I followed Mark's career from afar as I worked in another area of cardiac care. The following is a nice article about his career and Mark's work most likley saved several classmates lives or certainly a family member or friend. Rest in Peace!
In Memory of Mark E. Josephson, MD
BIDMC and Cardiac Electrophysiology Lose a Leader
The CardioVascular Institute and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have lost a beloved leader.
Mark Josephson, MD, a transformational figure in cardiac electrophysiology and a pioneer in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, died January 11, 2017, after a protracted fight with cancer.
Dr. Josephson dedicated his career to improving the lives of patients suffering from harmful arrhythmia disorders and to training subsequent generations of electrophysiologists to his exacting standards. His approach was sometimes irreverent but always informed by detailed research and his passion for patient care. Dr. Josephson believed the role of the clinician-scientist was to question. He argued, “(We) should spend at least as much time trying to write the literature as (we) do reading it and quoting it.”
Emeritus chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at BIDMC in Boston and Herman Dana Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Josephson was the first to describe the pathophysiologic substrate for ventricular arrhythmias associated with heart attacks. He developed the techniques of catheter mapping, which currently form the basis for all catheter and surgical ablative methods to treat arrhythmias. Dr. Josephson was the sole author of the standard textbook Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology: Techniques and Interpretations. It remains one of the rare single-author textbooks in any field.
Beginning in 1978, Dr. Josephson and colleagues at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) published a series of landmark studies regarding supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia, that elucidated their underlying mechanisms, investigated drug therapy responses, and proposed novel surgical and catheter-based interventions. “It is difficult to imagine, from the point of view of today, just how revolutionary his approach was. Although he endured significant criticism, this was the birth of interventional electrophysiology,” said David Callans, MD, associate director of electrophysiology, University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Rapid Ascent
Dr. Josephson rapidly ascended the faculty ranks at HUP during that time, becoming chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 1981 and a full professor in 1984. He developed long-term collaborations with several researchers and clinical cardiologists in a successful effort to test new treatments for arrhythmias first in animal models and subsequently in patient populations. Additional collaborations with imaging specialists and echocardiographers advanced the understanding of mechanistic factors behind arrhythmias.
In 1992, Dr. Josephson was recruited to BIDMC to become director of the Harvard-Thorndike Arrhythmia Institute, a title he held until his retirement in 2015. The former Beth Israel Hospital, where the Institute was based, was where Paul Zoll, MD, developed the first pacemaker used in a human, marking the launch of electrophysiology (EP). Early in Dr. Josephson’s tenure, he performed the first cardiac ablation in Boston with Dr. Zoll respectfully observing this new advance in the practice of EP. Dr. Josephson later reflected on that moment as a passing of the baton in his field.
“He brought an intellectual excitement to the division that was electric,” said Peter Zimetbaum, MD, associate chief of cardiovascular medicine at BIDMC and a former fellow of Dr. Josephson.
Dr. Josephson’s work at BIDMC further optimized ablation interventions and treatments for patients with arrhythmias. He also championed advanced, evidence-based risk stratification for patients to achieve better outcomes from treatment. Harvard Medical School honored him with the dedication of the Shlomo Ben-Haim, MD–Mark E. Josephson, MD, Professorship in Medicine in the Field of Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as a tribute to his contributions. (Photo at right shows Dr. Josephson with Dr. Ben-Haim on the left.)
Prestigious Awards
Dr. Josephson’s body of work, as demonstrated by more than 500 publications, garnered prestigious awards in his lifetime, including the 2013 Paul Dudley White Award and the 2013 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award, both from the American Heart Association. It is perhaps the Braunwald Award, with its focus on academic training that speaks the most to his legacy. Dr. Josephson was proud of his “academic children”, personally training more than 200 electrophysiologists throughout his career. Attendance at Dr. Josephson’s biannual seminar on the interpretation of complex cardiac arrhythmias has been considered a rite of passage for most electrophysiology trainees in the United States since he first began teaching it in conjunction with his colleague Hein J. J. Wellens, MD, in 1982.
