William Berenberg
Encyclopedia
William Berenberg, M.D. was an American
physician
, Harvard professor
, and pioneer in the treatment and rehabilitation of cerebral palsy
.
to immigrant parents. Growing up in Chelsea, Massachusetts
, he proved a bright and studious young man and earned admission to Harvard University
on scholarship. However, his father was reportedly too proud to allow his son to take the "hand-out" and Berenberg worked his own way through the Ivy League
institution, commuting from home and cleaning dishes for extra income.
He graduated from Harvard cum laude in 1936 and entered Boston University Medical School
later that year, earning his M.D.
in 1940. In 1941, Dr. Berenberg entered the pathology
department of Children's Hospital
in Boston as an intern. Thus began his extraordinary sixty year relationship with the hospital.
and opened the first cerebral palsy kindergarten in Wellesley, Massachusetts
. In 1968, he was elected president of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy. Along with friend and fellow cerebral palsy advocate Leonard Goldenson
, Dr. Berenberg appeared before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in 1973. He successfully lobbied for the Rehabilitation Act, which was arguably the first piece of landmark legislation enacted to protect the disabled, outlawing discrimination based on handicap. In it, public funding was secured for orthopedic equipment. Dr. Berenberg became an adjunct professor at MIT and, from 1974–1988, directed the Harvard - MIT Rehabilitation Engineering Center, where he coordinated research to create devices to help those with disabilities.
A Professor of Pediatrics
at Harvard Medical School
, Berenberg trained over 1,000 pediatricians and treated many thousands of children, including President John F. Kennedy
's late son Patrick. Housecalls in eastern Massachusetts were common, but he also built a large international practice, with patients from Mexico to Saudi Arabia. Dr. Berenberg was the official medical consultant to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
for his research in gamma globulin
. In 1970, the President of Ecuador awarded him the National Order of Merit with the grade of commander for service to that nation's children. In 1980, he was awarded the Janeway Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the house staff. In 1990, Dr. Berenberg received a distinct honor when many of his colleagues, supporters, and former patients raised funds to endow the William Berenberg Professorship of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
. Dr. Frederick Lovejoy was the first to hold the chair.
Formally retiring in 2001, William Berenberg remained a Harvard professor, emeritis, until his death on September 14, 2005 in Norwood, Massachusetts
. He is buried at Sharon Memorial Park
in Sharon, Massachusetts
. Berenberg married Blanche Berger (dec. 1989) in 1939 and the couple had three children. Two became physicians, Dr. Jeffrey L. Berenberg, and Dr. Richard A. Berenberg (dec. 1984), and one became a social worker, Barbara Berenberg.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, Harvard professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and pioneer in the treatment and rehabilitation of cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
.
Early life
Berenberg was born in Haverhill, MassachusettsHaverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 60,879 at the 2010 census.Located on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the...
to immigrant parents. Growing up in Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
, he proved a bright and studious young man and earned admission to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
on scholarship. However, his father was reportedly too proud to allow his son to take the "hand-out" and Berenberg worked his own way through the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
institution, commuting from home and cleaning dishes for extra income.
He graduated from Harvard cum laude in 1936 and entered Boston University Medical School
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of Boston University. Founded in 1848, the medical school holds the unique distinction as the first institution in the world to formally educate female physicians. Originally known as the New England Female Medical College, it was...
later that year, earning his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1940. In 1941, Dr. Berenberg entered the pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
department of Children's Hospital
Children's Hospital Boston
Children's Hospital Boston is a 396-licensed bed children's hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area of Boston, Massachusetts.At 300 Longwood Avenue, Children's is adjacent both to its teaching affiliate, Harvard Medical School, and to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...
in Boston as an intern. Thus began his extraordinary sixty year relationship with the hospital.
Career
He was Chief, Interim Chief or Associate Chief of seven divisions, including serving as Associate Physician-in-Chief from 1969 to 1974, and Chief of the Cerebral Palsy Division for 44 years. He was a worldwide leader in the study and treatment of cerebral palsyCerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
and opened the first cerebral palsy kindergarten in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
. In 1968, he was elected president of the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy. Along with friend and fellow cerebral palsy advocate Leonard Goldenson
Leonard Goldenson
Leonard H. Goldenson was President of the U.S. television and radio broadcaster ABC.-Early life and career:...
, Dr. Berenberg appeared before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in 1973. He successfully lobbied for the Rehabilitation Act, which was arguably the first piece of landmark legislation enacted to protect the disabled, outlawing discrimination based on handicap. In it, public funding was secured for orthopedic equipment. Dr. Berenberg became an adjunct professor at MIT and, from 1974–1988, directed the Harvard - MIT Rehabilitation Engineering Center, where he coordinated research to create devices to help those with disabilities.
A Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, Berenberg trained over 1,000 pediatricians and treated many thousands of children, including President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's late son Patrick. Housecalls in eastern Massachusetts were common, but he also built a large international practice, with patients from Mexico to Saudi Arabia. Dr. Berenberg was the official medical consultant to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Recognition
Dr. Berenberg received numerous honors and awards during his long career. Early on, he was lauded by President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
for his research in gamma globulin
Gamma globulin
Gamma globulins are a class of globulins, identified by their position after serum protein electrophoresis. The most significant gamma globulins are immunoglobulins , more commonly known as antibodies, although some Igs are not gamma globulins, and some gamma globulins are not Igs.-Use as medical...
. In 1970, the President of Ecuador awarded him the National Order of Merit with the grade of commander for service to that nation's children. In 1980, he was awarded the Janeway Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching from the house staff. In 1990, Dr. Berenberg received a distinct honor when many of his colleagues, supporters, and former patients raised funds to endow the William Berenberg Professorship of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
. Dr. Frederick Lovejoy was the first to hold the chair.
Formally retiring in 2001, William Berenberg remained a Harvard professor, emeritis, until his death on September 14, 2005 in Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
. He is buried at Sharon Memorial Park
Sharon Memorial Park
Sharon Memorial Park is a crematory and cemetery located at 5716 Monroe Road in Charlotte, North Carolina. Notable people interred there include baseball players Bob Porterfield and Ben Paschal.-External links:...
in Sharon, Massachusetts
Sharon, Massachusetts
Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,612 at the 2010 census. Sharon is part of Greater Boston, about 17 miles southwest of downtown Boston....
. Berenberg married Blanche Berger (dec. 1989) in 1939 and the couple had three children. Two became physicians, Dr. Jeffrey L. Berenberg, and Dr. Richard A. Berenberg (dec. 1984), and one became a social worker, Barbara Berenberg.