Eric Topol
Encyclopedia
Eric J. Topol, M.D. is an American cardiologist
, geneticist
, and researcher. Much of Topol's career was spent at the Cleveland Clinic
, where he served as chairman of cardiovascular medicine and founded the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
. Topol was one of the first researchers to question the cardiovascular safety of rofecoxib
(Vioxx), culminating in the drug's ultimate withdrawal from the market. Topol's advocacy on the subject led to what the New York Times described as an "unusually public dispute" with the Cleveland Clinic's leadership over ties between the academic institution and the pharmaceutical industry, ultimately leading to Topol's departure from the Clinic after his academic position was abolished.
Topol currently serves as Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, California
. He also serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health
, a Professor of Translational Genomics at The Scripps Research Institute
, and was recently named The Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine. In addition, he is a Co-Founder and serves on the Board of the West Wireless Health Institute
as Vice-Chairman. He is also the Editor-in-chief of theheart.org.
deletion, Thrombospondin
variants) which led to recognition by the American Heart Association top 10 research advances in 2001 and 2003. He has over 1000 original peer reviewed publications, and has edited over 30 books, including the Textbook of Interventional Cardiology (6th ed - Elsevier), and the Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine (3rd ed - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).
His previous training was at the University of Rochester
(medical school), University of California, San Francisco
(internal medicine), and Johns Hopkins University
(cardiology). Topol was a tenured Professor at the University of Michigan
for 6 years. At age 36, Topol was named Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic
, where he is widely credited with leading its cardiovascular program to the topmost position in the US. In 2002 he founded the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
and in 2003 he became a Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University
while maintaining his primary appointment at Cleveland Clinic.
Topol departed from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in 2006 following the removal of the Chief Academic Officer position, and continued on as a Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University. He was then recruited by Scripps Health
and The Scripps Research Institute
in late 2006 to the post of Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Translational Genomics. In 2009, Topol worked with Gary and Mary West to create the West Wireless Health Institute
, made possible by their philanthropic gift, and leads the field in developing, validating and accelerating wireless medicine.
, Topol authored his baccalaureate thesis in 1975 entitled “Prospects for Genetic Therapy in Man” which concentrated on genetics
, and received a BA degree With Highest Distinction. During his training at Johns Hopkins University
, he was involved from the very first patient who was administered t-PA in 1984, a genetically engineered protein. But it was not until 1996 that he started the first dedicated cardiovascular gene bank while at Cleveland Clinic
. This effort led to many discoveries in the genetics of cardiovascular disease, including the identification of key genes associated with heart attack. Both thrombospondin
variants and the MEF2A deletion reports were recognized as top 10 advances by the American Heart Association in 2000 and 2004, as mentioned above. He was the Principal Investigator of the flagship National Institutes of Health Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) grant on the genomics of heart attack with a $17 million award in 2005.
His work in genetics has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology
with the Simon Dack Award and Lecture in 2005 and by the European Society of Cardiology
by the Andreas Gruentzig Award and Lecture in 2004.
In moving to Scripps in 2006, he started the Scripps Genomic Medicine program and recruited a large team to advance individualized medicine using genomic approaches. The group, which includes Drs. Nicholas Schork, Sarah Murray, and Samuel Levy, has multiple NIH funded projects on genomics of cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, pharmacogenomics and diabetes. It is a major force in San Diego bringing together basic scientists and clinical investigators from Scripps Health
and The Scripps Research Institute
along with researchers from the Salk Institute, Sanford-Burnham Institute, the San Diego Supercomputer Center
, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
. Each year since 2007 Scripps Genomic Medicine and the Scripps Translational Science Institute put together a major program entitled “Future of Genomic Medicine” which attracts several hundred clinicians and scientists. In 2009, Topol led the team at Scripps to be the first center to perform routine genotyping of patients undergoing stenting for variants of the gene CYP2C19
, the major gene implicated in Plavix metabolism. The first large scale prospective study of consumer genomics, known as the Scripps Genomic Health Initiative
, was completed in 2010. Also in 2010, he initiated the Association for Genomic Medicine that is dedicated to training physicians in genomics.
and Scripps Health
to train physicians in wireless medicine, a 2 year clinician scholar program: STSI Wireless Health Scholar. At the 2009 International Wireless CTIA meeting, he gave the keynote address on wireless health, the first time this topic has ever been the subject of a CTIA plenary session: CTIA 2009 Keynote. Also in 2009, he served as Co-Founder with Gary and Mary West to form the West Wireless Health Institute
that is dedicated to advancing health care and reducing costs through innovative wireless solutions. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Institute and its Chief Innovation Officer. He presented at TEDMED the rapid progress being made in this field: TEDMED 2009 Lecture. In addition, in early 2010 Topol gave a wireless medicine presentation at the Consumer Electronic Show: CES 2010 Keynote Highlight. He led the first trial with the GE Vscan device GE Reports, a pocket high resolution, mobile ultrasound imaging device, introduced in the US in 2010 "The Doctor Will “e” You Now" and is currently leading clinical trials of heart rhythm and heart failure monitoring wireless devices.
(Vioxx). Topol was highly critical of Merck
's handling of safety issues related to Vioxx. In a 2004 New York Times editorial, he wrote that "Merck finally had to acknowledge the truth [about the drug's cardiovascular risks], but only by accident." Topol also authored an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine
, arguing that "neither Merck nor the FDA fulfilled its responsibilities to the public" and encouraging a "full Congressional review" of the situation.
In 2004, Bethany McLean
, writing in Fortune
, questioned Topol's own potential financial conflicts of interest. She reported that Topol served as a scientific advisor to a hedge fund
which profited substantially by short selling
Merck stock, which plummeted due to the concerns about Vioxx which Topol had publicized. Topol denied giving the hedge fund advance information, and subsequently severed his ties to industry, donating all such income directly to charity. In a 2005 JAMA
commentary, Topol pointed to these allegations as an example of the complications that physicians can experience when associating with the investment industry, at the same time reiterating that "no true conflict of interest existed in this case."
In November 2005, Topol was subpoenaed in a class action lawsuit against Merck. He testified that Vioxx posed an "extraordinary risk", and that Raymond Gilmartin
, former chief executive officer
of Merck, had contacted the head of the Cleveland Clinic board to complain about Topol's work on Vioxx. Two days afterward, Topol was informed that the position as chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic had been abolished, and he was removed as provost
of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, which he had founded. The Clinic described the timing as coincidental. The New York Times described Topol's demotion as part of an "unusually public dispute" between Topol and the Cleveland Clinic's chief executive, Delos Cosgrove, and stated that Topol's criticism of Merck had focused scrutiny and criticism on the Clinic's deep and longstanding ties to the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries.
in 2009. He was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation
, the Association of American Physicians
, and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. In 2004, he was elected to the Institute of Medicine
of the National Academy of Sciences
. He was named Doctor of the Decade by the Institute for Scientific Information
for being one of the top 10 most cited medical researchers. In 2011, Topol received the Hutchinson Medal from the University of Rochester
in addition to giving the commencement speech for the School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
, geneticist
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, and researcher. Much of Topol's career was spent at the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
, where he served as chairman of cardiovascular medicine and founded the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine was established in 2002 with a $100 million gift from Norma and Al Lerner and through a collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. The first class of students was enrolled in 2004.The Lerner College offers a five-year...
. Topol was one of the first researchers to question the cardiovascular safety of rofecoxib
Rofecoxib
Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has now been withdrawn over safety concerns. It was marketed by Merck & Co. to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhoea...
(Vioxx), culminating in the drug's ultimate withdrawal from the market. Topol's advocacy on the subject led to what the New York Times described as an "unusually public dispute" with the Cleveland Clinic's leadership over ties between the academic institution and the pharmaceutical industry, ultimately leading to Topol's departure from the Clinic after his academic position was abolished.
Topol currently serves as Director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute in La Jolla, California
La Jolla, San Diego, California
La Jolla is an affluent, hilly seaside resort community, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California within the northern city limits of San Diego. La Jolla had the highest home prices in the nation in 2008 and 2009; the average price of a standardized...
. He also serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Scripps Health
Scripps Health
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California. The system includes four hospitals and 19 outpatient facilities, and treats a half-million patients annually through 2,600 affiliated physicians....
, a Professor of Translational Genomics at The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is an American medical research facility that focuses on research in the basic biomedical sciences. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, with a sister facility in Jupiter, Florida, the institute is home to 3,000 scientists, technicians, graduate students, and...
