Basil Hirschowitz’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Intro Gastroenterologist
Was

Physician 
Gastroenterologist 
Educator 

From

South Africa 
United States of America 

Type

Academia 
Biology 
Healthcare 

Gender male
Birth 29 May 1925, Bethal
Death 19 January 2013, Birmingham
(aged 87 years)

Basil Isaac Hirschowitz (29 May 1925 – 19 January 2013) was an academic gastroenterologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) best known in the field for having invented an improved optical fiber which allowed the creation of a useful flexible endoscope. This invention revolutionized the practice of gastroenterology and also was a key invention in optical fiber communication in multiple industries.
Hirschowitz was born in Bethal, South Africa. He received his medical education at University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. It was from this institution that he earned M.B. and B.Ch. degrees in 1947. He received Postdoctoral training from University of the Witwatersrand, earning an M.D. degree.
In 1953 he moved to the United States, where he continued his gastrointestinal fellowship at the University of Michigan and joined the faculty between 1954 and 1957. Hirschowitz became a naturalized citizen of the USA in 1961.

Among his many awards, Basil Hirschowitz received the Schindler Medal of the ASGE, the Friedenwald Medal of the AGA (1992), the General Motors Cancer Research Awards Kettering Prize (1987), the UAB Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Science of Medicine. The Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame honors Dr. Basil Hirschowitz for reaching the pinnacle of academic medicine as a teacher, scientist, and clinician. In 2006 he became M.D.h.c (Honorary Doctor of Medicine) at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Groll-Hirschowitz syndrome — a rare genetic condition characterized by gastrointestinal abnormalities, deafness and neuropathy. It is named in honour of B. Hirschowitz and A. Groll, who first described the condition.
Hirschowitz died in Birmingham, Alabama on 19 January 2013.

You May Also Like

Dick Grasso’s net worth, biography, fact, career, awards and life story

Dick Grasso Net Worth: Dick Grasso is the former chairman and chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange who has a net worth of $150 million. Dick Grasso began his career as a clerk at the New York Stock Exchange in the late 60s and eventually became the NYSE’s Chairman and CEO in 1995. He was forced to retire in 2003 after his large compensation package came under scrutiny. He was involved in a lengthy court battle to keep his pay until 2008, when the New York State Court of Appeals dismissed the case against him and awarded him the full sum of approximately $140 million dollars. Born July 26, 1946 in Jackson Heights, New York, he is the Founder of Gladiator Holdings. Grasso served as the Chairman and CEO of The New York Stock Exchange from 1995 until 2003. He also served as Chairman of the Economic Club of New York. Grasso is the Vice Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation and serves as a Member of the Board of The Centurion Foundation, Lower Manhattan Development Corp., New York City Police Foundation, New York City Public Private Initiatives Inc., he is a Member of the Advisory Board of the Yale School of Management, Trustee of the Stony Brook Foundation; Member of the International Capital Markets Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He serves as Member of Advisory Board at Zito Partners. He has been a Member of Advisory Board at Root9B LLC since June 25, 2014. Grasso formerly served as Director of Home Depot Inc., New York University and NYNYSE Holdings LLC (Formerly, New York Stock Exchange, Inc). Grasso also serves as a Trustee of Economic Club of New York. His extensive experience in financial markets and his previous service on the boards of other companies and organizations adds significant value to his resume. He served as a Director of Virtu Financial, Inc. and as a Director of The Partnership for New York City, Inc. and CA Technologies. He served as Director of Business Council of New York State Inc. and NYC2012, Inc. as well as Vice Chairman of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. He once served as Vice Chairman of Nassau County Crime Stoppers and still serves as Trustee of Wagner College. Richard “Dick” Grass is also a private investor who resides in New York.
Read More