney was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1939. His father was a steel worker, and his mother was a homemaker. Sidney was the first member of his family to attend college. He received a full scholarship to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as a pre-med student. At Rutgers, he met Lois Pavony, a
June 2002
student at Douglass College, who became his wife and life’s companion. He pursued his studies at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, receiving his M.D., magna cum laude, in 1964 and was elected member of the Alpha Omega Alpha. He moved to Boston for his internship at the Boston City Hospital, followed by a junior residency in medicine. Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, a dominant figure in gastroenterology in Boston, influenced Sidney to pursue training in Gastroenterology. He became a fellow in Gastroenterology at Tufts University Medical School, New England Medical Center Hospitals from 1966 to 1968 under the leadership of Dr. James Patterson and later Dr. Marshall Kaplan. Sidney then completed a year as a senior resident at Boston University Hospital in Boston and Teaching Assistant in Medicine at Boston University Medical School. During his fellowship and senior residency, he started his research career in esophageal motility. The use of perfused catheters in the study of motility allowed the study of the sphincter function and became the standard technique for measuring motility for the next 20 years. His work with Lauran Harris, M.D., established the concept of physiological sphincters, which have clinical significance. His pivotal research in this area was recognized when he was accepted as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 1973 at the age of 37. His relationship with Dr. Lauran Harris is an example of the lasting friendship and respect that is established between Sidney and his mentors, as well as those he has mentored. Sidney viewed Dr. Lauran Harris as his own first true mentor and maintained a friendship until Lauran’s premature death. He was honored to have been invited to deliver the first Lauran D. Harris Memorial Lecture at Boston University in 1990. Sidney recalls this time in Boston as one of great collegiality and cooperation among researchers in gastroenterology. The leaders in the field who taught and influenced Sidney included Drs. Franz Ingelfinger, Philip Kramer, Donald Small, Robert Donaldson, Roger Lester, Jerry Trier, and later Gabriel Makhlouf, Thomas Chalmers, Edward Moore, and Marshall Kaplan. His training in motility was done along with Nicholas Diamant and Donald Castell, who have also gone on to distinguished careers in gastroenterology. Sidney was part of a generation of gastroenterologists whose work resulted in an explosion in the understanding of the scientific basis of gastroenterology and Sidney’s work, along with others, founded the field of motility, as we now know it. In 1969, Sidney was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania by Dr. Frank P. Brooks. Dr. Brooks once
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
2065
told me that recruiting Sidney was the greatest achievement of his career, an extraordinary compliment given Dr. Brooks’ own illustrious career. Dr. Brooks introduced Sidney to classical physiology and to other prominent physiologists, including Dr. Morton Grossman and Dr. Charles Code. A classic debate on the physiologic importance of gastrin in regulating lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function ensued between Dr. Grossman and Sidney, and research resulting from this controversy contributed to the concept of peptides, which had initially been identified as hormones having neurotransmitter roles. During this time, Sidney met and formed lifetime friendships with two of Dr. Grossman’s junior associates Dr. Jon Isenberg, current President of our Association, and Dr. John Walsh, former president, as well as with Dr. Takayada Yamada, one of Dr. Grossman’s prote´ ge´ ’s.
