Issn Print: 0277-3732

Publication Date: 2000/10/01


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Jerzy Einhorn, M.D.: A Memorial

Ulrik Ringborg; Seymour Levitt

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Professor Jerzy Einhorn, M.D., Ph.D., R.N.O., died on April 28, 2000, after a valiant battle with leukemia. Dr. Einhorn was born in Poland, but his career began in Sweden, with medical studies at the University of Uppsala and the Karolinska Institute, where he completed his medical degree in 1954 and his doctorate in 1958. Dr. Einhorn completed his specialist training at the Karolinska Hospital and Institute (Radiumhemmet) and remained there with an appointment to the staff of the Department of Oncology. This was the beginning of a long and illustrious association with the Karolinska Institute. From 1967 until his retirment in 1992 Dr. Einhorn served as professor and director of the Radiumhemmet’s Department of Nonsurgical Oncology. During much of the same 25 years he also served as medical director of the Cancer Centre for Stockholm—Gotland Region.
Throughout his career, Dr. Einhorn shared his talents by active participation in professional organizations. He was the president of the Swedish Society of Medical Radiology, the Swedish Society of Radiotherapy, the European Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and the Federation of European Cancer Societies. He served as president and chairman of the executive board of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes, chairman of the education branch of the European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer, and was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the European School of Oncology. As a faculty member of the Karolinska Institute, he was a member of the Nobel Assembly for more than 25 years, earning appointments as vice-chairman and chairman of the Assembly for the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 1983 and 1984, respectively. He also was a member of the Standing Commission on Cancer, the Scientific Council of the National Board of Health and Welfare, and chief medical advisor of the National Cancer Registry. During 1991 and 1994 Dr. Einhorn was elected to serve in the Swedish Parliament, and in 1999 also served on the Standing Parliamentary Commission on Priorities in Health Care.
From the start of his brilliant career Dr. Einhorn was a contributor to the international medical scene. In 1969, he founded and directed the Department of Radiotherapy at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. As a World Health Organization (WHO) advisor, he helped organize cancer care in numerous European, Asian, and African countries. He was president of the 1st International Committeee of Priorities in Health Care from 1993 to 1996, and until his death served as chair of the International Committee of Priorities in Health Care.
Professional medical groups and societies bestowed numerous honors on Dr. Einhorn for his many contributions to the fields of diagnostic radiology and radiation therapy. He was honored by the American College of Radiology, the French Society of Radiology, the Royal College of Radiologists in London, the Ontario Cancer Foundation, Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, the Juan del Regato Society, and he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Gilbert Fletcher Society. Dr. Einhorn was also a Fellow of the American College of Radiology (ACR). In 1985 he was made an honorary member of the Radiological Society of North America, which, at their 1999 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, awarded Dr. Einhorn its highest honor, the Gold Medal, for his contributions to the field of radiologic sciences.
Deep humanistic values, a profound interest in the individual patient, and a keen ability to link visions to organizational structures characterized Dr. Einhorn. From these followed his interest in the total problems of the cancer patient and his devoted work to establish the coordinated cancer centers in Sweden, aimed at addressing and solving these problems.
Dr.
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