, and was recently named The Gary and Mary West Chair of Innovative Medicine. In addition, he is a Co-Founder and serves on the Board of the West Wireless Health Institute
West Wireless Health Institute
The West Wireless Health Institute is a 501 nonprofit independent medical research organization located in San Diego, California. Founded by the Gary and Mary West Foundation with a $45 million grant in March 2009...
as Vice-Chairman. He is also the Editor-in-chief of theheart.org.
Research and training
Topol's research career has been in two major areas: clinical development of new drugs and devices and genomics. Topol pioneered the development of many medications that are routinely used in medical practice including t-PA, Plavix, Angiomax, and ReoPro. He has led worldwide clinical trials in over 40 countries involving over 200,000 patients (First in series – GUSTO trials). His work in the genomics of heart attack has led to discovery of key genes (MEF2AMyocyte-specific enhancer factor 2A
Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MEF2A gene. MEF2A is a transcription factor in the Mef2 family. In humans it is located on chromosome 15q26...
deletion, Thrombospondin
Thrombospondin
Thrombospondins are secreted proteins with antiangiogenic abilities. TSP was discovered by Nancy L. Baenziger.-Types:The thrombospondins are a family of multifunctional proteins...
variants) which led to recognition by the American Heart Association top 10 research advances in 2001 and 2003. He has over 1000 original peer reviewed publications, and has edited over 30 books, including the Textbook of Interventional Cardiology (6th ed - Elsevier), and the Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine (3rd ed - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).
His previous training was at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
(medical school), University of California, San Francisco
University of California, San Francisco
The University of California, San Francisco is one of the world's leading centers of health sciences research, patient care, and education. UCSF's medical, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, and graduate schools are among the top health science professional schools in the world...
(internal medicine), and Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(cardiology). Topol was a tenured Professor at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
for 6 years. At age 36, Topol was named Chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
, where he is widely credited with leading its cardiovascular program to the topmost position in the US. In 2002 he founded the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine was established in 2002 with a $100 million gift from Norma and Al Lerner and through a collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. The first class of students was enrolled in 2004.The Lerner College offers a five-year...
and in 2003 he became a Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
while maintaining his primary appointment at Cleveland Clinic.
Topol departed from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in 2006 following the removal of the Chief Academic Officer position, and continued on as a Professor of Genetics at Case Western Reserve University. He was then recruited by Scripps Health
Scripps Health
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California. The system includes four hospitals and 19 outpatient facilities, and treats a half-million patients annually through 2,600 affiliated physicians....
and The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is an American medical research facility that focuses on research in the basic biomedical sciences. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, with a sister facility in Jupiter, Florida, the institute is home to 3,000 scientists, technicians, graduate students, and...
in late 2006 to the post of Chief Academic Officer and Professor of Translational Genomics. In 2009, Topol worked with Gary and Mary West to create the West Wireless Health Institute
West Wireless Health Institute
The West Wireless Health Institute is a 501 nonprofit independent medical research organization located in San Diego, California. Founded by the Gary and Mary West Foundation with a $45 million grant in March 2009...
, made possible by their philanthropic gift, and leads the field in developing, validating and accelerating wireless medicine.
Genetics and genomics
At the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, Topol authored his baccalaureate thesis in 1975 entitled “Prospects for Genetic Therapy in Man” which concentrated on genetics
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, and received a BA degree With Highest Distinction. During his training at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, he was involved from the very first patient who was administered t-PA in 1984, a genetically engineered protein. But it was not until 1996 that he started the first dedicated cardiovascular gene bank while at Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
. This effort led to many discoveries in the genetics of cardiovascular disease, including the identification of key genes associated with heart attack. Both thrombospondin
Thrombospondin
Thrombospondins are secreted proteins with antiangiogenic abilities. TSP was discovered by Nancy L. Baenziger.-Types:The thrombospondins are a family of multifunctional proteins...
variants and the MEF2A deletion reports were recognized as top 10 advances by the American Heart Association in 2000 and 2004, as mentioned above. He was the Principal Investigator of the flagship National Institutes of Health Specialized Centers of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) grant on the genomics of heart attack with a $17 million award in 2005.
His work in genetics has been recognized by the American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
with the Simon Dack Award and Lecture in 2005 and by the European Society of Cardiology
European Society of Cardiology
The European Society of Cardiology is a membership organisation of more than 70,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. It is involved in scientific and educational activities for cardiology professionals and also promotes cardiovascular disease prevention messages to the...
by the Andreas Gruentzig Award and Lecture in 2004.