Research and Mentorship In 1972, Dr. Cohen became co-chief of the Gastrointestinal Section and in 1974 became Chief of the Section. During his tenure as Chief of the Section at the University of Pennsylvania, his extraordinary effectiveness as a mentor became apparent. Anyone who has met Sidney is struck by his humor, humility, grasp of the broader picture, and genuine interest and concern for young investigators and clinicians. He embodies the concept of a mentor. He has helped many fellows to develop their careers in Gastroenterology. He helped each of his trainees to establish a research area with a goal in mind that we could each eventually establish independent research identities while still working collaboratively and provided the contacts and financial support to succeed. He introduced us to important people in the field and always supported the trainees. He was excited by our successes and enthusiastic about gastroenterology and a career in academics. Six of his trainees from University of Pennsylvania have become Chiefs of Gastroenterology, Drs. William Lipshutz, Robert Fisher, Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr., Ann Ouyang, James Reynolds, and William Snape, Jr. Many of Sidney’s brightest fellows chose careers in clinical practice and have contributed to the field of gastroenterology in clinical care. Although they did not plan to pursue an academic research career, the experience of working with Sidney on research projects and presenting their findings to the experts in the field was the highlight of their fellowship. It would be impossible to include all the fellows who have worked with Sidney over his years as Chief at the University of Pennsylvania. Describing Sidney’s research
2066
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
and his success as a mentor are intertwined as he fostered research by his trainees that became their research areas by which they contributed to the field and in doing so, succeeded in academic medicine careers. I will mention a few to illustrate the extent of his contribution to gastroenterology both in scientific research, the success of his trainees in contributing to the field of motility, and in their careers in academic medicine, which reflects his support and career guidance. With Bill Lipshutz, M.D., Chief of Gastroenterology at Pennsylvania Hospital and one of Sidney’s earliest fellows when he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, he examined the role of hormones at the LES and described the LES dysfunction in achalasia. Robert Fisher, M.D., now Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, worked under Sidney’s guidance in the area of the pyloric sphincter physiology and has continued an independent research career in gastric motility disorders. Anthony J. DiMarino, currently Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, expanded the study of esophageal and small intestinal dysmotility in connective tissue disorders and explored the neural control of the LES. Using new techniques, which allowed simultaneous recordings of electrical and motor activity of the small bowel, altered motility and scleroderma was studied. In 1975, Jim Ryan, Ph.D., joined Sidney as a graduate student, and their studies explored the action of gastrointestinal hormones on gallbladder smooth muscle. John R. Mathias expanded the research area in intestinal motility to identify motility abnormalities in response to infectious etiologies. William J. Snape, M.D., extended studies to the colon and established the importance of altered motility in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes mellitus and irritable bowel syndrome. I was fortunate enough to join the laboratory in 1980 where we studied the neurohormonal control of the ileocecal sphincter. Our clinical studies examined the role of esophageal motility in noncardiac chest pain. James C. Reynolds, M.D., previously Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and currently Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MCP Hahnemann University, joined the laboratory in 1981. Jim examined the neurotransmitter pathways mediating reflexes observed in the LES and pyloric sphincter and expanded clinical studies into the outcomes of treatment of achalasia and the use of motility studies to categorize and define treatment options in constipation.
GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 122, No. 7
In addition to fellows at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Sidney mentored fellows from the gastroenterology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Timothy Boyle, former Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Rainbow Children’s Hospital and Dr. Steven Altschuler, currently President and CEO at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, conducted their research on esophago-pulmonary reflexes. This partial list of his trainees gives a glimpse of Sidney’s impact on the field of motility and in academic gastroenterology, both in research and in the development of leaders among his trainees. The University of Pennsylvania honored him by naming the Sidney Cohen, M.D. Teaching Award for Young Faculty to be given each year. Sidney is now the third generation of Friedenwald medallists who served as Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania; Dr. T. Grier Miller was the medallist in 1957 and Dr. Frank P. Brooks the 1988 medallist. Through the examples of both former AGA leaders, Sidney developed a strong commitment to the AGA and its mission. Sidney’s interest in developing young talent in the field of Gastroenterology extended beyond his own institution. Donna Dean, Ph.D., currently acting Director of the new National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, recalls Sidney’s service as a member of the General Medicine A-2 study section of the NIH in 1983 and its predecessor, the Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition Review Group in 1982. She noted that he “brought impressive research and clinical experience to his careful reviews of projects. He was nurturing of beginning investigators, yet appropriately critical if the science was not wholly credible. Likewise, for senior figures in the field, he was respectful but held them accountable for good science and good mentoring.”
