Passing of M. M. Ter Pogossian

[David Scherer <scherer@uiuc.edu>]

Sadly, I must pass on the following obituary I just received from a collegue
at MIR.

Dave Scherer
scherer@uiuc.edu

>Michel M. Ter-Pogossian, Pioneering Scientist
>
>Michel M. Ter-Pogossian, PhD, an internationally known pioneer in the use of
>cyclotron-produced radionuclides in biomedical research, died suddenly this
>morning in Paris, France.  He was 71; the cause of death was a heart attack. 
>Dr. Ter-Pogossian was emeritus professor of radiology at Washington
>University's Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology.
>
>In the early 1970s, Dr. Ter-Pogossian led a collaborative research team of
>physical scientists, chemists, and physicians who developed the concept of
>positron emission tomography (PET).  A major medical contribution, PET displays
>actual metabolic activity within different regions of organs and tissues,
>thereby extending scientists' and physicians' understanding of basic biological
>processes and providing a basis for the improved diagnosis of diseases. Dr.
>Ter-Pogossian played a major role in developing the concept of short-lived
>isotopes, developing the first PET scanner, the first multislice PET scanner as
>well as the first time-of-flight PET scanner.
>
>During a career that spanned more than four decades, Dr. Ter-Pogossian earned
>numerous accolades for his achievements in nuclear science, including France's
>Gold Medal Award of the Societe Francaise de Medecine Nucleaire et de
>Biophysique, Canada's prestigious Gairdner Award, St. Louis' Peter H. Raven
>Lifetime Award of the Academy of Sciences, and the Georg Charles de Hevesy
>Nuclear Medicine Pioneer Award of the Society of Nuclear Medicine.  Dr.
>Ter-Pogossian was a member of many professional societies.  He was elected to
>the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, in 1987.
>
>Dr. Ter-Pogossian received an undergraduate and a graduate degree from the
>University of Paris, France, and received his master's and doctorate degrees
>from Washington University, St. Louis.  He joined the faculty of Washington
>University School of Medicine in 1950 as an instructor in radiation physics and
>was named professor of radiation physics in 1961, professor of biophysics in
>physiology in 1964, and professor of radiation sciences in 1973.  Dr.
>Ter-Pogossian was director of Mallinckrodt Institute's Division of Radiation
>Sciences from 1963 to 1991.  He assumed emeritus status in 1995.
>
>He is survived by his wife Ann; children Scott, Rowland, and Ella Dodson; and
>five grandchildren.  Arrangements are pending.
>
>