Arthur K. Asbury, 93, of Philadelphia, pioneering neurologist, enthusiastic mentor, and interim dean, vice dean, retired seat of neurology, and prof emeritus astatine the University of Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, of prostate crab and dementia astatine Penn Hospice Rittenhouse.
An award-winning adept known astir the satellite for his aboriginal enactment connected Guillain-Barré syndrome, Dr. Asbury focused connected neuromuscular diseases during his 60-year vocation and served successful clinical, research, educational, and enactment roles astatine Penn, the University of California San Francisco, Harvard University, and their affiliated hospitals.
His aboriginal probe successful the 1960s astir the harm caused to peripheral nerves by Guillain-Barré was groundbreaking, and consequent probe and attraction are built connected that information. He was collaborative and inquisitive, and served connected nationalist committees and teams that examined, among different things, the broadside effects of aboriginal swine flu vaccines, a Guillain-Barré epidemic successful China, and diagnostic criteria for Guillain-Barré.
He chaired Penn’s neurology section from 1974 to 1982 and aboriginal was simultaneously interim dean of the aesculapian school, present the Perelman School of Medicine, and enforcement vice president of the aesculapian system. He was besides the aesculapian school’s archetypal Van Meter prof of neurology and vice dean of some probe and module affairs.
Before Penn, helium spent 1969 to 1973 arsenic prof and vice-chair of neurology astatine UC San Francisco, and main of neurology work astatine San Francisco VA Hospital.
Closest to his bosom was his relation arsenic teacher and mentor, and Penn established the Arthur K. Asbury Award for outstanding module mentoring successful 2004. More than simply a supervisor, helium invited residents to Phillies games and different amusive events and wrote clever rhymes astir them erstwhile they graduated that each started with: “It is ill-timed rhyme/Scribbled successful haste/Unrehearsed verse/ In the worst imaginable taste.”
He published and edited hundreds of scientific papers and publication chapters, was editor-in-chief of the Annals of Neurology for 8 years, and served connected a twelve editorial boards. He lectured arsenic a visiting prof astir the satellite and was an enthusiastic and effectual fund-raiser and recruiter for Penn.
He was a fellow, trustee, and enforcement for galore nonrecreational organizations and past president of the American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Among his galore honors are the World Federation of Neurology’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Penn’s I.S. Ravdin Master Clinician Award and the Lindback Award for teaching excellence.
» READ MORE: His woman remembers Dr. Asbury successful this touching obituary
At 85, Dr. Asbury was inactive participating successful task meetings astatine Penn, and writer David Woods said successful a 2014 online story for the College of Physicians of Philadelphia: “Art Asbury is what is known successful thoroughbred racing circles arsenic a stayer.”
Born to 2 physicians connected Nov. 22, 1928, successful Cincinnati, Ohio, Arthur Knight Asbury grew up astatine historical Forest Retreat, a thoroughbred equine workplace successful Carlisle, Ken., that bred Determine, the victor of the 1954 Kentucky Derby.
He graduated from Phillips Academy successful Andover, Mass., and earned a bachelor’s grade successful agriculture from the University of Kentucky successful 1951. He was progressive successful the U.S. Army Reserve from 1951 to 1953, and graduated archetypal successful his people from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine successful 1958.
He served his internship and residency astatine Massachusetts General Hospital, and held probe and objective fellowships astatine the infirmary and Harvard Medical School from 1963 to 1965. He joined Patricia Armstrong, and they had daughters Dana, Lyndia, and lad Will.
After a divorce, helium met Carolyn Holstein astatine a aesculapian meeting, and they joined successful 1980 and lived successful Center City and Naval Square. In 2019, they established the Arthur Knight Asbury, MD Professorship for Penn’s seat of neurology.
Dr. Asbury skied, played tennis and golf, and had play tickets to the Phillies. He enjoyed the Philadelphia Orchestra, and helium and his household vacationed successful Maine.
He often worked precocious and connected Saturdays, and his daughter, Dana, recalls him dozing astatine the meal array and the galore jars of carnal brains she discovered astatine his infirmary lab. When asked by David Woods successful 2014 however helium saw his life’s work, Dr. Asbury said: “I enactment astatine making friends.”
“”He knew however to beryllium a bully friend,” his woman said. “He was kind, smart, curious, and humble. He had a fantastic consciousness of humor, and helium ever recovered clip for his household and career.”
In summation to his woman and children, Dr. Asbury is survived by 2 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, a sister, and different relatives. A member and his erstwhile woman died earlier.
A solemnisation of his beingness is to beryllium held later.
Donations successful his sanction whitethorn beryllium made to the GBS-CIDP Foundation International, 375 East Elm Street, Suite 101, Conshohocken, Pa. 19428; Penn Medicine Hospice Services, 150 Monument Rd., Suite 300, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. 19004; and the Arthur K. Asbury Accelerator Fund, Penn Medicine Development, 3535 Market Street, Suite 750, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104.
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