In Memoriam: David Hamerman, M.D., Among Einstein's Initial Faculty Members
Dr. David Hamerman arrived at Einstein in late 1955 as a junior faculty member in the department of medicine. Over more than 40 years, he rose through the ranks and was distinguished professor emeritus of medicine at the time of his death this past weekend, December 25, 2016. He was 91 years old.
David Hamerman, M.D.At Einstein, Dr. Hamerman pursued a highly productive career in rheumatologic research, conducting studies of the metabolism of hyaluronate, an injected treatment for arthritic knee joints. He also assumed a number of important leadership roles, beginning with his appointment as director of Einstein’s rheumatology division. In 1968, following Einstein’s affiliation with Montefiore Medical Center, Dr. Hamerman became chair of the newly designated, separate academic department of medicine at Montefiore.
“Dr. Hamerman was one of the most outstanding leaders at Montefiore and Einstein,” recalled Dr. James Scheuer, who subsequently followed Dr. Hamerman in the role of medicine’s department chair. “Throughout the 1970s, he was the principal architect and leader of the department’s metamorphosis into a modern academic entity.”
He added, “Prior to the late 1960s, the subspecialty divisions within medicine at Montefiore had largely been led by physicians who were part-time employees. When Dr. Hamerman became chair, he recruited and appointed full-time academic division leaders who attracted competitive research and training grants from the National Institutes of Health and other funding resources. His leadership prepared the department for its eventual amalgamation with its Einstein counterpart and the unification of all divisions under Dr. Louis Sherwood.”
After stepping down as chair of medicine in 1979, Dr. Hamerman developed and led the geriatrics division. In 1992, he became director of Einstein’s Jack and Pearl Resnick Gerontology Center, where he created wide visibility for aging research programs at Einstein through a pilot research grant program; stimulated student research in aging and supported the development and enhancement of medical student geriatrics education; and was responsible for promoting career development in aging research for several faculty members who have since become prominent investigators in aging-related disciplines. He continued to teach and participate in conferences hosted by the center for several years following his retirement.
Dr. Hamerman also encouraged collaboration between the divisions of geriatric psychiatry, bioethics, geriatric medicine and neurology regarding educational and research activities, which continues to this day. And he was author of the landmark textbook Geriatric Bioscience: The Link between Aging and Disease (American Society for Clinical Investigation), published in 2008.
“Dr. Hamerman was a soft-spoken, modest man of high intelligence, tremendous persistence and great integrity and humanity,” said Dr. Scheuer. “Those of us who knew and worked with him were truly privileged.”
A memorial service for Dr. Hamerman is planned for January 2017. Further details will be forthcoming.
Posted on: Wednesday, December 28, 2016