A Tribute to Prof. Justen Passwell, 1943-2006

The pediatric community mourns the recent loss of Professor Justen Passwell, M.D., Professor and Director of the Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Israel. Professor Passwell is recognized as the father of academic pediatrics in Israel, being the first physician to master compassionate clinical care with world-class research and teaching. 

Justen H. Passwell was born in Cape Town South Africa in 1943.  He completed his secondary education at Hertzylia primary school and his undergraduate medical studies at the University of Cape Town.  Upon graduation, he immediately immigrated to Israel from South Africa in 1966. He did his internship and pediatric residency at the Sheba Medical Center (Tel Aviv University) where he subsequently spent his next 40 years being referred to as "Passy".   

Although he was struck with polio as a child, he volunteered to be a medical officer in the Israeli Army and he became known for his bravery, humor, and loyalty.  He completed the specialization requirements in the United Kingdom and was awarded the MRCP (Member of the Royal College of Physicians) degree as well as the Specialization Boards in the United States.  He spent one year as a Research Fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children Great Ormonde Street and the University of London in 1971-72. From 1976-79, he was a Research Fellow in Pediatrics and Immunology at the Children's Hospital at Harvard Medical School.  At Harvard Medical School, he made several long-lasting professional relationship with distinguished leaders in the pediatric field including Dr. Harvey Colten (former chair at Washington University).  Working together with Dr. Colten, Professor Passwell spent a sabbatical as a Visiting Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington, St. Louis Hospital in 1986-1987.  He was offered numerous Professorships in the United States but turned them down due to his wishes to live in Israel.
 
He was appointed Head of Department of Pediatrics at the Sheba Medical Center in 1985 and served as Chairman of the Division of Pediatrics from 1980 - 1984 and from 1988 until his death.  He was also Head of the Pediatric Immunology Research Laboratory that was established at the Sheba Medical Center in 1986.  He was appointed a full professor of pediatrics at the University of Tel Aviv in 1991 and in 1997 was elected as Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Sackler School of Medicine at the University of Tel Aviv. He was the incumbent of the Pickel endowed chair in Pediatric Research.
 
He was active in many professional societies in Israel and abroad, was elected the Chairman of the Israel Pediatric Research Society in 1980-81 and was elected as a member of the European Society of Pediatric Research in 1987 and the American Pediatric Society in 1991. He was also elected to be a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
 
He received numerous research grants in the field of infectious disease and basic immunology from the World Health Organization from 1983-92, the U.S. Israel Bi-National Foundation 1988-90, the German-Israel National Foundation from 1993-96 and the National Institute of Health from 1996-00 and 2001-06.  He has also received grants from the Chief Scientist's Office and the Cancer Research Society and several Tel Aviv University grants.
 
He was an author of over than 100 scientific papers in prominent medical journals. His research centered on basic immunology, studying the immunology of parasitic disease, the immunology of human immune- (complement)-mediated kidney disease and more recently the immune response of children to bacterial dysentery.  The latter research studies stemmed from his initial encounter with an child who died from shigella despite antibiotic usage.  He subsequently forged a partnership with Professor Shai Ashkenazi (Tel Aviv University) and Dr. Rachel Schneerson and Dr. John Robin (National Institute of Health) forming the Israeli Shigella Study Group involved with testing the efficacy and mechanism of experimental vaccines to prevent this disease.

Professor Passwell met his wife Levia (Allentuck) in (1967) on the medical wards, she was then a nursing student at the same hospital and subsequently became a clinical psychologist. They parented three sons Yoni, Alon, and Ron . Two granddaughters and a grandson, all living within close distance to the Passwell residence in Moshav Bet Harut.  Outside of his own personal family, Professor Passwell was known to "father" countless students, as he was a gifted and devoted teacher who adopted many students. 

Professor Passwell was known for his vision in creating a world-class academic medicine program in Israel, by establishing formal tracks for physician scientists.  He envisioned enriching the pediatric service by formally creating a research training and clinical fellowship program for young talented physicians.  He identified this training period as the most crucial time in the development of young talent. He anticipated that the total impact of such a program would be not only to train future leaders in academic pediatrics, but also to create a research atmosphere within the pediatric service that would be on a par with the best institutions in the world.  Accordingly, he mentored a cohort of young physician scientists that he expected would accomplish these goals. Indeed, he initiated this dream, as he was a chief developer of the recent formal establishment of the Safra Children's Hospital and its associated academic pediatric laboratory at the Sheba Medical Center.

Justen Passwell was known as a mythological doctor and father who remained modest and loyal while doing everything to save people in difficult situations and to improve pediatric health care globally. He masterfully cared for patients (rather than just the disease), always aiming at understanding the disease as an important pre-requisite for offering optimal therapy.  He will be sorely missed by countless health care providers, patients, family and friends.

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Marc E. Rothenberg MD, PhD
Director and Endowed Chair
Division of Allergy and Immunology
Professor of Pediatrics
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
3333 Burnet Avenue, ML7028
Cincinnati OH 45229
513 636-7210 (office)
513 636-3310 (fax)
800 344 2462 x7210
E-mail: Rothenberg@chmcc.org