Leadership Sidney has risen to leadership roles in almost every organization that he has joined. He was asked to become the co-chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1972, at the age of 36, and took over the position as Chief in 1974. After serving as a member of the General Medicine A-2 study section, Sidney was chosen to chair this study section in 1985 where, as Donna Dean, Ph.D., commented, he “shepherded GMA-2 during a crucial year of unprecedented developments in GI research and heightened pressures on the peer-review system.” He then became a member of the Advisory Council for NIDDK and served on the NIH Director’s Advisory Committee
June 2002
in 1989. He continues to serve the NIH, recently chairing a NIH consensus panel on “Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for Diagnosis and Therapy.” In almost all organizations that Sidney joined, his skills were recognized and he was tapped for leadership. Among these organizations were the American Federation for Clinical Research (now the American Federation for Medical Research) where, in 1980, Sidney became Chairman of the Eastern Section. The American Board of Internal Medicine, which Sidney joined as a member in 1981, chose Sidney to take the responsibility of Chairman of the Subspecialty Board in Gastroenterology and Member of the Governing Board from 1985–1987, during which time he chaired the Subcommittee on Subspecialty Clinical Competence. Sidney’s service to the AGA is truly extraordinary. He has been a member of the Research Committee, the Training and Education Committee, the Program Committee, the Council on Nerve-Gut Interactions, the Nominating Committee, the Industry Research Scholar Award Committee, and the Long-Range Planning Committee, serving as Chairman of two of the committees before being elected as Vice-President in 1989. He then served as President-elect and served with distinction as President of the AGA in 1991. Since his presidency, he has continued to serve the AGA on the Foundation and as Chairman of the Editorial Board for Gastroenterology and as Chairman of the Publications Committee. During his tenure as Chairman of the Publications Committee (1994 –1999) he was involved in many new initiatives, including “Clinical Perspectives” and the new lay publication “Digestive Health and Nutrition.” Sidney initiated the AGA Foundation during his term as President. In 1986, he was recruited as Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, where he played a major role in bringing health care reform into the Department of Medicine and the health system. The quality of the Medicine residency at Temple University Hospital reflects the Sidney’s emphasis on teaching and mentoring. As his role has moved from Chief of a Division of Gastroenterology to that of Chairman of a Department of Medicine, Sidney’s activities at the national level have simply expanded to reflect his wider constituency. As a member of the American Association of Professors of Medicine, Sidney served on a number of committees and was elected as President in 1998, playing an important role in dealing with Congress and health care regulators over issues related to medical education and training. Similarly, his role in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
2067
expanded from membership of the Pre-review Panel for programs in gastroenterology in 1983, to being a member of the Residency Review Council in Internal Medicine. In 2001, Sidney joined the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Thomas Jefferson University as Director of Research Programs, returning to his first love of research where he will bring his formidable intellect and mentorship skills to developing another generation of leaders in academic Gastroenterology. Dr. Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr., William Rorer Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University offers the following praise for Sidney, “Although I have known Sid as his former fellow and long-time friend, working with him, once again on a day-to-day basis, I am continually impressed with his extraordinary intellect, unique ability to analyze a complex problem and offer an appropriate, fair, and effective solution. When he decided to step down as Chairman of Medicine at Temple, he had several outstanding opportunities in industry, government, and other academic institutions. As a result of his coming to Jefferson, our research program in gastroenterology, our medical residents, gastroenterology fellows, and faculty have been the recipients of his incredible enthusiasm and energy for new knowledge in gastroenterology. He is an outstanding clinician, educator, and researcher.” Throughout each phase of his career, he has always maintained an active clinical practice in gastroenterology. He believes that clinical practice is critical to his role as a Director of an academic clinical and educational service. He has also continued as an attending physician on the general medical service.
