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2009 Red Book Dedication For Ralph D. Feigin, MD, FAAP (1938–2008)
This edition of the Red Book is dedicated to Ralph D. Feigin, MD, FAAP. Although Ralph never served on the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, there are very few chapters in this book that were not influenced by his considerable body of work or that of his trainees. In fact, a true listing of his accomplishments in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases would likely require a book this size. Ralph planned on being a general pediatrician, but entered the field of infectious diseases almost by accident. As a medical student, he learned how to measure amino acids in human blood, a relatively new science at the time. When he entered the military in 1965, he was assigned to the US Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, where he performed ground-breaking work on the circadian periodicity of amino acid metabolism during infection. Thus, a great career was launched. A few of his subsequent contributions to the understanding of infectious diseases and their management in children include:
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Defining many of the metabolic changes that occur during the incubation period and early phases of clinical infectious diseases
Using animal models to document that the time of day when a viral or bacterial infection occurs may have a marked effect on morbidity and mortality
Providing one of the first descriptions of the effectiveness of clindamycin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections
Defining the stability of antimicrobial agents in parenteral solutions, which still serves as the basis for most manufacturers’ recommendations for intravenous use
Contributing to epidemiologic studies showing that a single dose of measles vaccine would not be an effective strategy to eradicate measles and documenting the development of atypical measles syndrome in previously immunized children
Defining the pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in children
Reporting detailed epidemiologic studies of the occurrence of leptospirosis in urban populations and documenting transmission from healthy immunized dogs to humans
Performing detailed sequential long-term (5–20 years) prospective evaluations of children with bacterial meningitis to determine how epidemiology and pathogenesis related to clinical manifestations and sequelae
Delineating the role of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion in children with bacterial meningitis
Contributing to defining adherence of Haemophilus influenzae to epithelial cells as a necessary requirement for colonization and/or invasion
Impressive as these accomplishments are, they only scratch the surface of Ralph’s contribution to pediatrics. He served as President of the Society for Pediatric Research, the American Pediatric Society, and the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs. He authored or coauthored 15 books, including 6 editions of the Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and was coeditor of Oski’s Pediatrics: Principles and Practice. He served as the Associate Editor of Pediatrics and Editor for the Pediatric Division of Up-To-Date, Inc. Beginning in 1974, he served as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the US Army on defense of the United States against biologic warfare. He was a vocal advocate for the need to consider the special needs of children in disaster planning, including events of biological terrorism. He also served as a member of the Board of Governors and the Finance Committee for the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, again advocating for promotion and funding of pediatric research. Ralph’s many accomplishments were recognized in 2007 with his receipt of the John Howland Award, the penultimate award in pediatrics.
Anyone who knew Ralph understands that his greatest professional passion was teaching. The fabled "Feigin rounds" were a truly unique experience in the art of differential diagnosis. He won the "Outstanding Teacher Award" from the medical students so often that he had to be retired from competition. When Ralph was asked how he built the pediatrics program at Baylor College of Medicine into the largest one in the United States, he emphatically stated that it started with the residency program. In his 31 years as a department chairman, Ralph helped train more than 1000 residents, and his department trained more than 900 fellows. His graduates are members of the faculty at 109 US medical schools and include 55 division heads and 5 department chairs or deans of medical schools. As recognition of his prowess, he received the Lifetime Educational Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Although his professional accomplishments speak volumes, they reflect only one part of the man himself. Ralph was noted for his boundless energy and limitless optimism. He was one of the rare leaders who turned his personal vision of excellence into reality, but maintained his sense of proportion and humanity. He was kind, gentle, and compassionate in the best tradition of pediatricians. He was generous with his wisdom and his time, with his door always open to friends and colleagues, residents, and students. He also was devoted to his family. With his wife Judy (the "other Dr. Feigin"), he raised 2 daughters and a son and has 6 grandchildren, all of whom live in Houston.
It is difficult to think of anyone who has contributed more to pediatrics and the study of infectious diseases in the last 4 decades than Ralph Feigin. He was a brilliant clinician, accomplished researcher, creative administrator, unparalleled teacher, devoted family man, and revered mentor. He has forever changed the study of pediatric infectious diseases. This edition of the Red Book is dedicated to Ralph to thank him on behalf of all the children and pediatricians whose lives he has touched.
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