Edward D. Freis
Encyclopedia
Edward D. Freis was an American
physician and researcher, who received the Albert Lasker Award for his studies of the treatment of hypertension
.
n immigrant parents, he had his eyes set on becoming an actor. After a few shows, however, he realized that acting was not for him, and he decided to be a doctor.
Freis attended the University of Arizona
and the Columbia University
medical school. After graduation he joined the United States Army Air Corps
, working in the medical corps during World War II
.
When the war ended, he met Doctor Chester Keefer, who had done penicillin
trials. Freis decided that he wanted to become a researcher. He went to work for the United States Veterans Affairs Administration
in Washington, DC, specializing in the study of hypertenstion. At the time, it was felt by the medical community that high blood pressure was a good thing, because it improved circulation. But Freis's studies, first published in the New England Journal of Medicine
in 1954 then later expanded in the 1960s, showed that hypertension actually increased the likelihood of stroke
and heart attack
.
He was awarded the Lasker Award for his studies, cited for "an exemplary demonstration of the potential of preventive medicine."
In 1957, Freis was appointed professor of medicine at Georgetown University
Medical Center. He was president of the Washington Heart Association and received an award of meritorious accomplishment from the American Heart Association
. In later years, he moved on to the study of hemodynamics
, the study of circulation.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and researcher, who received the Albert Lasker Award for his studies of the treatment of hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
.
Biography
Born in Chicago, Illinois to LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n immigrant parents, he had his eyes set on becoming an actor. After a few shows, however, he realized that acting was not for him, and he decided to be a doctor.
Freis attended the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
medical school. After graduation he joined the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, working in the medical corps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
When the war ended, he met Doctor Chester Keefer, who had done penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
trials. Freis decided that he wanted to become a researcher. He went to work for the United States Veterans Affairs Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
in Washington, DC, specializing in the study of hypertenstion. At the time, it was felt by the medical community that high blood pressure was a good thing, because it improved circulation. But Freis's studies, first published in the New England Journal of Medicine
New England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It describes itself as the oldest continuously published medical journal in the world.-History:...
in 1954 then later expanded in the 1960s, showed that hypertension actually increased the likelihood of stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
He was awarded the Lasker Award for his studies, cited for "an exemplary demonstration of the potential of preventive medicine."
In 1957, Freis was appointed professor of medicine at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
Medical Center. He was president of the Washington Heart Association and received an award of meritorious accomplishment from the American Heart Association
American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
. In later years, he moved on to the study of hemodynamics
Hemodynamics
Hemodynamics, meaning literally "blood movement" is the study of blood flow or the circulation.All animal cells require oxygen for the conversion of carbohydrates, fats and proteins into carbon dioxide , water and energy in a process known as aerobic respiration...
, the study of circulation.
External links
- Edward D. Freis Papers (1926-2004) - National Library of Medicine finding aid
- The Edward D. Freis Papers - Profiles in Science, National Library of Medicine