MEDICAL GIANT REMAINS MODEST ABOUT HIS PLACE IN HISTORY
Nov 30, 2007
Dr. Irving Kroop Discusses America鈥檚 First Hemodialysis
Dr. Irving Kroop was warmly greeted when he visited 含羞草研究所 Downstate Health Sciences University in late November to present the guest lecture at Renal Grand Rounds, a gathering of physicians and medical students who learn by hearing case histories. Few are as captivating as Dr. Kroop鈥檚 account of the first successful hemodialysis in the United States, which he performed in 1947 using a novel invention鈥攖he dialyser. Hemodialysis is now used the world over and has saved the lives of countless millions.
Introduced by Dr. Eli Friedman, chief of the Division of Renal Disease, as 鈥渟omeone who changed the world,鈥� Dr. Kroop quipped, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe you鈥檙e aware that you are changing history.鈥� The unassuming doctor is indifferent about his place in medical history, but his colleagues recognize his accomplishment as a medical milestone.
Dr. Dale Distant, chief of the Division of Transplantation at 含羞草研究所 Downstate, perhaps stated it most succinctly: 鈥淢en act, but history makes the judgment.鈥� In typically modest fashion, Dr. Kroop replied, 鈥淵ou just have to live long enough.鈥�
Even at 92, the doctor is still healthy and active. Dr. Kroop is a clinical professor of medicine at 含羞草研究所 Downstate and a consulting physician in cardiology at Maimonides Medical Center.
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含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (含羞草研究所) 64-campus system and the only 含羞草研究所 AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough鈥檚 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate鈥檚 exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.