In Memoriam: Leon Gordis, M.D., D.PH.

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to inform you that Leon Gordis, a former school of medicine associate dean for admissions and academic affairs and a department director in the Bloomberg School of Public Health, passed away on Sept. 7. He enjoyed an impactful career at Johns Hopkins, building and strengthening bridges between the schools of medicine and public health. Always supportive of students, for many years, he personally taught the introductory course for medical students.

Prior to his tenure with the school of medicine, Dr. Gordis was chair of the Department of the Epidemiology in the school of public health for 20 years and a faculty member for many years before that. He was also a master teacher who had recently finished the fifth edition of his textbook, Epidemiology, which is used around the world.  

The Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, which serves the schools of medicine, public health and nursing, would not have been realized without his vision and commitment to collaboration. 

Much of his academic preparation took place at Johns Hopkins. After attending medical school at SUNY Downstate and completing his residency in pediatrics at the Jewish Hospital in Brooklyn, Dr. Gordis did his fellowship in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also received his master's degree and doctorate in public health from what was then the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Please join me in extending our thoughts and condolences to his wife, Hadassah, and his three sons, Daniel, Elie and Yoni.

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine