Victor Dubowitz

Last updated

Professor
Victor Dubowitz
FRCP
Born (1931-08-06) 6 August 1931 (age 93)
Beaufort West, South Africa
NationalitySouth African
Alma mater Groote Schuur Hospital
University of Cape Town
Awards FRCP
Scientific career
Doctoral advisor Everson Pearse

Victor Dubowitz (born 6 August 1931) is a British neurologist and professor emeritus at Imperial College London. [1] He is principally known along with his wife Lilly Dubowitz for developing two clinical tests, the Dubowitz Score to estimate gestational age and the other for the systematic neurological examination of the newborn. [2] [3]

Contents

Life

Dubowitz is the son of Charley Dubowitz and Olga née Schattel. [4] He was educated in Beaufort West Central High School in South Africa. Dubowitz graduated Doctor of Medicine from the University of Cape Town in 1954, [5] [4] and moved to the United Kingdom in April 1954 to gain some clinical experience, and culture and theatre. Dubowitz planned to return to South Africa after 18 months and return to general practice there, [3] but never did, as he encountered Sir Francis Fraser at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School who directed him into a position at University Hospital Lewisham working as an ophthalmology locum. [3] He later took another locum position at New End Hospital in Hampstead. [3]

Two medical conditions are named after him, Dubowitz syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by microcephaly, growth retardation and a characteristic facial appearance of unknown genetic cause; and Dubowitz disease, a particular form of spinal muscular atrophy, a severe neuromuscular disorder affecting mainly infants and children.

A medical and research institution at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London, bears his name (the Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre). [6] [7]

Dubowitz married Lilly Magdalena Suzanne née Sebők in July 1960, who was also a paediatrician. [8] [9] They had four children, all boys, David born 1963, Michael born 1964, Gerald born 1965, and Daniel born 1969. [4]

Career

Dubowitz started his clinical career in 1954, after graduating in medicine, as a resident in medicine and surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, for the standard 6 months period in each specialisation. [3] Dubowitz started his UK clinical career in 1958 with 3 week locum position at Queen Mary's Hospital where he saw his first case of Muscular dystrophy in two wards of patients, he became a paediatric resident [5] a subject where he been involved in clinical and research aspects of muscle diseases ever since. [3] He remained at this position for two years before becoming a lecturer and a houseman for a year as a clinical pathologist at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, later called National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, performing muscle biopsies. An interest in research followed, studying for an MD thesis on muscular dystrophy in childhood, in 1960 at the University of Sheffield, where he would eventually stay for the next 13 years. [10] [5] Ronald Illingworth was Dubowitz's professor at Sheffield. [3] Between 1961 and 1965, he was employed as a senior lecturer in child health, and Senior House Officer in hospital and was promoted to Dr.phil at the University of Sheffield. The thesis was based on Dubowitz's pioneering histochemical studies and sponsored by Professor Everson Pearse, on developing and diseased muscle. [5] He continued in that position for another two years before being promoted to a reader in Child Health and Developmental Neurology, at Sheffield, a position Dubowitz held until 1972. [3] In 1973, Dubowitz applied and received the Chair of Paediatrics and Neonatal Medicine at the Postgraduate Medical School of Hammersmith Hospital, now part of Imperial College London. [3] [5] A large number of researchers followed Dubowitz to the unit, which eventually became the Jerry Lewis Muscle Research Lab, after the building was funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jerry Lewis actually came an open the unit. [3]

Dubowitz was a founding member of the British Paediatric Neurology Association and the president from 1992 to 1994. [11]

In 1996, Dubowitz was made professor emeritus of paediatrics at the University of London. [5] Dubowitz was honorary member of the European Paediatric Neurology Society since 2005. [12] Dubowitz was president of the Medical Art Society from 1997 to 2000. From 1972 to 1996, Dubowitz was the director of Muscle Research Centre. [13] From 1999 to 2003 Dubowitz was president and later honorary member European Neuromuscular Centre in The Netherlands. [14] [10] From 1972 to the present, Dubowitz has been an honorary consultant paediatrician at the Hammersmith Hospital. [10]

Dubowitz syndrome

The syndrome that eventually became the Dubowitz syndrome was first described in 1965. Dubowitz held a clinic in cystic fibrosis and noticed a baby girl born at full term at Jessop Hospital who weighed around 3 to 4lbs. Dubowitz commented that the baby had an unusually shaped face, recessive and it’s an unusual face, with odd ears and a particular nose, and doesn’t quite fit in and the mother commented that her previous child had a similar shaped face. Dubowitz being interested in the case, through his cystic fibrosis clinic, researched all the different face shapes within syndromes of dwarfism and found that none matched. Dubowitz decided to write a Case report, that was published in the British Journal of Genetics. Then geneticist, John M. Opitz, noticed a similar case in a baby girl in Germany, and published an identical case. Opitz stated that they had identical features, and could almost be sister. From that point on the condition eventually became the Dubowitz syndrome. [15]

World Muscle Society

The idea for the World Muscle Society began in 1995, when Dubowitz discussed the formation of a new society with the pediatrician Luciano Merlini, principally due to the quickening of medical advances in the field and it was felt that the interval between the 4-year meetings of the World Federation of Neurology was too long. Dubowitz felt that a new multidisciplinary society was needed that would meet frequently and focus more on the current research community rather than established figures in the medical community. Dubowitz further discussed the proposal with Italian pediatrician Giovanni Nigro and later with the French pediatrician George Serratrice in Marseille while travelling.