Family and Friends Throughout his career, Sidney has received advice and support from Lois, his wife of more than 40 years. Lois is a freelance photographer who now focuses her attention and her lens on their four grandchildren. She is a committed art museum docent and recently served as chair of the guide program at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Sidney and Lois have raised three children of whom they are very proud. Caryn Cohen Boxer, Ph.D., lives with her husband and two children in Irvine, California. Michael is Director of Health Care Practice for an information technology solution company and lives with his wife and two children in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Douglas is the Director of Marketing and Sales for an Internet software company and lives in Concord, Massachussetts with his wife Susan. The Cohens are a close
2068
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
family. They spend their summer vacations in New Hampshire where swimming, fishing, and boating continue to be an important part of their lives. In 1999, his family organized a wonderful birthday party for Sidney where many of his colleagues and trainees gathered to share memories and laughter. Sidney has contributed to the field of Gastroenterology and to every gastroenterologist with his research in the physiological control of motility and studies of the pathophysiology of many motility disorders. For those of us privileged to know him, he has enriched our lives at a very personal level. Every one of Sidney’s trainees counts him as a friend. As Martin Brotman, M.D., eloquently states, “Every one of Sid’s many, many friends and professional colleagues know him as a man of total integrity, quiet, quick-witted
GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 122, No. 7
and thoughtful, with selfless dedication to excellence in all aspects of our field, and devotion to his family and friends.” ANN OUYANG Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, Penn State University Hershey, Pennsylvania Address requests for reprints to: Ann Ouyang, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033. Fax: (717) 531-6770. © 2002 by the American Gastroenterological Association 0016-5085/02/$35.00 doi:10.1053/gast.2002.33316
This Month at the NIH
O
n April 1 to 3, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health convened a working group to propose changes in the study sections that review applications in the digestive sciences. This meeting was held as a part of an ongoing evaluation of the peer review process. Further information on the initiative can be found at http://www.csr.nih.gov/events/ updatephase2.htm. A new Digestive Sciences Integrated Review Group (IRG) with 5 study sections has been proposed. This IRG will review applications on basic and clinical aspects of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic physiology, and pathobiology, as well as applications on the disposition and action of nutrients and xenobiotics. The 5 proposed study sections are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (GCMB) Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP) Immunology, Microbiology, and Inflammation Study Section (IMI) Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology Study Section (IPP) Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action Study Section (XNDA)
The complete guidelines for each of these proposed study sections will be available by May 1, 2002 at http://www.csr.nih.gov/PSBR/ IRGComments.htm. Once the guidelines are posted, the research community will be able to enter comments on them via this website for 12 weeks. The public comments and proposed guidelines will be presented to the CSR Advisory Committee before being accepted and implemented.
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Presentation of the Julius M. Friedenwald Medal to Sidney Cohen, M.D.
Sidney Cohen, M.D.
he Julius M. Friedenwald Medal is the most prestigious award given by the American Gastroenterological Association in recognition of lifetime achievement in and contributions to the field of gastroenterology. It is named for the distinguished Baltimore gastroenterologist who became our eighth president. It is fitting that the AGA has chosen to recognize Sidney Cohen, M.D., for his multiple contributions to our field, as the recipient of the 2002 Friedenwald medal. Sidney has had impact on the field of gastroenterology at many levels, by his research contributions, from leadership positions in academic medicine in Philadelphia and at the national level in professional and governmental organizations. He has contributed to every endeavor with energy and foresight and has been recognized as a visionary, able to distill problems and to view issues in a broader context.
T
In addition to recognizing his superb leadership skills, everyone who has worked with Sidney speaks of his integrity, warmth, and loyalty to his friends. Martin Brotman, M.D., President-elect of the AGA comments, “Sid is one of those unique individuals who can achieve successful research, clinical, education, and organization leadership careers simultaneously.”
Formative Years Sidney was born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1939. His father was a steel worker, and his mother was a homemaker. Sidney was the first member of his family to attend college. He received a full scholarship to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, as a pre-med student. At Rutgers, he met Lois Pavony, a
June 2002
student at Douglass College, who became his wife and life’s companion. He pursued his studies at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, receiving his M.D., magna cum laude, in 1964 and was elected member of the Alpha Omega Alpha. He moved to Boston for his internship at the Boston City Hospital, followed by a junior residency in medicine. Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, a dominant figure in gastroenterology in Boston, influenced Sidney to pursue training in Gastroenterology. He became a fellow in Gastroenterology at Tufts University Medical School, New England Medical Center Hospitals from 1966 to 1968 under the leadership of Dr. James Patterson and later Dr. Marshall Kaplan. Sidney then completed a year as a senior resident at Boston University Hospital in Boston and Teaching Assistant in Medicine at Boston University Medical School. During his fellowship and senior residency, he started his research career in esophageal motility. The use of perfused catheters in the study of motility allowed the study of the sphincter function and became the standard technique for measuring motility for the next 20 years. His work with Lauran Harris, M.D., established the concept of physiological sphincters, which have clinical significance. His pivotal research in this area was recognized when he was accepted as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 1973 at the age of 37. His relationship with Dr. Lauran Harris is an example of the lasting friendship and respect that is established between Sidney and his mentors, as well as those he has mentored. Sidney viewed Dr. Lauran Harris as his own first true mentor and maintained a friendship until Lauran’s premature death. He was honored to have been invited to deliver the first Lauran D. Harris Memorial Lecture at Boston University in 1990. Sidney recalls this time in Boston as one of great collegiality and cooperation among researchers in gastroenterology. The leaders in the field who taught and influenced Sidney included Drs. Franz Ingelfinger, Philip Kramer, Donald Small, Robert Donaldson, Roger Lester, Jerry Trier, and later Gabriel Makhlouf, Thomas Chalmers, Edward Moore, and Marshall Kaplan. His training in motility was done along with Nicholas Diamant and Donald Castell, who have also gone on to distinguished careers in gastroenterology. Sidney was part of a generation of gastroenterologists whose work resulted in an explosion in the understanding of the scientific basis of gastroenterology and Sidney’s work, along with others, founded the field of motility, as we now know it. In 1969, Sidney was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania by Dr. Frank P. Brooks. Dr. Brooks once
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
2065
told me that recruiting Sidney was the greatest achievement of his career, an extraordinary compliment given Dr. Brooks’ own illustrious career. Dr. Brooks introduced Sidney to classical physiology and to other prominent physiologists, including Dr. Morton Grossman and Dr. Charles Code. A classic debate on the physiologic importance of gastrin in regulating lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function ensued between Dr. Grossman and Sidney, and research resulting from this controversy contributed to the concept of peptides, which had initially been identified as hormones having neurotransmitter roles. During this time, Sidney met and formed lifetime friendships with two of Dr. Grossman’s junior associates Dr. Jon Isenberg, current President of our Association, and Dr. John Walsh, former president, as well as with Dr. Takayada Yamada, one of Dr. Grossman’s prote´ ge´ ’s.
Research and Mentorship In 1972, Dr. Cohen became co-chief of the Gastrointestinal Section and in 1974 became Chief of the Section. During his tenure as Chief of the Section at the University of Pennsylvania, his extraordinary effectiveness as a mentor became apparent. Anyone who has met Sidney is struck by his humor, humility, grasp of the broader picture, and genuine interest and concern for young investigators and clinicians. He embodies the concept of a mentor. He has helped many fellows to develop their careers in Gastroenterology. He helped each of his trainees to establish a research area with a goal in mind that we could each eventually establish independent research identities while still working collaboratively and provided the contacts and financial support to succeed. He introduced us to important people in the field and always supported the trainees. He was excited by our successes and enthusiastic about gastroenterology and a career in academics. Six of his trainees from University of Pennsylvania have become Chiefs of Gastroenterology, Drs. William Lipshutz, Robert Fisher, Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr., Ann Ouyang, James Reynolds, and William Snape, Jr. Many of Sidney’s brightest fellows chose careers in clinical practice and have contributed to the field of gastroenterology in clinical care. Although they did not plan to pursue an academic research career, the experience of working with Sidney on research projects and presenting their findings to the experts in the field was the highlight of their fellowship. It would be impossible to include all the fellows who have worked with Sidney over his years as Chief at the University of Pennsylvania. Describing Sidney’s research
2066
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
and his success as a mentor are intertwined as he fostered research by his trainees that became their research areas by which they contributed to the field and in doing so, succeeded in academic medicine careers. I will mention a few to illustrate the extent of his contribution to gastroenterology both in scientific research, the success of his trainees in contributing to the field of motility, and in their careers in academic medicine, which reflects his support and career guidance. With Bill Lipshutz, M.D., Chief of Gastroenterology at Pennsylvania Hospital and one of Sidney’s earliest fellows when he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, he examined the role of hormones at the LES and described the LES dysfunction in achalasia. Robert Fisher, M.D., now Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, worked under Sidney’s guidance in the area of the pyloric sphincter physiology and has continued an independent research career in gastric motility disorders. Anthony J. DiMarino, currently Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, expanded the study of esophageal and small intestinal dysmotility in connective tissue disorders and explored the neural control of the LES. Using new techniques, which allowed simultaneous recordings of electrical and motor activity of the small bowel, altered motility and scleroderma was studied. In 1975, Jim Ryan, Ph.D., joined Sidney as a graduate student, and their studies explored the action of gastrointestinal hormones on gallbladder smooth muscle. John R. Mathias expanded the research area in intestinal motility to identify motility abnormalities in response to infectious etiologies. William J. Snape, M.D., extended studies to the colon and established the importance of altered motility in the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetes mellitus and irritable bowel syndrome. I was fortunate enough to join the laboratory in 1980 where we studied the neurohormonal control of the ileocecal sphincter. Our clinical studies examined the role of esophageal motility in noncardiac chest pain. James C. Reynolds, M.D., previously Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and currently Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MCP Hahnemann University, joined the laboratory in 1981. Jim examined the neurotransmitter pathways mediating reflexes observed in the LES and pyloric sphincter and expanded clinical studies into the outcomes of treatment of achalasia and the use of motility studies to categorize and define treatment options in constipation.
GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 122, No. 7
In addition to fellows at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Sidney mentored fellows from the gastroenterology fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Timothy Boyle, former Chief of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Rainbow Children’s Hospital and Dr. Steven Altschuler, currently President and CEO at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, conducted their research on esophago-pulmonary reflexes. This partial list of his trainees gives a glimpse of Sidney’s impact on the field of motility and in academic gastroenterology, both in research and in the development of leaders among his trainees. The University of Pennsylvania honored him by naming the Sidney Cohen, M.D. Teaching Award for Young Faculty to be given each year. Sidney is now the third generation of Friedenwald medallists who served as Chief of Gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania; Dr. T. Grier Miller was the medallist in 1957 and Dr. Frank P. Brooks the 1988 medallist. Through the examples of both former AGA leaders, Sidney developed a strong commitment to the AGA and its mission. Sidney’s interest in developing young talent in the field of Gastroenterology extended beyond his own institution. Donna Dean, Ph.D., currently acting Director of the new National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, recalls Sidney’s service as a member of the General Medicine A-2 study section of the NIH in 1983 and its predecessor, the Gastroenterology and Clinical Nutrition Review Group in 1982. She noted that he “brought impressive research and clinical experience to his careful reviews of projects. He was nurturing of beginning investigators, yet appropriately critical if the science was not wholly credible. Likewise, for senior figures in the field, he was respectful but held them accountable for good science and good mentoring.”
Leadership Sidney has risen to leadership roles in almost every organization that he has joined. He was asked to become the co-chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1972, at the age of 36, and took over the position as Chief in 1974. After serving as a member of the General Medicine A-2 study section, Sidney was chosen to chair this study section in 1985 where, as Donna Dean, Ph.D., commented, he “shepherded GMA-2 during a crucial year of unprecedented developments in GI research and heightened pressures on the peer-review system.” He then became a member of the Advisory Council for NIDDK and served on the NIH Director’s Advisory Committee
June 2002
in 1989. He continues to serve the NIH, recently chairing a NIH consensus panel on “Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for Diagnosis and Therapy.” In almost all organizations that Sidney joined, his skills were recognized and he was tapped for leadership. Among these organizations were the American Federation for Clinical Research (now the American Federation for Medical Research) where, in 1980, Sidney became Chairman of the Eastern Section. The American Board of Internal Medicine, which Sidney joined as a member in 1981, chose Sidney to take the responsibility of Chairman of the Subspecialty Board in Gastroenterology and Member of the Governing Board from 1985–1987, during which time he chaired the Subcommittee on Subspecialty Clinical Competence. Sidney’s service to the AGA is truly extraordinary. He has been a member of the Research Committee, the Training and Education Committee, the Program Committee, the Council on Nerve-Gut Interactions, the Nominating Committee, the Industry Research Scholar Award Committee, and the Long-Range Planning Committee, serving as Chairman of two of the committees before being elected as Vice-President in 1989. He then served as President-elect and served with distinction as President of the AGA in 1991. Since his presidency, he has continued to serve the AGA on the Foundation and as Chairman of the Editorial Board for Gastroenterology and as Chairman of the Publications Committee. During his tenure as Chairman of the Publications Committee (1994 –1999) he was involved in many new initiatives, including “Clinical Perspectives” and the new lay publication “Digestive Health and Nutrition.” Sidney initiated the AGA Foundation during his term as President. In 1986, he was recruited as Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, where he played a major role in bringing health care reform into the Department of Medicine and the health system. The quality of the Medicine residency at Temple University Hospital reflects the Sidney’s emphasis on teaching and mentoring. As his role has moved from Chief of a Division of Gastroenterology to that of Chairman of a Department of Medicine, Sidney’s activities at the national level have simply expanded to reflect his wider constituency. As a member of the American Association of Professors of Medicine, Sidney served on a number of committees and was elected as President in 1998, playing an important role in dealing with Congress and health care regulators over issues related to medical education and training. Similarly, his role in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
2067
