In Memoriam Tribute to Jack W Coburn, MD: 1932–2004

Abstract

Jack W. Coburn, M.D., one of the leading nephrologists devoted to research in divalent cation and bone metabolism, died suddenly on April 4, 2004. Dr. Coburn was Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and staff nephrologist at the VA Greater Los Angeles Health-Care System-Wadsworth, where he had been chief of nephrology for many years. Dr. Coburn was an important individual in the history of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research. He began participation at the second Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1980. In 1981 he was elected to the ASBMR Council and served for three years. He chaired a workshop on Renal Osteodystrophy in 1984 at the sixth Annual Meeting in Hartford, Connecticut. The brilliance of his work in the field of renal osteodystrophy led him to be the first investigator to be presented with the Frederic C. Bartter Award for Research by the Society in 1986. Dr. Coburn was born in Fresno, California on August 6, 1932 and grew up in Sacramento. He graduated from UCLA School of Medicine in 1957 and began his post-graduate training as an intern at UCLA Medical Center. He then spent two years as a medical resident in Seattle at the University of Washington and returned to finish his residency at UCLA. His interest in nephrology led to a research fellowship at the Wadsworth VA Medical Center, a hospital affiliated with UCLA. In 1964 he began his military service and was stationed at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. Upon completion, he joined the faculty at UCLA and established a base of clinical and research activity at the Wadsworth VA Medical Center. Except for a sabbatical year, the rest of his academic career was spent at this institution. I met Jack during my internship at the Wadsworth VA Medical Center in 1963. Little did I know what an important role he would play in my future. He was obviously highly intelligent, soft spoken and kind. I had contact with him only while rotating on the nephrology service. You can imagine my surprise and pleasure when he asked me eight years later if I would like him to sponsor me as a VA Clinical Investigator. This allowed me to spend an extra year at the Endocrine Unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital after which I returned to Los Angeles to work with him on renal osteodystrophy. I am sure that my experience was similar to that of the more than 100 trainees that were fortunate to have Jack Coburn as a mentor. Jack Coburn's contributions to the field of renal physiology, renal osteodystrophy and nutrition were broad and truly outstanding. His early research with Charles Kleeman, Shaul Massry and colleagues helped define the complex relationships between calcium, magnesium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone and the kidneys. His collaboration with Anthony Norman produced the first studies to demonstrate the benefits of calcitriol in patients with uremia. Another major interest was in the classification of renal osteodystrophy. This led to the important discovery that aluminum excess was a major factor in the pathogenesis of one form of renal osteodystrophy as well as in the bone disease associated with total parenteral nutrition. Collaborations with Donald Sherrard, Susan Ott, Marvin Ament and Gordon Klein were key to the success of this research. Jack's scientific achievements brought him numerous awards in addition to the Bartter Award. Most recently, he was presented with the Belding H. Scribner Award of the American Society of Nephrology (2003). He particularly enjoyed traveling throughout the world to give invited lectures at universities and meetings. During the past 20 years, Jack devoted considerable time to private practice. He was a consummate and compassionate clinician whose advice was sought by numerous colleagues. Despite the long hours he devoted to patient care, he was able to maintain a strong research activity, and, remarkably, was co-author of more than 80 publications during this time. His most recent efforts were directed towards suppressing secondary hyperparathyroidism by the use of a calcimimetic agent or a vitamin D analog. As recently as May of this year, he was the first author of a study documenting the suppression of parathyroid hormone by doxercalciferol in uremic patients. I am certain that Jack derived great satisfaction from his professional life but I believe equally satisfying was his family life. His wonderful wife Kathy, his lovely daughters, Elizabeth, Laurel and Rachel, his son-in-laws, his nine grandchildren, his mother Eula and sister Sally were a source of great pride and pleasure to him. His family, colleagues and friends feel a great void in his absence. Hopefully, the wonderful memories of this remarkable man will reduce the sadness of his departure.