Posted by utopizen on October 9, 2002, at 19:05:12
News
Psychiatry prof, researcher dead of cancer at 44
Despite his illness, Martin Szuba continued his work.Ritalin is already FDA approved for narcolepsy, I'm assuming, since it's an indication on my CVS insert...
By Alyssa Beaver
October 09, 2002
News
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Panelists debate conditions in fast foodMartin Szuba, an associate professor of Psychiatry at the Medical School, died of pancreatic cancer in his home in Haddonfield, N.J., on Thursday morning. He was 44.Szuba was with his wife, Geralyn, and two young sons, Jared and Michael, when he died at 1 a.m.
The morning after Szuba's death, Psychiatry Department Chairman Dwight Evans sent a memo to his colleagues.
"Marty Szuba was known for his clarity, coherence and openness as a teacher," Evans wrote. "He exemplified the ability to combine the art and science and medicine."
"We are indebted to Marty for his friendship and for all of his contributions to his department and to the field," he added in the memo.
Health System spokeswoman Rebecca Harmon echoed Evans' sentiments.
"There is a great deal of sorrow... among the School of Medicine faculty and the dean as a result of the loss of a very cherished colleague," Harmon said.
Szuba had worked with Penn since 1993 in a variety of capacities. He was a psychiatric physician and a professor, as well as an innovative researcher. His expertise was in sleep disorders and depression.
When Szuba was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he spent most of his final months with his family yet continued to work on his research.
During his stay in the hospital, Szuba edited a book on insomnia. A few months ago, he also hosted a conference at Penn on the use of magnetic stimulation to treat depression.
Szuba studied new psychiatric medicines and the impact hormone fluctuations have on emotions. Prior to his death, Szuba was planning a study on the effectiveness of the Attention Deficit Disorder drug Ritalin to cure fatigue, a drug that helped him when he underwent cancer treatment. Unfortunately, he never got to pursue his hypothesis.
In honor of Szuba's dedication and talent, the department established the Martin P. Szuba Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching and Research.
According to Evans, "the award will be presented annually to a professor who exhibits outstanding teaching abilities, ongoing clinical research and a focus on translating research... into clinically useful teaching."
Evans wrote that the department will remember Szuba as "a big man with a big heart. It was with grace and dignity that he suffered the many indignities that his illness brought him."
A funeral mass will be held on 10 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Church in Haddonfield. Friends may come to a viewing on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hinski-Tomlinson funeral home, located at 81 Haddon Avenue.
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