Dr Bernard Lown has passed away at the age of 99.
He was one of the world's greatest cardiologists and a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize!
His death is a great loss for humanity, medicine and public health.

Want to know more about his works?
#DrLown

As a cardiology fellow at @BrighamWomens Dr Bernard Lown became interested in cardiac arrhythmias. His work led to understanding the mechanism of the toxic effect of digoxin in patients with hypokalemia.
#DrLown

As a young faculty he developed the first direct current defibrillator (safer than AC).
As if that wasn't enough, he also laid the groundwork for coronary intensive care and showed the importance of early physical activity to recover heart function after a heart attack
#DrLown

One afternoon, at his home, I was privileged to hear the stories of Dr Bernard Lown.
He was a physician scientist who sought to contribute to public health and the good of mankind.
That is the path I wish to follow and his experience acts as a beacon on my way
#DrLown

His work was a show of commitment to medicine, but first and foremost to humanism. His life principle was #Chutzpah, The tenacity to seek a solution to the problems one encounters along the way. Especially if that solution improves the lives of others.
#DrLown

But he didn't just stay busy in his practice thinking to himself. He saw how the greatest challenge facing civilization was a nuclear war and decided, being just one person in the midst of an international crisis, to do something about it.
#DrLown

He organized a group of professionals "International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War", who contributed to the attenuation of cold-war tensions and received the @NobelPrize - Peace
Read more at @nytimes https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/health/bernard-lown-dead.html

#DrLown #Activism

He also sought to create programs that would improve health everywhere in the world. So he founded #SatelLife (network of satellites that allowed access to medical literature to healthcare workers in remote places).
https://web.archive.org/web/20160103030743/http://www.isoc.org/inet96/proceedings/a3/a3_2.htm

#DrLown

He spent his academic life at @HarvardHSPH. There he founded the Lown Scholars in Cardiovascular Health Program, of which I am proud to be part.
We have the mission to honor Dr Bernard Lown's legacy and contribute to our communities.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/lownscholars/ 

#DrLown

If you would like to learn more about humanism in Dr Bernard Lown´s work as a physician and activist, I recommend reading:
-The lost art of healing (a must read for healthcare professionals).
-Prescription for survival

Let us celebrate the life and legacy of Dr Bernard Lown.
A great life dedicated to cardiology and the care of humanity.
@IntMedatIowa @ACCinTouch @AHAScience @escardio https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/health/bernard-lown-dead.html