The name World Muscle Society was finally chosen as it was the most easily recognisable name. The society was legally established in London. Dubowitz wrote to 60 potential members asking the following two questions:

do you think there is a need a for a new international muscle society to arrange more frequent interdisciplinary meetings; and would you be able to attend a foundation meeting of the new society in London on Sunday 4th June, 1995?

15 people replied and attended the first meeting in London on Sunday 4 June 1995. [16]

Awards

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muscular dystrophy</span> Diseases in which skeletal muscle breaks down over time

Muscular dystrophies (MD) are a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of rare neuromuscular diseases that cause progressive weakness and breakdown of skeletal muscles over time. The disorders differ as to which muscles are primarily affected, the degree of weakness, how fast they worsen, and when symptoms begin. Some types are also associated with problems in other organs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limb–girdle muscular dystrophy</span> Muscular degenerative disorder primarily of the hip and shoulders

Limb–girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is a genetically heterogeneous group of rare muscular dystrophies that share a set of clinical characteristics. It is characterised by progressive muscle wasting which affects predominantly hip and shoulder muscles. LGMD usually has an autosomal pattern of inheritance. It currently has no known cure or treatment.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. Founded in 1950 by Paul Cohen, who lived with muscular dystrophy, MDA accelerates research, advances care, and works to empower families to live longer and more independent lives but is perhaps known for its working relationship with world-renowned comedian, actor and entertainer Jerry Lewis, its national chairman of 55 years and host of the annual live Labor Day Telethon, along with more support from Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Sammy Davis Jr., Rip Taylor and Dean Martin. The organization's headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neuromuscular disease</span> Medical condition

A neuromuscular disease is any disease affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the neuromuscular junctions, or skeletal muscles, all of which are components of the motor unit. Damage to any of these structures can cause muscle atrophy and weakness. Issues with sensation can also occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congenital muscular dystrophy</span> Medical condition

Congenital muscular dystrophies are autosomal recessively-inherited muscle diseases. They are a group of heterogeneous disorders characterized by muscle weakness which is present at birth and the different changes on muscle biopsy that ranges from myopathic to overtly dystrophic due to the age at which the biopsy takes place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spinal muscular atrophy</span> Rare congenital neuromuscular disorder

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare neuromuscular disorder that results in the loss of motor neurons and progressive muscle wasting. It is usually diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and if left untreated it is the most common genetic cause of infant death. It may also appear later in life and then have a milder course of the disease. The common feature is progressive weakness of voluntary muscles, with arm, leg and respiratory muscles being affected first. Associated problems may include poor head control, difficulties swallowing, scoliosis, and joint contractures.

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References

  1. ↑ "Professor Victor Dubowitz". Imperial College, London. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Emeritus Professor Victor Dubowitz". The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Tansey, Tilli; Gee, Debra (3 April 2017). "Dubowitz, Victor : transcript of an audio interview (27 - Sep - 2016)" (pdf). Queen Mary Research Online. London, Queen Mary University of London: Queen Mary University of London, Wellcome Trust, London. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Lucy Hume (5 October 2017). People of Today 2017. Debrett's. p. 7. ISBN   978-1-9997670-3-7 . Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our Founding Patron". Myotubular Trust. Myotubular Trust 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre" . Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre at the Great Ormond Street for Children NHS Trust" . Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  8. ↑ Mercuri, Eugenio (8 May 2016). "Lilly Dubowitz obituary". The Guardian– via www.theguardian.com.
  9. ↑ "Lilly Dubowitz". 14 June 2016 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Prof. Victor Dubowitz". Debretts. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Past Presidents". British Paediatric Neurology Association. British Paediatric Neurology Association 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "EPNS honorary member - Victor Dubowitz". European Paediatric Neurology Society. European Paediatric Neurology Society 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  13. ↑ "History Of World Muscle Society". World Muscle Society. World Muscle Society 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "HONORARY MEMBERS". European Neuromuscular Centre. European Neuromuscular Centre 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Tansey, Tilli; Gee, Debra (3 April 2017). "Dubowitz, Victor : transcript of an audio interview (27 - Sep - 2016)" (pdf). Queen Mary Research Online. London, Queen Mary University of London: Queen Mary University of London, Wellcome Trust, London. p. 13. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "History Of World Muscle Society". World Muscle Society. The World Muscle Society ©2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
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