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A Tribute to Richard F. Edlich, M.D., Ph.D.,
New Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants;
A Personal Perspective from a Student, Colleague and Friend
Guest Editorial
I. INTRODUCTION
As Assistant Editor of the Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants,
my colleague and friend, Dr. Edlich, invited me to become a member of the Editorial
Board of this Journal. As a Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Edlich appreciated the enormous
importance of implants in microvascular surgery and realized that my team of
clinicians and scientists could bring these advances in biomaterials to this
distinguished, scientific Journal. When I learned that Dr. Edlich was appointed
Editor-in-Chief of this Journal, I wrote this Guest Editorial that celebrates
his academic career. I predict that his leadership will enhance the scope,
breath and dimensions of the scientific contributions to this Journal.
Distinguished Professor Richard F. Edlich was a Ford Foundation Scholar
who gained early admission to Lafayette College at age 15. Three years later,
he was accepted as an early admission student to New York University School
of Medicine, where he received his M.D. He completed a general surgery residency
at the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Center under the guidance of
his beloved mentor, Dr. Owen H. Wangensteen, who is recognized as the greatest
teacher of surgery during the twentieth century. During his 8-year surgical
residency, he also received his Ph.D. He completed his plastic surgery residency
at the University of Virginia Health Science Center in 1973. He has taught
at the University of Virginia since 1973, beginning as Assistant Professor
and becoming Distinguished Professor of Plastic Surgery and Professor of Biomedical
Engineering.
II. MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROGRAM
Virginia, Dr. Edlich founded, designed and served as director of the 16-bed University
of Virginia Burn and Wound Healing Center. Treatment of burn injuries as well
as complex wounds at the Center was a multi-disciplinary research effort involving
basic scientists as well as health care professionals. Dr. George T. Rodeheaver,
the Edlich Research Professor of Plastic Surgery, is an organic chemist who played
a leadership role in developing experimental models that effectively evaluated
the merits of different products and techniques. Dr. John G. Thacker, Vice-Chairman
of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, developed reproducible
performance tests that have been adopted by the medical industry as the gold
standard for surgical product testing.
Their collaborative efforts have resulted in numerous innovative products,
surgical techniques and tests used throughout the world. The Reinforced Steri-Strip™ has
been used in more than 1 billion patients for wound closure. A surgical wound
cleanser, poloxamer-188(Shur-Clens™), was devised to remove bacterial contaminants
from the wound without tissue toxicity. This wound cleanser has successfully
decontaminated wounds in more than ten million patients without a reported
toxic reaction. A more concentrated solution of poloxamer-188 forms a gel
that incorporates antibiotics for prevention of burn wound sepsis. The Edlich
Gastric Lavage Kit has been used throughout the world to remove blood clots
and poisons from patients’ stomachs. Endoscopic surgical gastrostomy was first
devised by his team of physicians as a safe technique of tube feeding.
A more reliable Gram stain procedure was developed to identify accurately bacterial
pathogens in infections. Their studies of the biomechanical performance of
powder-free and latex-free examination and surgical gloves have identified
superior glove products that have allowed more than 100 hospitals to abandon
the use of dangerous glove powders. Dr. Edlich’s book, Medicine’s Deadly Dust1,
is a nationally acclaimed report documenting the life-threatening dangers of
powders on surgical and examination gloves. As this team of surgeons and scientist
made revolutionary advances in surgery, they helped transform the field of
surgery into a discipline in which decisions are made on the basis of the results
of reproducible, well-designed clinical and experimental studies. To insure
that these new concepts were incorporated into the practices of surgeons throughout
the world, Dr. Edlich and his colleagues completed the following continuing
educational training programs: Scientific Basis of Wound Closure Techniques2, Scientific
Basis for the Selection of Surgical Needles and Sutures3, Scientific
Basis of Intestinal Anastomosis4, and Scientific Basis for
Vascular Anastomosis5. These educational programs are approved
by the Dannemiller Memorial Educational Foundation for three Category I continuing
education credits.
Dr. Edlich’s research programs on the treatment of burn wounds have been complemented
by the largest epidemiological study on burn prevention sponsored by the Department
of Health and Human Services. The study demonstrated the important role of
liquid accelerants as a major causal factor of burn injuries. On the basis
of these studies, public education programs were initiated to end these preventable
injuries. A specialist in research on the biology of wound repair and infection,
he has published seven books and more than 700 scientific articles and chapters
on these subjects. In 2000, Dr. Edlich received the Harvey Stuart Allen Medal
from the American Burn Association in recognition of his significant contributions
to burn care.
III. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
From 1971 until 1982, he was Director of the Emergency Medical Service at
the University of Virginia Hospital. He teamed up with his colleague and friend
Dr. Ernst Attinger, Professor and Chairman of Biomedical Engineering, to develop
a comprehensive emergency medical system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With
the aid of grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, they championed the development of basic and
advanced life support training for physicians, emergency medical technicians
and paramedic training programs for rescue squads, a telemetered medical system
for emergency care, the rape crisis center, the crisis center for psychiatric
emergencies, and the Pegasus Flight Operations. Working with Governor John
Dalton, Dr. Edlich was instrumental in the designation of Level I Trauma Centers
in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He served voluntarily as the physician technical
advisor for emergency care for Washington D.C., Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania,
and Virginia under the guidance of Dr. David Boyd, who served as director of
the Emergency Care Operations for the Department of Health and Human Services.
In recognition of Dr. Edlich’s leadership in developing emergency medical systems,
he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Health and
Human Services.