expanded from membership of the Pre-review Panel for programs in gastroenterology in 1983, to being a member of the Residency Review Council in Internal Medicine. In 2001, Sidney joined the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Thomas Jefferson University as Director of Research Programs, returning to his first love of research where he will bring his formidable intellect and mentorship skills to developing another generation of leaders in academic Gastroenterology. Dr. Anthony J. DiMarino, Jr., William Rorer Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University offers the following praise for Sidney, “Although I have known Sid as his former fellow and long-time friend, working with him, once again on a day-to-day basis, I am continually impressed with his extraordinary intellect, unique ability to analyze a complex problem and offer an appropriate, fair, and effective solution. When he decided to step down as Chairman of Medicine at Temple, he had several outstanding opportunities in industry, government, and other academic institutions. As a result of his coming to Jefferson, our research program in gastroenterology, our medical residents, gastroenterology fellows, and faculty have been the recipients of his incredible enthusiasm and energy for new knowledge in gastroenterology. He is an outstanding clinician, educator, and researcher.” Throughout each phase of his career, he has always maintained an active clinical practice in gastroenterology. He believes that clinical practice is critical to his role as a Director of an academic clinical and educational service. He has also continued as an attending physician on the general medical service.
Family and Friends Throughout his career, Sidney has received advice and support from Lois, his wife of more than 40 years. Lois is a freelance photographer who now focuses her attention and her lens on their four grandchildren. She is a committed art museum docent and recently served as chair of the guide program at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Sidney and Lois have raised three children of whom they are very proud. Caryn Cohen Boxer, Ph.D., lives with her husband and two children in Irvine, California. Michael is Director of Health Care Practice for an information technology solution company and lives with his wife and two children in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Douglas is the Director of Marketing and Sales for an Internet software company and lives in Concord, Massachussetts with his wife Susan. The Cohens are a close
2068
AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
family. They spend their summer vacations in New Hampshire where swimming, fishing, and boating continue to be an important part of their lives. In 1999, his family organized a wonderful birthday party for Sidney where many of his colleagues and trainees gathered to share memories and laughter. Sidney has contributed to the field of Gastroenterology and to every gastroenterologist with his research in the physiological control of motility and studies of the pathophysiology of many motility disorders. For those of us privileged to know him, he has enriched our lives at a very personal level. Every one of Sidney’s trainees counts him as a friend. As Martin Brotman, M.D., eloquently states, “Every one of Sid’s many, many friends and professional colleagues know him as a man of total integrity, quiet, quick-witted
GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 122, No. 7
and thoughtful, with selfless dedication to excellence in all aspects of our field, and devotion to his family and friends.” ANN OUYANG Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center College of Medicine, Penn State University Hershey, Pennsylvania Address requests for reprints to: Ann Ouyang, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033. Fax: (717) 531-6770. © 2002 by the American Gastroenterological Association 0016-5085/02/$35.00 doi:10.1053/gast.2002.33316
This Month at the NIH
O
n April 1 to 3, the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) at the National Institutes of Health convened a working group to propose changes in the study sections that review applications in the digestive sciences. This meeting was held as a part of an ongoing evaluation of the peer review process. Further information on the initiative can be found at http://www.csr.nih.gov/events/ updatephase2.htm. A new Digestive Sciences Integrated Review Group (IRG) with 5 study sections has been proposed. This IRG will review applications on basic and clinical aspects of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic physiology, and pathobiology, as well as applications on the disposition and action of nutrients and xenobiotics. The 5 proposed study sections are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section (GCMB) Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology Study Section (HBPP) Immunology, Microbiology, and Inflammation Study Section (IMI) Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology Study Section (IPP) Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action Study Section (XNDA)
The complete guidelines for each of these proposed study sections will be available by May 1, 2002 at http://www.csr.nih.gov/PSBR/ IRGComments.htm. Once the guidelines are posted, the research community will be able to enter comments on them via this website for 12 weeks. The public comments and proposed guidelines will be presented to the CSR Advisory Committee before being accepted and implemented.