Born in New York City in 1943, Dr. Josephson was a graduate of Trinity College and of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and his fellowship training in cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. In 1972, he spent two years as a research associate at Staten Island Public Health Service Hospital, where many of his innovative ideas were first put into practice in collaboration with a cadre of talented cardiologists who were there at the time.
Dr. Josephson is predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Joan Ellen Eisenberg Josephson (at right). A devoted family man, he leaves behind two daughters: Rachael Josephson of New York City and her husband, Todd Poisson, and their daughter, Sylvie Tessa; and Stephanie Josephson of Philadelphia and her partner, Jesse Wolovoy, and children, Elan Robert and Sydney Ayla.
Remembrances may be made in Dr. Josephson’s memory to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Development, 330 Brookline Avenue (OV), Boston, MA 02215. Please make checks payable to "Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center" and include “Joan and Mark Josephson Scholar Award” in the check memo line.
I made a brief mention of my sympathies to Mark's family yesterday prior to reading of his medical accomplishments this evening. This past November 21 I suffered a heart attack and underwent triple bypass surgery on the 23rd of November. I have been recovering most successfully according to the three doctors I've been under the care of. While of course I don't know if any of Dr. Josephson's accomplishments played any part in my situation it surely gives me a feeling of how many people he most assuredly helped! Thank you former classmate. Again my sincerest sympathies to Mark's family.
What a stellar career! We should be proud he was in our class of '61! But even more than that - always a smile on his face in high school! Bon Voyage, Mark!
How amazing it is to read about Mark's work. My brother as well as several friends have suffeered bouts of cardiac arrhythmia. I daresay they are doing well today due to Mark's innovative work so many yers ago. What a diverse and accomplioshed group we are.
R.I.P. Mark, and heartfelt condolences to the family. Many thanks to Jerry Birnbaum for sharing that wonderful article about Mark and his accomplishments! We can all be very proud of our classmate!
Waht a fantastic career with such significant contgributions to the medical field! Who would have guessed? It's an honor to call him a classmate and wish his family peace and strength in this time of sadness. He always had a smile on his face which I will never forget. Rest in Peace.
Jerry Birnbaum
I followed Mark's career from afar as I worked in another area of cardiac care. The following is a nice article about his career and Mark's work most likley saved several classmates lives or certainly a family member or friend. Rest in Peace!
In Memory of Mark E. Josephson, MD
BIDMC and Cardiac Electrophysiology Lose a Leader
The CardioVascular Institute and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have lost a beloved leader.
Mark Josephson, MD, a transformational figure in cardiac electrophysiology and a pioneer in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, died January 11, 2017, after a protracted fight with cancer.
Emeritus chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at BIDMC in Boston and Herman Dana Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Josephson was the first to describe the pathophysiologic substrate for ventricular arrhythmias associated with heart attacks. He developed the techniques of catheter mapping, which currently form the basis for all catheter and surgical ablative methods to treat arrhythmias. Dr. Josephson was the sole author of the standard textbook Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology: Techniques and Interpretations. It remains one of the rare single-author textbooks in any field.
Beginning in 1978, Dr. Josephson and colleagues at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) published a series of landmark studies regarding supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia, that elucidated their underlying mechanisms, investigated drug therapy responses, and proposed novel surgical and catheter-based interventions. “It is difficult to imagine, from the point of view of today, just how revolutionary his approach was. Although he endured significant criticism, this was the birth of interventional electrophysiology,” said David Callans, MD, associate director of electrophysiology, University of Pennsylvania Health System.
Dr. Josephson rapidly ascended the faculty ranks at HUP during that time, becoming chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 1981 and a full professor in 1984. He developed long-term collaborations with several researchers and clinical cardiologists in a successful effort to test new treatments for arrhythmias first in animal models and subsequently in patient populations. Additional collaborations with imaging specialists and echocardiographers advanced the understanding of mechanistic factors behind arrhythmias.