Realizing the importance of partnerships between the University and industry,
Dr. Edlich championed the development of the North Fork Research Park. He
transformed a 504 acre cow pasture into a modern industrial park. When he
convinced MicroAire® Surgical Instruments to move its company from California
to the North Fork Research Park, the University of Virginia built streets,
sewer, and a water system for the entire Park. In recognition of Dr. Edlich’s
vision of a modern industrial park in Charlottesville, the University named
the street entrance to this Park, Edlich Drive.
IV. REHABILITATION MEDICINE
His clinical surgical career ended in 1985 when he developed multiple sclerosis. By
example, Dr. Edlich demonstrated how the “patient-doctor” can be empowered
rather than defeated by an illness and continues to make significant contributions
to health care. In 1986, Dr. Edlich was selected as the first editor of the Burn
Rehabilitation Forum of the Journal of Burn Care and Rehabilitation. This
appointment allowed him to empower his scientific colleagues to develop innovative
advances in rehabilitation medicine. Some of the highlights of his research
studies were described in the Forum. A new motorized wheelchair that
maintains hemiplegic patients in a standing position is considered to be a
revolutionary advance in the prevention of pressure ulcers. New external condom
catheter systems with vents facilitate urine collection without catheter pop
off. A voice-activated communication system is described that allows persons
with disabilities to use microprocessors.
Dr. Edlich became a champion for the enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). His complaints to the U.S. Department of Justice have successfully
removed architectural barriers to persons with disabilities in the Majestic
Theatre in New York, Hotel Macklowe, N.Y., the Newark Intl. Airport, and the
Charlotte-Douglas Intl. Airport. His strong advocacy for accessibility has
made the University of Virginia a model for accessibility for persons with
disabilities. Recognizing that his own hospital as well as other hospitals
had numerous architectural barriers for persons with disabilities, he transformed
the University of Virginia Medical Center to a barrier-free medical center
that complies with ADA standards. In an effort to ensure that all hospitals
comply with ADA, he is now working with Healthcare Finance Administration to
incorporate ADA compliance review as part of its certification process. Realizing
that all patient care involves a comprehensive rehabilitation program, he championed
the establishment of a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University
of Virginia Health Science Center.
V. DISCUSSION
As a teacher, Dr. Edlich is a popular speaker whose addresses are remembered
by the University and professional societies. In 1985, he gave the Kennedy
Lecture to the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine. In 1987 and 1992, the
graduating class of medical students of the University of Virginia asked him
to deliver its Baccalaureate address. He delivered the Commencement address
to the graduating nursing students in 1993. In recognition of his commitment
to teaching, the University of Virginia Alumni Association honored Dr. Edlich
with its Distinguished Professor Award. Dr. Edlich was the recipient of the
Commonwealth of Virginia’s Council of Higher Education’s Outstanding Faculty
Award in 1989. His work was honored by the Southeastern Society for Plastic
Reconstructive Surgery’s first prize for surgical research, the Virginia Surgical
Society’s Bigger-Lehman Award, and the University Association of Emergency
Medicine’s President’s Award. A member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the Raven
Society, he received the Hal Jayne Award from the Society for Academic Emergency
Medicine for his academic excellence in 1989. In 1991, Dr. Edlich received
the Thomas Jefferson Award, the highest academic honor presented by the University
of Virginia. The Sigma Theta Tau International Beta Kappa Chapter presented
him with its community service award in 1995. Lafayette College presented
the George Washington Kidd Class of 1876 Award to Dr. Edlich for achieving
distinction in his career in medicine and teaching.
Through the generous support of friends and colleagues, endowments
were established for the annual Richard F. Edlich Burn Lecture, the Richard
F. Edlich Chair in Plastic Surgical Research and the annual Richard F. Edlich
Medical Student Research Award in Emergency Medicine.
In November, 2001, Dr. Edlich was invited to pursue his medical
career in the Pacific Northwest. His latest book, Profiles for Success, Lesson’s
Learned in Teaching, Healing, Curing, and Living6, provides
strong support for improving health care throughout the world. During a meeting
with President Clinton, in the Oval Office on January 8, 2000, Dr. Edlich convinced the President
to increase the funding for scientific research by the largest amount in this
generation.
Like his mentor, Dr. Wangensteen, Dr. Edlich views his role as
a teacher to be similar to that of a cheerleader for his many students and
colleagues. Through his progeny (like me), which includes more than 2000 other
students, he will inherit eternity.
REFERENCES
- Edlich RF. Medicine’s Deadly Dust. Arlington (VA): Vandamere Press,
1997
- Drake DB, Wright HR, Stiles BM, Edlich RF. Scientific basis of wound
closure techniques. Second edition. Accredited by the Dannemiller Memorial
Education Foundation San Antonio (TX) for four continuing medical education
credits. Sponsored by United States Surgical, 1999
- Lin KY, Frost-Amer L, Rodeaheaver GT,Williams FM, Edlich RF. Scientific
basis for the selection of surgical needles and sutures. Accredited by the
Dannemiller Memorial Education Foundation San Antonio (TX) for four continuing
medical education credits. Sponsored by United States Surgical, 1999
- Schirmer BD, Cox MJ, Bussard GM, O’Keefe JS, Edlich RF. Scientific
basis of intestinal anastomosis. Accredited by the Dannemiller Memorial Education
Foundation San Antonio (TX) for four continuing medical education credits.
Sponsored by United States Surgical, 1998
- Spotnitz WD, Cox MD, Neal JG, Edlich RF. Scientific basis of vascular
anastomosis. Accredited by the Dannemiller Memorial Education Foundation
San Antonio (TX) for four continuing medical education credits. Sponsored
by United States Surgical, 1999
- Edlich RF. Profiles for Success. Lessons in Teaching, Healing, Curing,
and Living. Arlington (VA): Vandamere Press, 1999
William C. Lineaweaver, M.D.
Professor of Surgery
Division of Plastic Surgery
Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, MS
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