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On January 15, Children's lost a deeply treasured member of the hospital family, Judah Folkman, MD, founder of the Vascular Biology Program, who was a visionary and a scientific pioneer, compassionate caregiver, mentor and teacher.
In 1971, Folkman first published his groundbreaking theory that new blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis, is necessary for the growth of tumors, and that cancer could be held in check by cutting off its blood supply. His ideas were met with skepticism and derision from the scientific community. But he persevered, and today, more than 1,000 laboratories are engaged in the study of angiogenesis, more than 10 new drugs are available to treat cancer patients and more than 1.2 million patients worldwide are receiving anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer and macular degeneration, another condition caused by aberrant blood vessel growth.
During his 14 years as surgeon-in-chief, Folkman was known for his compassion and kindness, treating every staff member and parent with respect, and every child with patience and tenderness. He continued to "care for" patients when he moved to the laboratory fulltime, returning calls to cancer patients every evening when he finished in the lab, offering medical guidance, compassion and hope.
He had a singular ability to recognize talent and to cultivate scientific creativity and brilliance in others. He was a mentor and teacher to generations of researchers and physicians during his decades in Enders and Karp. And this may be his most lasting legacy. The work that began with a glimmer of an idea and a sole believer more than 40 years ago is today carried on by the scientists and staff in Children's Vascular Biology Program, and in labs around the world, taking it in more directions than Folkman imagined.
Folkman touched thousands of lives through his clinical care, teaching and discoveries. Below
are excerpts from personal remembrances sent to The Boston Globe and to Children's Web site
(childrenshospital.org/folkman) in his honor.
William Wordsworth once wrote, "the best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unremembered acts of kindness." But, in fact, those acts of kindness are the things I remember best about Dr. Folkman. I remember how, even though he ceased treating patients decades ago to concentrate on his research, he would stop everything when he was asked to consult on a particularly challenging case. I remember how this good and gentle man would end every day, after 10, 12, or even more hours of exhausting work, by returning at least a half-dozen calls to cancer sufferers in search of a glimmer of hope. I remember how humbly he spoke about his own achievements and how gloriously he spoke about the achievements of his colleagues... A bright and shining light has been extinguished. An optimistic scientist who believed that hard problems can be solved. A dedicated scientist who understood that failure was a necessary and important part of the process. A passionate scientist who inspired many thousands of others.
—Nancy Linde, WGBH/NOVA producer, Cancer Warrior
I was terribly saddened by the news of Judah's sudden death. He truly was an exceptional human being. Everybody will likely emphasize his enviable intelligence and research interest and accomplishments. But, perhaps more importantly, he was a very kind, concerned gentleman. A gentleman in the truest sense... We all lost a valued friend and much loved colleague’Ķ. Who knows how long it will take and how many good people it will take to replace him.
—Aldo Castañeda, MD, PhD,
Unidad de Cirugía Cardiovascular de Guatemal, Children's chief-of-cardiovascular surgery emeritus
This brilliant man has walked on water in my eyes, since the day he helped save the life of my newborn son. His humility and compassion were unmatched. That son is now a physician; I pray he will someday mean half as much to the world as this man has.
—Laura Supple Griffith
We miss you so much Dr. Folkman. This place isn't the same without you.
—Anonymous
Someday, I hope, there will be a Judah Folkman Physician/Scientist/Humanitarian Award, and any recipient of this award should feel more honored to receive it than a Nobel Prize’Ķ A Folkman Award could not be given every year, but only singularly, in the unlikely event that someone of that depth and breadth of gifts, and giving, appears again.
—Mimi Thompson Breed
I was lucky enough to know Dr Folkman, for he is the reason I am alive today (he treated me and my cancer back in 1998). He inspired my oncologists and probably every other doctor that had the opportunity to sit in on one of his lectures. I will always remember his passion. His energy was contagious, and every moment that I talked with him either on the phone or in person, I felt like anything was possible. He gave me the best gifts imaginable: hope and life.
—Tonya Kalesnik
There is an ancient Jewish teaching that the world is maintained by the unselfish acts of 36 anonymous and righteous people. Someone will have to take Judah Folkman's place.
—Norman Spack, MD, Endocrinology
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