David Rimoin
{{short description|American physician (1936–2012)}}
{{Infobox scientist
| image =
| birth_name = David Lawrence Rimoin
| birth_date = {{birth date |1936|11|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Montreal, Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age |2012|5|27|1936|11|9|df=yes}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, USA
| fields = Medical genetics
| workplaces = Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
| patrons =
| education = McGill University; Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore (PhD)
| doctoral_advisor = Victor A. McKusick
| known_for = Studies of skeletal dysplasia, Tay–Sachs disease, diabetes; Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics
| awards = Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Genetics, Inspiring Excellence Award (both from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics)
| spouse = Ann Garber Rimoin (2nd wife)
| partner =
| children = Anne, Lauren, Michael
| parents = Fay (née Lecker) and Michael Rimoin
}}
David Lawrence Rimoin (November 9, 1936 – May 27, 2012) was a Canadian American geneticist. He was especially noted for his research into the genetics of skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism), inheritable diseases such as Tay–Sachs disease, and diabetes.Thomas H. Maugh, II, [http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/scimedemail/la-me-david-rimoin-20120530,0,5233779.story "Dr. David L. Rimoin dies at 75; Cedars-Sinai geneticist"], Los Angeles Times, May 30, 2012.
Biography
Rimoin was born in Montreal, the son of Fay (Lecker) and Michael Rimoin.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tt8jAQAAIAAJ&q=%22s.+Michael+and+Fay+(Lecker)+R.;%22|title = Who's who in California|last1 = Armstrong|first1 = Alice Catt|year = 1994| publisher=Who's Who Historical Society |isbn = 9781880142066}} Rimoin attended college and medical school at McGill University, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1957, followed by a medical degree and a Master of Science in genetics in 1961. He followed with internships and residencies at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal and at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he studied under genetics pioneer Victor A. McKusickBetty M. Adelson, Dwarfism: Medical And Psychosocial Aspects Of Profound Short Stature (JHU Press, 2005), {{ISBN|9780801881213}}, pp. 51-52. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LtRp4zxRlRYC&q=Rimoin&pg=PA51 Excerpts available] at Google Books. and received a Ph.D. in medical genetics. He spent three years at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri where his first daughter Anne Walsh Rimoin was born. His 1970 study of diabetes mellitus challenged the then-prevailing consensus that diabetes was a single disorder, and showed instead that it could have multiple genetic causes.
In 1970 Rimoin moved to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he became chief of the division of medical genetics. He moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 1986. He founded the International Skeletal Dysplasia Registry. Together with Michael Kaback, he organized a California Tay-Sachs screening program that became a national model. Rimoin and English geneticist Alan E. H. Emery co-edited Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, first published in 1983 and now considered an essential textbook on the subject.Luis Escobar, MD, [http://journals.lww.com/shockjournal/Fulltext/2008/09000/Emery_and_Rimoin_s_Principles_and_Practice_of.23.aspx Review of Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, 5th ed.], Shock vol. 30, no.3 (September 2008).Fred D. Ledley, MD, [http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199204023261424 Review of Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics, 2nd ed.], N Engl J Med 1992; 326:961-962 (April 2, 1992). At Cedars-Sinai he was chair of the pediatrics practice, established an adult genetics program, and began a screening program focused on genetic diseases within Los Angeles' large population of Persian Jews.
David Rimoin was mentioned in Frederick Drimmer's book "Very Special People". It stated that he had found that growth hormone could help pituitary dwarfs achieve close to normal height. Obtained from the pituitaries of human cadavers, it had not been available in sufficient supply.
In 1997–98, Rimoin was the first president of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics[https://www.acmg.net/ACMG/About_ACMG/President_of_ACMG/Past_Presidents/ACMG/About_ACMG/Past_president_roster.aspx?hkey=c3711a72-e2b5-4b2f-a0f5-1812d21c589e Past Presidents], American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (accessed 2015-08-18). After his death, the ACMG established two awards in his honor, the David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Genetics[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924153934/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-301317269.html "ACMG Foundation Announces Endowment Campaign to Establish the ACMG Foundation David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award in Medical Genetics"], Pediatrics Week, September 1, 2012, via HighBeam Research. and the David L. Rimoin Inspiring Excellence Award.[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155124/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-415273952.html "Marcus Miller, Ph.D., Receives ACMG Foundation/David L. Rimoin Inspiring Excellence Award"], News Rx Health and Science, April 19, 2015, via HighBeam Research.
Rimoin died in Los Angeles on May 27, 2012, days after having been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his second wife, Ann Garber Rimoin, his two daughters Anne Rimoin and Lauren Rimoin and his son Michael Rimoin.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100730152342/http://unitdev1.library.ucla.edu/biomed/histmed/pdf/rimoin.pdf Interview with David L. Rimoin], UCLA Oral History of Human Genetics Project (accessed 2012-06-01).
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Category:Physicians from Montreal
Category:McGill University Faculty of Medicine alumni
Category:Johns Hopkins School of Medicine alumni
Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California
Category:Physicians of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Category:20th-century Canadian biologists
Category:20th-century American biologists
Category:20th-century Canadian physicians
Category:20th-century American physicians
Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States