This past weekend the Division of Endocrinology and the Department of Pediatrics lost their founding father and a giant in our field, Dr. Arlan Rosenbloom. Dr Rosenbloom came to the University of Florida as the founding pediatric endocrinologist in 1968, where he was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor in 1971, to full professor in 1974, and to distinguished service professor in 1996.
Arlan Rosenbloom is internationally recognized as a pioneer of pediatric endocrinology, and diabetology, a prolific educator and mentor, an innovative developer of programs for children with diabetes and other endocrine disorders, and a wide-ranging, highly productive clinical investigator. Not only is he a pioneer, but is also one of the most distinguished, accomplished, and influential pediatric endocrinologists of our time. His research, his teaching and his clinical care are unequaled in quality and in the impact, they have had on practice guidelines and standards of care. As reflected in his 400 articles and 80 chapters and books and 13,000 references in the past 55 years, it is obvious the magnitude of the impact he has had. He is deeply respected nationally and internationally and remained a most ardent voice in support of the field of pediatric endocrinology and the patients cared for by that specialty. He has brought the University of Florida unequalled fame and is testimony to our preeminence in the medical and health sciences fields.
Dr. Rosenbloom helped describe the clinical phenotype, the biochemical abnormalities, and the long-term outcome of growth hormone (GH) resistant severe short stature due to a GH receptor defect in a large Ecuadoran population. He committed himself to not just divulging the genetic and biochemical abnormalities, but to improving the overall well-being of this unique population. Furthermore, he collaborated in the description of a new syndrome, the Guevara-Rosenbloom Syndrome which includes severe short stature, intrauterine growth retardation and insulin-resistant diabetes. He is the true scientist, clinician and, most importantly, the tireless humanitarian.
There is not an aspect of pediatric diabetes that Dr. Rosenbloom has not investigated. DKA, cerebral edema, type 1 diabetes natural history identification of type 2 diabetes and its reaching epidemic proportions in youth, His work transformed what we thought about type 2 diabetes in youth, that it is as severe and serious as type 1 diabetes. He founded the Florida Camp for Children and Youth with Diabetes.
With all the scholarship that has been produced by Dr. Rosenbloom over these many years, it is hard to imagine that he has found the time to also be a great mentor. He has been an unwavering champion of the concept of the team in diabetes, realizing the importance of specialty nurses and other care providers to meet the myriad of needs these children and families have. In addition, his commitment to diabetes camps and support groups has transformed the lives of thousands of children and families. His service to the American Diabetes Association, the NIH, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and other international, national, and local associations and organizations is unparalleled. He has been guide, innovator and champion to move the needle forward on the understanding and care of these complex diseases.
His awards include the faculty research prize of the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1994; the Distinguished Alumnus Citation of the University Of Wisconsin in 1995; the Florida Blue Key Distinguished Faculty Award in 1995; Honorary Professorship at the Central University of Quito Ecuador 2001; the Distinguished Physician Award of the Endocrine Society for 2003; the Prize for Achievement in Science, Education & Advocacy On Behalf Of Young People with Diabetes, the highest award from the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) in 2004; the Eli Lilly for Life Achievement Award for Professionals in 2006; the University of Florida distinguished achievement award in 2014; the University of Florida College of medicine lifetime achievement award in 2017; and the Van Wyk prize from the Pediatric Endocrine Society, its highest award, in 2017. He has been International Director of the Institute for Endocrinology and Metabolism and Reproduction (IEMYR) in Quito Ecuador since 1989He has received many, many awards and recognitions throughout his amazingly productive career.
In conclusion, Arlan Rosenbloom is one of the most influential physicians of our time, the preeminent pediatric endocrinologist who advanced knowledge, as well as ethics, in his field.
Desmond Schatz MD
Professor of Pediatrics,
Medical Director, Diabetes Institute
Michael Haller MD
Professor and Chief, Pediatric Endocrinology