James A. Schoenberger
Encyclopedia
James A. Schoenberger, MD (1919–2011) was a Chicago cardiologist and medical research scientist who participated in early epidemiological studies and clinical trials that provided evidence linking smoking and other risk factors to cardiovascular diseases.
He was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center
(1973–1994) and served as president of the American Heart Association
(1980–81). He was a public health advocate who participated in educational outreach programs. As an expert source, he utilized the national news media to warn Americans of the dangers of smoking and eating fatty foods. He lobbied the federal government to enact legislation that who impose more stringent regulation on the sale and advertising of tobacco products.
Before retiring in 1994, he founded the Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rush University Medical Center
, which later evolved into the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center. He continued to write academic articles and lecture as professor emeritus.
"I am quite concerned and puzzled by this news," he wrote. "Much of my professional career has been devoted to medical practice in cardiology and to teaching and research in the fields of preventive medicine and epidemiology. I am convinced that there is no single act that would do more to reduce illness, premature deaths and the immense costs of health care and lost productivity in our nation than would preventing the smoking of cigarettes."
(1944–46) and served in Occupied Japan (1945–46). After completing his residency in medicine at the University of Chicago, he taught and practiced clinical medicine at the University of Illinois Medical College, where he began his research in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases (1950–67). He survived a a near-fatal episode polio in 1954 and started a private clinical practice and that year in the western Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois
, serving the local community as a cardiologist and family practitioner and also continuing his research part-time at the University of Illinois and the Chicago Heart Association. He returned to full-time teaching and academic research at Rush Medical University in 1967.
in 1941, and was awarded his M.D.. with Honors in Pathology at the University of Chicago Medical School in 1943.5 He received the university’s Distinguished Service Award for Alumni in 1982.
Epidemiology of systolic and diastolic systemic blood pressure elevation in the elderly, Volume 57, Issue 5, 12 February 1986
New approaches to a first-line treatment of hypertension, March 25, 1988
He was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a 676-bed academic medical center that includes hospital facilities for adults and children. It also includes the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center...
(1973–1994) and served as president of 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...
(1980–81). He was a public health advocate who participated in educational outreach programs. As an expert source, he utilized the national news media to warn Americans of the dangers of smoking and eating fatty foods. He lobbied the federal government to enact legislation that who impose more stringent regulation on the sale and advertising of tobacco products.
Before retiring in 1994, he founded the Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a 676-bed academic medical center that includes hospital facilities for adults and children. It also includes the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center...
, which later evolved into the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center. He continued to write academic articles and lecture as professor emeritus.
Advocacy
In his 1982 letter to President Ronald Reagan, Dr. Schoenberger criticized the administration for its decision to reverse poliicy and oppose hazard warning labels on cigarette packs:"I am quite concerned and puzzled by this news," he wrote. "Much of my professional career has been devoted to medical practice in cardiology and to teaching and research in the fields of preventive medicine and epidemiology. I am convinced that there is no single act that would do more to reduce illness, premature deaths and the immense costs of health care and lost productivity in our nation than would preventing the smoking of cigarettes."
Early career
After graduating from medical school he became a captain in the Army Medical CorpsMedical Corps (United States Army)
The Medical Corps of the U.S. Army is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an MD or a DO degree, at least one year of post-graduate clinical training, and a state medical license.The MC traces its earliest origins...
(1944–46) and served in Occupied Japan (1945–46). After completing his residency in medicine at the University of Chicago, he taught and practiced clinical medicine at the University of Illinois Medical College, where he began his research in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases (1950–67). He survived a a near-fatal episode polio in 1954 and started a private clinical practice and that year in the western Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale, Illinois
Hinsdale is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois; it is located partly in Cook County and mainly in DuPage County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 17,349 at the 2000 census. The town's ZIP code is 60521. The town has a rolling, wooded topography, with a quaint downtown and is a 30-minute...
, serving the local community as a cardiologist and family practitioner and also continuing his research part-time at the University of Illinois and the Chicago Heart Association. He returned to full-time teaching and academic research at Rush Medical University in 1967.
Education
He attended Public schools in his hometown of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, graduating from high school in 1937. He earned his B.S. at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1941, and was awarded his M.D.. with Honors in Pathology at the University of Chicago Medical School in 1943.5 He received the university’s Distinguished Service Award for Alumni in 1982.
Selected journal articles
- JAMA (1972)
- Current Status of Hypertension Control in an Industrial Population, 1972; 222
- The American Journal of Cardiology (1986)
Epidemiology of systolic and diastolic systemic blood pressure elevation in the elderly, Volume 57, Issue 5, 12 February 1986
New approaches to a first-line treatment of hypertension, March 25, 1988
- Archives of Internal Medicine (1990) Efficacy, Safety, and Quality-of-Life Assessment of Captopril Antihypertensive Therapy in Clinical Practice, 1990;150
- Preventive Cardiology (2000) Cardiovascular risk of smoking and benefits of smoking cessation, Apr 18, 2000
External links
Quoted in:- Business Week, November 20, 1989, “Hypertension Drugs: How Much is Hype?”
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1989, “Study Links Diuretics, Heart Attacks”
- Chicago Tribune, October 23, 1988, Routine Exam can Detect Silent Killer – Hypertension
- U.S. News & World Report, March 15, 1982, “ America's $39 Billion Heart Business”
- Industry Week, October 5, 1981, Coronary Comebacks: Executives with Heart