Heritage Snapshot: Part 119

Dr. Melvin Judkins’ colleague, Winston A. Mitchell, MD, eulogized his friend as “a giant in modern cardiovascular diagnosis, a creative genius, a master teacher, and a tireless worker. He was folksy, artfully humorous, intensely practical, and a marvel in making the complex simple. Harrison S. Evans, MD, Loma Linda University vice president for Medical Affairs, acknowledged Dr. Judkins’ contributions: “He has brought recognition and honor to our school. We have been honored by having him as a member of our professional family. Besides being a brilliant and creative clinical researcher, Dr. Judkins was a dedicated teacher who deeply deserves our gratitude and respect. He was unselfish in sharing his knowledge and skill with others, both here and around the world. He gave of himself unstintedly in lecturing, writing, and serving as visiting professor in prestigious institutions in faraway places. David B. Hinshaw, Sr., MD, former dean of the School of Medicine, spoke at Dr. Melvin Judkins’ memorial service. In part he said, “What happened was dramatic and exponential. There was a burst of activity. A whole cluster of papers, exhibits, and major contributions to angiography in its various forms, particularly of the heart, burst forth from that department, and primarily from Mel Judkins. “He became internationally known… His technique was perfected to the point of being usable, exportable, and teachable… Very rapidly the department of radiology at LLU became a focal point for the world of angiography, particularly coronary angiography. A vast entourage of visitors and seekers after information came here to see these angiograms, how they were performed… He stood for excellence. He stood for devotion to his Alma Matter. He stood for devotion to his beliefs. To his belief in God. To his attachment to the church to which he had given his life.” Robert J. Boucek, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Research at Loma Linda University, summarized his perspective of Dr. Judkins’ contributions. “Dr. Judkins’ innovative mind driven by an obsession of quality in coronary artery radiographic imaging and coupled with a high value for retrieval of information has set the stage for enduring clinical research in coronary artery disease at Loma Linda University. F. Mason Sones, Jr., MD, Senior Physician in the Department of Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, and developer of the Sones Technique of Coronary Arteriography, became honorary chair of the Melvin P. Judkins Endowment Fund and wrote in part: “All of us who during the past thirty years have been involved in the development and improvement of diagnostic techniques to better understand the problems of patients with heart disease have good reason to be deeply appreciative of the outstanding leadership and the many significant contributions made by Dr. Melvin Judkins. “Genuinely motivated by compassion and respect for the needs of patients entrusted to his care, he assimilated a profound knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the heart…. He has a rare genius for making complex problems simple, and as a teacher has consistently and unstintingly given his peers and students the benefit of his insights. He has been absolutely incorruptible and has provided us all with a shining model for the maintenance of an impeccable code of medical ethics and personal behavior. His life and his accomplishments will serve as reliable guideposts for us through the years to come. Norman E. Shumway, MD, PhD, professor and Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, lauded Dr. Judkins for his contributions to coronary artery surgery: “Dr. Judkins is one of the two individuals most responsible for the development of coronary artery surgery by virtue of his elegant technique for coronary arteriography…I believe the Judkins technique is the safest and most widely used of the various methods for visualizing the coronary artery system. It must be pointed out also that Mel Judkins always gave the most lucid and interesting presentations of any coronary arteriographer in the entire field. Judkins was one of those rare individuals who have made a tremendous change in the practice of medicine.”