Distinguished Philadelphia radiologist and ultrasound expert Harvey Nisenbaum dies
Harvey Nisenbaum, MD, a renowned Philadelphia radiologist and ultrasound expert, died on Oct. 8 from complications of glioblastoma at age 77.
His contributions to the specialty were numerous over the past 40-plus years, serving on 140 committees as a member of 15 different professional societies. Nisenbaum authored more than 100 academic pieces, served as an investigator on 11 grants and lectured at 50 national and international meetings, according to an obituary published Tuesday in the Inquirer.
It was back in 1993 that he joined the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, eventually serving as chairman of the Department of Medical Imaging at Penn’s Presbyterian Medical Center from 2001 to 2018.
“Under his leadership, the department introduced tremendous scientific advances in medical imaging into clinical practice and greatly expanded its contribution to the hospital’s mission,” the Perelman School of Medicine said on its webpage. The Ivy League school’s Department of Radiology created the Harvey Nisenbaum Award for Medical Imaging Research in his honor, prior to his death.
Nisenbaum was passionate about bringing imaging to underserved countries, volunteering with the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, according to the Inquirer. And he played a crucial part in working to incorporate US into the medical curriculum. That work earned him numerous accolades, including the Peter H. Arger, MD, Excellence in Medical Student Education Award from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
“The AIUM mourns the loss of Past President Harvey L Nisenbaum, MD,” the group shared on Tuesday. “His contribution to the AIUM and the field of medical ultrasound will never be forgotten.”
Nisenbaum is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sylvia (nee Tymowczak), and son, Eric Nisenbaum, MD. The family is scheduling a celebration of his life at a later date, due to the pandemic, but encouraging contributions to the Harvey L. Nisenbaum, MD, Memorial Fund for Glioblastoma Research. Credit card donations can be made here.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.