Abstract
Alan T. Hirsch, MD, MSVM, SVM Past President (1997–1999)
Alan was a leader and an integral part of the vascular community, and importantly my colleague and friend. He was a passionate and caring clinician, scientist, and advocate for patients with vascular disease. Alan had the diplomatic skills and unselfish motivation to bring the vascular specialty disciplines together and have them work towards a common goal of improved vascular health. Without his vibrancy, his enthusiasm, his energy, his ability to create excitement within our community, there is a void. Without his scholarly pursuits to improving knowledge about vascular disease, there is a void. Without his leadership in promoting policy to make the lives of our patients better, there is a void … We will carry your torch, my friend.
Mark Creager, MD, MSVM, Past President (1993–1995)
Alan and I worked together for the past 25 years on all things vascular. Looking back, our first publication together was in 1995 on clinical trial recommendations in PAD. Alan was active and energetic all of the time with the singular goal to bring vascular diseases to the forefront. As a cheerleader, Alan was insuppressible and enthusiastic in support of improving the care of patients with vascular diseases. His strength was not just research, but also in education, advocacy and policy. There were no challenges too big for Alan and his persistence finally paid off with CMS agreeing to reimburse for PAD exercise rehabilitation. I am so pleased that Alan was able to realize one of his dreams by pushing that therapy into standard practice.
William Hiatt, MD, MSVM, Past President (1995–1997)
We were close colleagues as I followed you as President of the SVM … for 6 years I talked to you almost every day and there were times that I saw you more than my own family and friends in my home town. We have been through great successes and shared some very sad times together. I have admired you as a colleague, as a cheerleader … I am going to miss you my friend.
Jeffrey W. Olin, DO, MSVM, Past President (1999–2001)
No one had more energy, more creativity, more focus or dedication to the field of vascular medicine than Alan. My fondest memory was sitting in a night club in Minneapolis with him listening to Erin Bode. I miss him terribly.
Michael Jaff, DO, MSVM, Past President (2003–2005)
Alan and I started down our career path together 30 years ago at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where we were young physician-scientists in the emerging field of vascular medicine. Our paths criss-crossed many times over the ensuing years. I loved exchanging ideas with Alan … he had so many of them … and was most passionate about those that might make a difference to his patients. Alan was a spectacular advocate for our patients and for vascular health. Among his many contributions to vascular medicine was his founding of the P.A.D. Coalition, which at the time of his (MSVM) award included 37 organizations focused on vascular health. Alan was capable of mounting such collaborative efforts because of his compelling oratory and infectious enthusiasm. On a more personal note, I will fondly remember Alan as a one-man Klezmer band: highly energetic, exceedingly creative, sometimes a little silly, but always one to bring a smile to your face.
John Cooke, MD, MSVM, Past President (2005–2007)
Alan Hirsch was many things to me … he was the source of strength in adversity, the motivator when the tank was empty, and a singular force when everyone else had given up. In his pursuit of a supervised exercise benefit for claudicants, he is Moses who led us to the Promised Land but will never cross the river Jordan. We must continue the battle.
Joshua Beckman, MD, MSVM, Past President (2011–2013)
I don’t remember when I first met Alan, because the moment we did – whenever it was – he treated me like a close friend and an old one. My first recollection of interacting with him was around the PARTNERS study. I was fresh out of fellowship, and had no idea how to go about executing this study. Alan walked me through the process so enthusiastically and attentively, that I had no idea I was one of hundreds of sites … Every time I spoke with him I left the conversation with two things: a longer to-do list, and the enthusiasm to attack it.
James Froehlich, MD, FSVM, Immediate Past President
I remember Alan as full of energy, a tireless and passionate advocate for SVM and the cause he believed in – PAD. A giant in the field of vascular medicine … He will be missed by all.
John R. Bartholomew, MD, MSVM, President
No one could command a room and motivate a crowd like Alan. Working with him on the P.A.D. Coalition was a turning point for me when I first entered the vascular world. I went to a number of his talks at ACC this past March, and he was in top form … spreading the gospel of a population-based approach to preventing limb loss in CLI and talking about his team’s ambitious program to disseminate the PAD Guidelines throughout the state of Minnesota. He was always the life of the party at SVM Scientific Sessions … I don’t think he ever missed a meeting. I still can’t believe he won’t be with us this week.
Heather Gornik, MD, FSVM, President-Elect
The fields of lymphedema and advanced venous disease were fortunate to capture Alan’s attention in his last few years. Having been a long-time student of his publications and lectures, I have always looked up to him as a mentor. He also became a good friend and colleague. He was always available for a phone call, to advise me and to uplift my spirits during grant writing. His phone call would begin with, ‘So Kolluri, let’s chat about your nasty venous ulcer stuff’. I will miss him terribly.
Raghu Kolluri, MD, FSVM, Treasurer
Alan’s enthusiasm was infectious and his energy seemingly endless. For all of us within the vascular community, he provided vision, and for many of us individually, he was both a trusted mentor and reliable friend who would always find time no matter how much else he had on his plate. He will be missed dearly and our greatest collective challenge for years to come will be to try and fill the void he has left behind.
Herbert Aronow, MD, FSVM, Secretary
Alan has touched my life tremendously, an inspiration and driving force in vascular medicine … he will be missed by us, his friends from the Philippines.
Maria Teresa Abola, MD, FSVM, Member of BOT
Although I only knew Alan for a short period of time, he quickly became one of my most inspirational heroes in vascular medicine. His enthusiasm was infectious, and his work and advocacy for PAD walking programs were unmatched by anyone is his field. He will be sorely missed by all who had the special opportunity to know and learn from him.
G. Jay Bishop, MD, FSVM, Member of BOT
It is so hard to put this loss into words. To say that he had charisma is an understatement. My favorite quote from him during his Grand Rounds here at Hopkins … ‘an MI is just metastatic PAD’. I love that. I wrote an article recently on PAD for U.S. News & World Report. It was published online in April and I sent it to him via a message on Twitter since it was right up his alley on PAD awareness. An hour later at 9:30 p.m. he wrote back, ‘You, Ratchford, rock …’. I will always save and treasure that message because it was my last interaction with him just days before his death and it so well captures his essence and his spirit.
Elizabeth Ratchford, MD, FSVM, Member of BOT