In moving to Scripps in 2006, he started the Scripps Genomic Medicine program and recruited a large team to advance individualized medicine using genomic approaches. The group, which includes Drs. Nicholas Schork, Sarah Murray, and Samuel Levy, has multiple NIH funded projects on genomics of cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, pharmacogenomics and diabetes. It is a major force in San Diego bringing together basic scientists and clinical investigators from Scripps Health
Scripps Health
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California. The system includes four hospitals and 19 outpatient facilities, and treats a half-million patients annually through 2,600 affiliated physicians....
and The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute
The Scripps Research Institute is an American medical research facility that focuses on research in the basic biomedical sciences. Headquartered in La Jolla, California, with a sister facility in Jupiter, Florida, the institute is home to 3,000 scientists, technicians, graduate students, and...
along with researchers from the Salk Institute, Sanford-Burnham Institute, the San Diego Supercomputer Center
San Diego Supercomputer Center
The San Diego Supercomputer Center is an organized research unit of the University of California, San Diego . Physically, SDSC is located on the east end of Eleanor Roosevelt College on the campus of UCSD....
, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. CHOP has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Parents Magazine in recent years. As of 2008, it was ranked #1 in the nation for...
. Each year since 2007 Scripps Genomic Medicine and the Scripps Translational Science Institute put together a major program entitled “Future of Genomic Medicine” which attracts several hundred clinicians and scientists. In 2009, Topol led the team at Scripps to be the first center to perform routine genotyping of patients undergoing stenting for variants of the gene CYP2C19
CYP2C19
Cytochrome P450 2C19 , a member of the cytochrome P450 mixed-function oxidase system, is involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the body. It is involved in the metabolism of several...
, the major gene implicated in Plavix metabolism. The first large scale prospective study of consumer genomics, known as the Scripps Genomic Health Initiative
Scripps Genomic Health Initiative
The Scripps Genomic Health Initiative is a ground-breaking study aimed at understanding how personal genetic testing influences and improves health.Led by Dr...
, was completed in 2010. Also in 2010, he initiated the Association for Genomic Medicine that is dedicated to training physicians in genomics.
Wireless medicine
Topol has been involved with wireless medicine since its inception. He was the first physician to serve on CardioNet's Medical Advisory Board in 1999, the first dedicated wireless medicine company that performs real-time ECG remote, continuous rhythm monitoring. In 2007 he joined the Board of Sotera Wireless that has developed the first continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring device, which also captures all vital signs. In 2008 he forged a new educational program with QualcommQualcomm
Qualcomm is an American global telecommunication corporation that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA...
and Scripps Health
Scripps Health
Scripps Health is a nonprofit health care system based in San Diego, California. The system includes four hospitals and 19 outpatient facilities, and treats a half-million patients annually through 2,600 affiliated physicians....
to train physicians in wireless medicine, a 2 year clinician scholar program: STSI Wireless Health Scholar. At the 2009 International Wireless CTIA meeting, he gave the keynote address on wireless health, the first time this topic has ever been the subject of a CTIA plenary session: CTIA 2009 Keynote. Also in 2009, he served as Co-Founder with Gary and Mary West to form the West Wireless Health Institute
West Wireless Health Institute
The West Wireless Health Institute is a 501 nonprofit independent medical research organization located in San Diego, California. Founded by the Gary and Mary West Foundation with a $45 million grant in March 2009...
that is dedicated to advancing health care and reducing costs through innovative wireless solutions. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Institute and its Chief Innovation Officer. He presented at TEDMED the rapid progress being made in this field: TEDMED 2009 Lecture. In addition, in early 2010 Topol gave a wireless medicine presentation at the Consumer Electronic Show: CES 2010 Keynote Highlight. He led the first trial with the GE Vscan device GE Reports, a pocket high resolution, mobile ultrasound imaging device, introduced in the US in 2010 "The Doctor Will “e” You Now" and is currently leading clinical trials of heart rhythm and heart failure monitoring wireless devices.
Vioxx
Topol gained prominence as the first physician researcher to raise questions about the safety of rofecoxibRofecoxib
Rofecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has now been withdrawn over safety concerns. It was marketed by Merck & Co. to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain conditions, and dysmenorrhoea...
(Vioxx). Topol was highly critical of Merck
Merck
Merck may refer to:* Merck KGaA, , a German-based chemical and pharmaceutical company.** Merck Serono , the pharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA...
