In Memoriam: Bernadine Healy, Former Professor of Medicine and American Heart Association President

Dear Colleagues,

It was with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Bernadine Healy, 67, on August 6. She was a woman of singular accomplishments who leaves behind a rich legacy of conviction to ideals, fearlessness in fighting for what she believed in, and a dedication to elevating women's health issues to national prominence.

During her too-short life, Healy held many high and influential posts. As the first woman to head the National Institutes of Health, Healy spearheaded the establishment of the $500 million Women's Health Initiative study to examine women's health issues in midlife and later years. It was a seminal project that revealed important new information about women's health risks. Appointed by President Reagan as the deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, she also served as chair of the White House Cabinet Group on Biotechnology, executive secretary of the White House Science Council's Panel on the Health of Universities, and a member of several advisory groups on developing government-wide guidelines for research involving human subjects. She subsequently served on the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology during the administrations of presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

After graduating cum laude from Harvard Medical School in 1970, Healy completed her internship and residency in cardiology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and joined the school of medicine faculty in 1976. She became the first woman to join our full-time faculty in cardiology and rose quickly to professor of medicine. While caring for patients and teaching students, residents and fellows, she wrote more than 100 scientific papers, becoming celebrated internationally for her work in coronary heart disease. Her work also helped illuminate differences in heart disease in men and women. For eight years, she headed our coronary care unit and served as assistant dean for postdoctoral programs and faculty development. During that time, she organized the Mary Elizabeth Garrett symposium on women in medicine in honor of the Baltimore philanthropist who was responsible for ensuring that from the moment it opened, the school of medicine would admit women and men on the same terms. While at Hopkins, Healy also held leadership positions in organizations such as the American Federation of Clinical Research, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, an organization she later led as president.

In the immediate wake of the 9/11 tragedy, Healy turned to Hopkins once again, asking for our assistance, should it be needed, in dealing with injuries related to the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

Although all her achievements are too numerous to list, Healy made a lasting impact on science and medicine. We mourn the passing of a great American, a visionary leader and a pioneer for women and women's health.

Sincerely,

Edward D. Miller, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Myron (Mike) Weisfeldt, M.D.
William Osler Professor
Director of the Department of Medicine