Einstein-Montefiore Mourns Giant of Endocrinology
On the afternoon of May 31, the Einstein-Montefiore community was shocked to learn of the unexpected passing of longtime, beloved faculty member and mentor Dr. Norman Fleischer, professor emeritus of medicine and former chief of the division of endocrinology. He was 82.
Norman Fleischer, M.D.
“Dr. Fleischer was a brilliant clinician, researcher, leader, and above all, a decent and humble person, a friend, a colleague, and a mentor,” noted Dr. Yaron Tomer, professor and chair of medicine and the Anita and Jack Saltz Chair in Diabetes Research, in a message to his faculty and staff. “He was one of the giants of our institution.”
Norman Fleischer joined Einstein in 1972, and made countless contributions to the field of diabetes and to our Einstein and Montefiore community. An internationally recognized authority on diabetes treatment and research, his work focused on both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how the body regulates insulin production and secretion. He also studied the use of pancreatic beta-cells as a possible cell-based treatment.
In 1975, Dr. Fleischer submitted a grant to the NIH to establish the first Einstein Diabetes Research and Training Center. The grant application – written on a typewriter – was accepted in 1976, and the diabetes center has received NIH funding ever since. Dr. Fleischer also built a robust clinical endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism division with 30 full-time faculty members, which trained nearly 60 fellows.
“He was a consummate physician, who was widely sought after and was committed to the social mission at Einstein and Montefiore,” noted Dr. Harry Shamoon, a longtime colleague and associate dean for clinical and translational research at Einstein. “Countless patients, many from underserved populations, benefited from his care.”
Dr. Fleischer, who also was the former Jeanne and Jacob Barkey Professor of Medicine, recently retired. A special Research Symposium was held on November 10, 2017, in testament to his inspiring talent as a leader, scientist, clinician, mentor, and humanitarian. Colleagues, friends and former trainees from around the world came to honor him, with researchers presenting their findings to a standing-room-only audience in the Price Center/Block Research Pavilion’s LeFrak Auditorium.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Steven Safyer, president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, announced the formation of the Dr. Norman Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism at Montefiore and Einstein named after Dr. Fleischer. Watch for details on the ribbon-cutting that will formalize this honor recognizing his unmatched expertise and passion in the field of endocrinology and continuing his legacy for generations to come.
Posted on: Friday, June 01, 2018