's handling of safety issues related to Vioxx. In a 2004 New York Times editorial, he wrote that "Merck finally had to acknowledge the truth [about the drug's cardiovascular risks], but only by accident." Topol also authored an editorial 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:...
, arguing that "neither Merck nor the FDA fulfilled its responsibilities to the public" and encouraging a "full Congressional review" of the situation.
In 2004, Bethany McLean
Bethany McLean
Bethany McLean is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair magazine, and known for her work on the Enron scandal and the 2008 financial crisis...
, writing in Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
, questioned Topol's own potential financial conflicts of interest. She reported that Topol served as a scientific advisor to a hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
which profited substantially by short selling
Short selling
In finance, short selling is the practice of selling assets, usually securities, that have been borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical assets back at a later date to return to that third party...
Merck stock, which plummeted due to the concerns about Vioxx which Topol had publicized. Topol denied giving the hedge fund advance information, and subsequently severed his ties to industry, donating all such income directly to charity. In a 2005 JAMA
Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association is a weekly, peer-reviewed, medical journal, published by the American Medical Association. Beginning in July 2011, the editor in chief will be Howard C. Bauchner, vice chairman of pediatrics at Boston University’s School of Medicine, replacing ...
commentary, Topol pointed to these allegations as an example of the complications that physicians can experience when associating with the investment industry, at the same time reiterating that "no true conflict of interest existed in this case."
In November 2005, Topol was subpoenaed in a class action lawsuit against Merck. He testified that Vioxx posed an "extraordinary risk", and that Raymond Gilmartin
Raymond Gilmartin
Raymond V. Gilmartin is a professor at Harvard Business School and a member of the board of directors at Microsoft and at General Mills. He was the President and CEO of Merck & Co, Inc. from 1994 until 2005 and was director of the company during the Vioxx scandal.Gilmartin received his B.S...
, former chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Merck, had contacted the head of the Cleveland Clinic board to complain about Topol's work on Vioxx. Two days afterward, Topol was informed that the position as chief academic officer at the Cleveland Clinic had been abolished, and he was removed as provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, which he had founded. The Clinic described the timing as coincidental. The New York Times described Topol's demotion as part of an "unusually public dispute" between Topol and the Cleveland Clinic's chief executive, Delos Cosgrove, and stated that Topol's criticism of Merck had focused scrutiny and criticism on the Clinic's deep and longstanding ties to the pharmaceutical and medical-device industries.
Honors
Topol was selected as one of the 12 “Rock Stars of Science” by GQ and the Geoffrey Bean FoundationGeoffrey Beene
Geoffrey Beene was an American fashion designer.Beene was born in Haynesville, Louisiana. He studied medicine at Tulane University, but dropped out in 1946, after three years. He moved to New York in 1947 to attend the Traphagen School of Fashion...
in 2009. He was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation
American Society for Clinical Investigation
The American Society for Clinical Investigation, or ASCI, established in 1908, is one of the nation's oldest and most respected medical honor societies.-Organization and Purpose:...
, the Association of American Physicians
Association of American Physicians
The Association of American Physicians is a medical society founded in 1885 by the Canadian physician Sir William Osler and six other distinguished physicians of his era, for "the advancement of scientific and practical medicine." Election to the AAP is an honor extended to individuals with...
, and the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars. In 2004, he was elected to the Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He was named Doctor of the Decade by the Institute for Scientific Information
Institute for Scientific Information
The Institute for Scientific Information was founded by Eugene Garfield in 1960. It was acquired by Thomson Scientific & Healthcare in 1992, became known as Thomson ISI and now is part of the Healthcare & Science business of the multi-billion dollar Thomson Reuters Corporation.ISI offered...
for being one of the top 10 most cited medical researchers. In 2011, Topol received the Hutchinson Medal from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in addition to giving the commencement speech for the School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Works
Coming out in 2011, Topol's book The Creative Destruction of Medicine will address the convergence of the digital revolution and medicine. The book is directed to consumers to promote activism and the acceleration of individualized medicine.External links
- Topol's blog at theheart.org
- Topol's profile at Scripps Translational Science Institute
- Topol's profile at Scripps Health
- Topol's profile at the West Wireless Health Institute
- Topol's CTIA 2009 keynote highlights
- Topol's talk at TEDMED 2009 conference
- Topol's keynote highlight at CES 2010 conference