- Email: [email protected]
Professor Melvin David Yahr
Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 10 (2004) 123–124 www.elsevier.com/locate/parkreldis
In memoriam
Professor Melvin David Yahr 1917 –2004 .
On January 1 2004, our teacher, mentor, collaborator and friend, Dr Melvin D. Yahr, died at the age of 86 years in his home, surrounded by family. Dr Yahr was widely known for his groundbreaking work that pioneered and validated Levodopa therapy for Parkinson’s disease, which revolutionized the field of Movement Disorders and the practice of Neurology. In addition to his great professional qualities, Melvin Yahr also had exemplary personal traits that endeared him to his
friends, colleagues and patients. He was utterly loyal, and throughout his career maintained a profound sense of personal and professional integrity. Early in life, he developed a strong social conscience. He shunned unnecessary public attention, and was an early advocate for the promotion of women in academic medicine. He fought for the right of patients to receive the best medical treatment, regardless of their social or economic status. His sharp wit and encyclopedic knowledge of Neurology was daunting to many, but those whom he mentored were richly rewarded, as any correction or critique was the beginning of dedicated instruction. Dr Yahr inspired the loyalty of several generations of neurologists and neuroscientists. He had great intellectual curiosity, which continued to expand until his passing. Dr Melvin Yahr’s dedication to his patients and the neurosciences remained unbroken even by the severe illness that he endured in the last months of life. This steadfast commitment reflected his ethics, his approach to neurological science and to his patients, and the joy and satisfaction he found in his work. Only three days before his death, he finished revising a manuscript with one of his collaborators, who will present it at the forthcoming Movement Disorders meeting in Rome this June. Two weeks earlier, he had obtained final institutional review board approval for a clinical trial of a candidate drug for dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease patients, and had begun to design a trial to test a new compound with possible neuroprotective properties. Although he had difficulty walking in his last months, he maintained his office schedule and continued to see his patients until a few weeks before his death. He also continued to be a mentor and advisor for many of us. Melvin Yahr grew up in New York, the last child in a modest family of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. As a young man, he experienced the anti-Semitism that still pervaded society, an experience that instilled in him his sense of justice, individual freedom and civil rights. He graduated from Washington Square College in New York City, earned his medical degree at New York University Medical College, and completed his residency in Neurology
1353-8020/$ - see front matter q 2004. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2004.01.002
124
In memoriam / Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 10 (2004) 123–124
at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. At the end of World War II he served in the Armed Forces for three years, before joining the Neurological Institute of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. It was at the Neurological Institute where he built the first Parkinson’s Center, a legacy that continues to this day. In 1973, he left his position as Associate Dean and the H. Houston Merritt Professor of Neurology to become the Chairman of Neurology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, a position that he maintained until his retirement in 1992. He continued his clinical and academic activity at Mount Sinai Medical Center until his death, with the title of Chairman Emeritus and the Aidekman Professor of Neurologic research. Dr Yahr’s work with Parkinson’s disease started over 40 years ago. Drawing from his large clinical practice of patients with idiopathic and post-encephalitic parkinsonism, he conducted landmark clinical studies that included the 1967 publication, with Margaret Hoehn ‘Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality’, one of the most frequently cited works ever written on Parkinson’s disease. This article was the first modern comprehensive description of the disease, and established the basis for the Hoehn and Yahr’s classification of Parkinson’s disease severity and progression. This seminal work was followed by the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Levodopa, introducing to clinical practice around the world the most effective treatment for the disease to date. He was also among those who initially observed and then characterized the motor complications of prolonged Levodopa treatment. Melvin Yahr pioneered the idea of studying the basic mechanisms of the disease alongside the clinical research and established the first NIH-supported Parkinson’s disease Research and Education Center. He played a vital role in the creation of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, and, later, founded the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Parkinson’s disease, which he led until 2001. He was a founder member of the editorial board of this journal. He also served and led numerous professional and scientific
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ 1-212-844-8362; fax: þ 1-212-844-8461.
organizations including the American Neurological Association and the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases. Dr Melvin Yahr had many professional accomplishments, but the one of greatest importance to him was the teaching and mentoring of generations of neurologists, neuroscientists and Parkinson’s disease specialists from all over the world. He formed deep personal relationships with so many who learned from him, or, as he would say, ‘with me.’ There has always been an uncommon, profound, affection and admiration for him among all his students. Melvin Yahr was demanding, chiefly of himself, and he expected all of us to achieve in our professional and personal life through his mentorship. Although he is largely remembered for his scientific contribution, Dr Yahr’s interaction with his patients was a daily reminder of his profound humanity and social conscience. Melvin Yahr was a brilliant clinician, a sophisticated diagnostician and a refined and honest observer. He applied the universal humanistic values of medicine by honoring each patient with rigorous medical practice and strong, calm empathy. Dr Melvin Yahr left an enormous and rich professional legacy. We are more than honored to have been his students, and profoundly saddened by his death. His commitment to the advancement of neurological sciences and patient care will remain a guiding example to us, and many others. Alessandro Di Roccop Peter Werner Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, PACC, 10 Union Square East, #2R, New York, NY 10003, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A. Di Rocco); [email protected] (P. Werner).