In 1992, Dr. Josephson was recruited to BIDMC to become director of the Harvard-Thorndike Arrhythmia Institute, a title he held until his retirement in 2015. The former Beth Israel Hospital, where the Institute was based, was where Paul Zoll, MD, developed the first pacemaker used in a human, marking the launch of electrophysiology (EP). Early in Dr. Josephson’s tenure, he performed the first cardiac ablation in Boston with Dr. Zoll respectfully observing this new advance in the practice of EP. Dr. Josephson later reflected on that moment as a passing of the baton in his field.
“He brought an intellectual excitement to the division that was electric,” said Peter Zimetbaum, MD, associate chief of cardiovascular medicine at BIDMC and a former fellow of Dr. Josephson.
Prestigious Awards
Dr. Josephson’s body of work, as demonstrated by more than 500 publications, garnered prestigious awards in his lifetime, including the 2013 Paul Dudley White Award and the 2013 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award, both from the American Heart Association. It is perhaps the Braunwald Award, with its focus on academic training that speaks the most to his legacy. Dr. Josephson was proud of his “academic children”, personally training more than 200 electrophysiologists throughout his career. Attendance at Dr. Josephson’s biannual seminar on the interpretation of complex cardiac arrhythmias has been considered a rite of passage for most electrophysiology trainees in the United States since he first began teaching it in conjunction with his colleague Hein J. J. Wellens, MD, in 1982.
Dr. Josephson is predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Joan Ellen Eisenberg Josephson (at right). A devoted family man, he leaves behind two daughters: Rachael Josephson of New York City and her husband, Todd Poisson, and their daughter, Sylvie Tessa; and Stephanie Josephson of Philadelphia and her partner, Jesse Wolovoy, and children, Elan Robert and Sydney Ayla.
Remembrances may be made in Dr. Josephson’s memory to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Development, 330 Brookline Avenue (OV), Boston, MA 02215. Please make checks payable to "Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center" and include “Joan and Mark Josephson Scholar Award” in the check memo line.
Jeff Silber
I made a brief mention of my sympathies to Mark's family yesterday prior to reading of his medical accomplishments this evening. This past November 21 I suffered a heart attack and underwent triple bypass surgery on the 23rd of November. I have been recovering most successfully according to the three doctors I've been under the care of. While of course I don't know if any of Dr. Josephson's accomplishments played any part in my situation it surely gives me a feeling of how many people he most assuredly helped! Thank you former classmate. Again my sincerest sympathies to Mark's family.
Ruth Mellin (Blumenstein Costello)
What a tremendously talented man - The world may have lost a leader in his field but his legacy will go on forever! Ruth Mellin Blumenstein-Costello.
Karl W. Kamena
Jerry, thanks for sharing the article. Wow.
Wanda Jones (Trotta)
What a stellar career! We should be proud he was in our class of '61! But even more than that - always a smile on his face in high school! Bon Voyage, Mark!
Barbara Fisher (Jaggi)
How amazing it is to read about Mark's work. My brother as well as several friends have suffeered bouts of cardiac arrhythmia. I daresay they are doing well today due to Mark's innovative work so many yers ago. What a diverse and accomplioshed group we are.
My sumpathies to his famil;y - what a legacy.
Barbara Singer (Mintz)
R.I.P. Mark, and heartfelt condolences to the family. Many thanks to Jerry Birnbaum for sharing that wonderful article about Mark and his accomplishments! We can all be very proud of our classmate!
Andrea Boscoe (Bondy)
My sincere sympathy to Mark's family. We have lost a great man. God bless.
John Mineo
Waht a fantastic career with such significant contgributions to the medical field! Who would have guessed? It's an honor to call him a classmate and wish his family peace and strength in this time of sadness. He always had a smile on his face which I will never forget. Rest in Peace.
Carole Brod (Sherer)
My condolences to his family. His accomplishments were outstanding and I feel honored to be his classmate.