In
Memoriam:
Richard P. Lewis, M.D., M.A.C.C.
 Richard
P. Lewis, M.D., M.A.C.C., passed away on May 18 in Columbus,
Ohio, following a brief illness. As an emeritus professor in
the Division of Cardiology at The Ohio State University College
of Medicine, he was active in teaching and patient care until
a few days before his death.
Dr. Lewis was a native of Portland Oregon. He received a B.S.
degree from Yale University in 1957 and his M.D. from the University
of Oregon in 1961. He interned and served a residency in internal
medicine at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, followed
by a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Oregon and
a year as a senior resident in medicine at Stanford. Commissioned
a captain in the US army medical corps in 1966, Dr. Lewis served
a two year tour as associate chief of cardiology at the Madigan
Army Hospital in Tacoma, Wash. He then returned to Stanford
for a year as an instructor in medicine.
Madigan was just the beginning of his military career. He remained
in the US Army reserve and ultimately reached the rank of colonel.
Dr. Lewis began his career at the Ohio State University School
of Medicine in 1969 as an Assistant Professor of Medicine, progressing
to full Professor, with fifteen years as director of the division
of cardiology and ultimately as an emeritus professor who never
retired from patient care and teaching.
For nearly forty years Dr. Lewis was a devoted fellow of the
American College of Cardiology. His leadership roles in the
College were legion, from governor for Ohio, to trustee and
president of the College in 1996 – 7. All the while, his
passion was education and patient care. For more than 20 years
he was one of the most active members of the Editorial Board
of ACCEL, the College’s audio journal. Over the years
he did literally hundreds of interviews in this country and
around the world.
But perhaps the hallmark of Dr. Lewis’ contributions
to the College was his dedication to innovations in cardiovascular
education. He was the founding editor of the American College
of Cardiology Foundation’s Adult Clinical Cardiology Self-Assessment
Program (ACCSAP) and editor of the seventh edition of ACCSAP
at the time of his death. He was a member of the College’s
Lifelong Learning Committee, the CardioSmart Advisory Board,
the ACCIS Editorial Board and a variety of other committees.
For many years he chaired the SAP Editorial Board and was instrumental
in expanding ACC educational products into international markets.
Dr. Lewis published well over 100 articles and abstracts in
peer-reviewed publications and some 50 in various other professional
vehicles. He authored or coauthored a number of books, including
The Heart Companion Handbook and Diagnosis and
Management of Heart Disease.
Dr. Lewis was a member or fellow of numerous prestigious professional
societies, including the American Clinical and Climatological
Association, the American Federation for Clinical Research,
and the American College of Physicians. He held visiting professorships
at institutions such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns
Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic and Brigham and Women’s
Hospital.
“Dr. Richard Lewis has been an icon of quality care and
clinical excellence throughout his remarkable cardiovascular
career,” said Jack Lewin, M.D., ACC CEO. “In Dick's
case, to know him was to love him. He will be missed as a mentor,
a trusted leader and a friend by so very many of us.”
Although Dr. Lewis was recognized internationally as a distinguished
academic cardiologist and educator, he believed, and practiced
throughout his career, that for a doctor, there is no mission
more sacred than giving care and comfort to every patient.
Dr. Lewis is survived by his wife Penny; his son Richard P.
Lewis Jr., an attorney with Reed Smith in New York; his daughter,
Heather N. Brown, M.D., of Portland Oregon; and two grandchildren,
Nate Phelps Lewis and Sasha Riley Lewis.
Viewing and memorial service will be held at the Rutherford
Funeral Home; 450 West Olentangy Street; Powell, OH 43065; (614)
792-1471. Calling hours are on Thursday, May 22, from 5 p.m.
to 8 p.m. The memorial service will be held on Friday, May 23,
at 10:30 a.m.
A scholarship prize is being established in Dr. Lewis’
honor, to recognize a fourth year medical student who has demonstrated
outstanding clinical ability and compassion. In addition, a
service celebrating his life and accomplishments will be held
at Ohio State this summer. Details on both will be forthcoming.
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