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A great one has left us. Dr. Feigin passed on yesterday after a heroic life shaping the world of Pediatrics. The following is from the Texas Children's Hospital website:
As an outstanding physician, renowned infectious disease expert, distinguished author, revered teacher, pioneering researcher and visionary leader, Dr. Feigin made a permanent mark on pediatric medicine.
The Houston Chronicle said he transformed Houston into one the nations premier centers of pediatric care.
Dr. Feigin had an uncanny ability to see possibilities that others could not. When he came to Texas Childrens in 1977, he looked beyond the small, little-known hospital with a less-than-impressive financial outlook. He saw the potential and knew he was the man to make it happen.
With hard work and characteristic pinpoint focus, Dr. Feigin built one of the biggest and most elite childrens hospitals and pediatric training programs in the world. Unquestionably, Texas Childrens is the institute it is today largely in part because of Dr. Feigin.
Always determined to stay at the forefront of the latest patient care techniques, Dr. Feigin led the hospital to implement innovative procedures before other hospitals. He spearheaded development of several nationally recognized clinical-care centers, including the Heart Center, the Cancer Center and the Newborn Center.
Dr. Feigins most notable achievement in patient care may be his recruitment of the nations most talented and dedicated physician-scientists. His reputation as a supportive leader with high standards helped him attract other like-minded achievers. And his unshakeable judge of character led him to those who shared his commitment to excellence on every level.
Dr. Feigin said he saw a big part of his role as helping other people achieve their dreams. This he did through teaching, mentoring and inspiring thousands of aspiring physicians.
As chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Feigin cultivated a small, barely funded department into one of the nations top ranked medical school pediatric specialty programsthe biggest and best-funded pediatrics program in the country.
Today there are 539 members of the Baylor pediatric faculty, nearly 500 more than when Dr. Feigin arrived in Houston in 1977. Before Dr. Feigins tenure, about 35 potential trainees applied; now more than 2,000 vie for spots in the prestigious program.
Dr. Feigins influence was immense. He trained more than 2,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists, including half of pediatricians practicing in Harris County. Many of the physicians who graduated the program went on to achieve greatness: they include two medical school deans, 22 school deans, 10 pediatrics department chairs and 180 pediatrics section heads.
Dr. Feigin was acutely aware of the importance of research both as a way to drive innovative therapies to the bedside and as a path to securing prestigious national funding.
When Dr. Feigin came to Texas Childrens in 1977, the partnership between Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine was awarded less than $1 million in research funding each year. Through astute recruiting and building a supportive environment that attracted top researchers, Dr. Feigin was dedicated to making that figure grow.
Currently, the program receives $90 million each year in national government sponsored funding. In fact, for the past eight years, the program has been the leader in National Institutes of Health pediatric grant support.
In 2003, Texas Childrens newly expanded research facility was re-dedicated as the Feigin Center, in recognition of Ralph and Judy Feigins contributions to pediatric research. In 2008, the Feigin Center underwent an additional $120 million dollar expansion, adding eight floors encompassing 222,000 square feet to the top of the buildings existing 12 stories. The expansion of the Feigin Center ensures that Dr. Feigin's lifelong commitment to research will be carried on for generations to come.
As an outstanding physician, renowned infectious disease expert, distinguished author, revered teacher, pioneering researcher and visionary leader, Dr. Feigin made a permanent mark on pediatric medicine.
The Houston Chronicle said he transformed Houston into one the nations premier centers of pediatric care.
Dr. Feigin had an uncanny ability to see possibilities that others could not. When he came to Texas Childrens in 1977, he looked beyond the small, little-known hospital with a less-than-impressive financial outlook. He saw the potential and knew he was the man to make it happen.
With hard work and characteristic pinpoint focus, Dr. Feigin built one of the biggest and most elite childrens hospitals and pediatric training programs in the world. Unquestionably, Texas Childrens is the institute it is today largely in part because of Dr. Feigin.
Always determined to stay at the forefront of the latest patient care techniques, Dr. Feigin led the hospital to implement innovative procedures before other hospitals. He spearheaded development of several nationally recognized clinical-care centers, including the Heart Center, the Cancer Center and the Newborn Center.
Dr. Feigins most notable achievement in patient care may be his recruitment of the nations most talented and dedicated physician-scientists. His reputation as a supportive leader with high standards helped him attract other like-minded achievers. And his unshakeable judge of character led him to those who shared his commitment to excellence on every level.
Dr. Feigin said he saw a big part of his role as helping other people achieve their dreams. This he did through teaching, mentoring and inspiring thousands of aspiring physicians.
As chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Feigin cultivated a small, barely funded department into one of the nations top ranked medical school pediatric specialty programsthe biggest and best-funded pediatrics program in the country.
Today there are 539 members of the Baylor pediatric faculty, nearly 500 more than when Dr. Feigin arrived in Houston in 1977. Before Dr. Feigins tenure, about 35 potential trainees applied; now more than 2,000 vie for spots in the prestigious program.
Dr. Feigins influence was immense. He trained more than 2,000 pediatricians and pediatric specialists, including half of pediatricians practicing in Harris County. Many of the physicians who graduated the program went on to achieve greatness: they include two medical school deans, 22 school deans, 10 pediatrics department chairs and 180 pediatrics section heads.
Dr. Feigin was acutely aware of the importance of research both as a way to drive innovative therapies to the bedside and as a path to securing prestigious national funding.
When Dr. Feigin came to Texas Childrens in 1977, the partnership between Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine was awarded less than $1 million in research funding each year. Through astute recruiting and building a supportive environment that attracted top researchers, Dr. Feigin was dedicated to making that figure grow.
Currently, the program receives $90 million each year in national government sponsored funding. In fact, for the past eight years, the program has been the leader in National Institutes of Health pediatric grant support.
In 2003, Texas Childrens newly expanded research facility was re-dedicated as the Feigin Center, in recognition of Ralph and Judy Feigins contributions to pediatric research. In 2008, the Feigin Center underwent an additional $120 million dollar expansion, adding eight floors encompassing 222,000 square feet to the top of the buildings existing 12 stories. The expansion of the Feigin Center ensures that Dr. Feigin's lifelong commitment to research will be carried on for generations to come.