In memoriam
Professor Melvin David Yahr 1917 –2004 .
On January 1 2004, our teacher, mentor, collaborator and friend, Dr Melvin D. Yahr, died at the age of 86 years in his home, surrounded by family. Dr Yahr was widely known for his groundbreaking work that pioneered and validated Levodopa therapy for Parkinson’s disease, which revolutionized the field of Movement Disorders and the practice of Neurology. In addition to his great professional qualities, Melvin Yahr also had exemplary personal traits that endeared him to his
friends, colleagues and patients. He was utterly loyal, and throughout his career maintained a profound sense of personal and professional integrity. Early in life, he developed a strong social conscience. He shunned unnecessary public attention, and was an early advocate for the promotion of women in academic medicine. He fought for the right of patients to receive the best medical treatment, regardless of their social or economic status. His sharp wit and encyclopedic knowledge of Neurology was daunting to many, but those whom he mentored were richly rewarded, as any correction or critique was the beginning of dedicated instruction. Dr Yahr inspired the loyalty of several generations of neurologists and neuroscientists. He had great intellectual curiosity, which continued to expand until his passing. Dr Melvin Yahr’s dedication to his patients and the neurosciences remained unbroken even by the severe illness that he endured in the last months of life. This steadfast commitment reflected his ethics, his approach to neurological science and to his patients, and the joy and satisfaction he found in his work. Only three days before his death, he finished revising a manuscript with one of his collaborators, who will present it at the forthcoming Movement Disorders meeting in Rome this June. Two weeks earlier, he had obtained final institutional review board approval for a clinical trial of a candidate drug for dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease patients, and had begun to design a trial to test a new compound with possible neuroprotective properties. Although he had difficulty walking in his last months, he maintained his office schedule and continued to see his patients until a few weeks before his death. He also continued to be a mentor and advisor for many of us. Melvin Yahr grew up in New York, the last child in a modest family of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. As a young man, he experienced the anti-Semitism that still pervaded society, an experience that instilled in him his sense of justice, individual freedom and civil rights. He graduated from Washington Square College in New York City, earned his medical degree at New York University Medical College, and completed his residency in Neurology
1353-8020/$ - see front matter q 2004. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2004.01.002
124
In memoriam / Parkinsonism and Related Disorders 10 (2004) 123–124
at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx. At the end of World War II he served in the Armed Forces for three years, before joining the Neurological Institute of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. It was at the Neurological Institute where he built the first Parkinson’s Center, a legacy that continues to this day. In 1973, he left his position as Associate Dean and the H. Houston Merritt Professor of Neurology to become the Chairman of Neurology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, a position that he maintained until his retirement in 1992. He continued his clinical and academic activity at Mount Sinai Medical Center until his death, with the title of Chairman Emeritus and the Aidekman Professor of Neurologic research. Dr Yahr’s work with Parkinson’s disease started over 40 years ago. Drawing from his large clinical practice of patients with idiopathic and post-encephalitic parkinsonism, he conducted landmark clinical studies that included the 1967 publication, with Margaret Hoehn ‘Parkinsonism: onset, progression and mortality’, one of the most frequently cited works ever written on Parkinson’s disease. This article was the first modern comprehensive description of the disease, and established the basis for the Hoehn and Yahr’s classification of Parkinson’s disease severity and progression. This seminal work was followed by the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Levodopa, introducing to clinical practice around the world the most effective treatment for the disease to date. He was also among those who initially observed and then characterized the motor complications of prolonged Levodopa treatment. Melvin Yahr pioneered the idea of studying the basic mechanisms of the disease alongside the clinical research and established the first NIH-supported Parkinson’s disease Research and Education Center. He played a vital role in the creation of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, and, later, founded the World Federation of Neurology Research Group on Parkinson’s disease, which he led until 2001. He was a founder member of the editorial board of this journal. He also served and led numerous professional and scientific
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ 1-212-844-8362; fax: þ 1-212-844-8461.
organizations including the American Neurological Association and the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Diseases. Dr Melvin Yahr had many professional accomplishments, but the one of greatest importance to him was the teaching and mentoring of generations of neurologists, neuroscientists and Parkinson’s disease specialists from all over the world. He formed deep personal relationships with so many who learned from him, or, as he would say, ‘with me.’ There has always been an uncommon, profound, affection and admiration for him among all his students. Melvin Yahr was demanding, chiefly of himself, and he expected all of us to achieve in our professional and personal life through his mentorship. Although he is largely remembered for his scientific contribution, Dr Yahr’s interaction with his patients was a daily reminder of his profound humanity and social conscience. Melvin Yahr was a brilliant clinician, a sophisticated diagnostician and a refined and honest observer. He applied the universal humanistic values of medicine by honoring each patient with rigorous medical practice and strong, calm empathy. Dr Melvin Yahr left an enormous and rich professional legacy. We are more than honored to have been his students, and profoundly saddened by his death. His commitment to the advancement of neurological sciences and patient care will remain a guiding example to us, and many others. Alessandro Di Roccop Peter Werner Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, PACC, 10 Union Square East, #2R, New York, NY 10003, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (A. Di Rocco); [email protected] (P. Werner).