David Davis Rutstein (1909-1986) was a long-time faculty member at Harvard Medical School and an advocate for preventive medicine. He was one of the first physicians to use television as an outreach tool to inform the public about health concerns and research. Rutstein also played a national role in the organization of medical care in the United States, the integration of preventive medicine into patient care, and the measurement of medical outcomes.Dr. David Rutstein, 77, Dies: Ex-Harvard Department Chief
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Life and medical career

David Rutstein was born in 1909 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Harvard College in 1930 and from Harvard Medical School with an M.D. in 1934. He completed clinical training at Boston City Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston and taught at

Albany Medical College Albany Medical College (AMC) is a private medical school in Albany, New York. It was founded in 1839 by Alden March and James H. Armsby and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation. The college is part of the Albany Medical Center, which ...

and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He joined the Harvard Medical School faculty in 1947 as a professor and head of the Department of Preventive Medicine, a position he held until 1969. From 1966 to his retirement in 1975, he was the Ridley Watts professor of preventive medicine. In his teaching career, Rutstein taught medical students preventive clinical medicine, focusing on the interfaces of basic sciences, epidemiology, design of experiments,

biological engineering Biological engineering or bioengineering is the application of principles of biology and the tools of engineering to create usable, tangible, economically-viable products. Biological engineering employs knowledge and expertise from a number o ...

, and health services research. He conducted teaching rounds at

Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General or MGH) is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the third oldest general hospital in the United Stat ...

, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now

Brigham and Women's Hospital Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) is the second largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and the largest hospital in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. Along with Massachusetts Gener ...

, Boston City Hospital, and the Rheumatic Fever Service of the House of the Good Samaritan. Rutstein's non-teaching clinical work included studies on cardiovascular physiological changes in infectious diseases; an international study of the treatment of

rheumatic fever Rheumatic fever (RF) is an inflammatory disease that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain. The disease typically develops two to four weeks after a streptococcal throat infection. Signs and symptoms include fever, multiple painful jo ...

; and research at the United States Veteran's Administration on measuring and improving the quality of medical care. His work on rheumatic fever took place in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada and was supported by the

American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...

's Council on Rheumatic Fever and by the British Medical Research Council. Rutstein was also a prolific author. His scientific work was published in regional and national

medical journal A medical journal is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that communicates medical information to physicians, other health professionals. Journals that cover many medical specialties are sometimes called general medical journals. History The first ...

s and his books include ''Lifetime Health Record'' ( Harvard University Press, 1958), ''The Coming Revolution in Medicine'' ( MIT Press, 1967), ''Engineering and Living Systems'' (MIT Press, 1970), and ''Blueprint for Medical Care'' (MIT Press, 1974). He also wrote for general periodicals such as The Atlantic and Harpers Magazine. In 1955, Rutstein began a television series on WGBH-TV called "Facts of Medicine". The short program was designed to inform the general public about local and national health concerns and to introduce them to current research projects in medicine. "Facts of Medicine" ran for 40 episodes. During the 1960s, Rutstein directed a study on forming health maintenance programs, lobbied for changes in state laws regarding

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, and advocated for the role of nurse midwives in delivery rooms. Rutstein was one-time president of the American Epidemiological Society and, as recognition of his work and respected position in the medical field, was elected as a member to the Council of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the

French Academy of Medicine French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

, and the English Royal Society of Medicine. He received awards for his work including the Jubilee Medal of the

Swedish Medical Society The Swedish Medical Society () is an independent and scientific professional organization formed by Swedish physicians, including doctors from all medical specialties. Its aims are the promoting of research, education, quality in health care Organ ...

, the Gold Heart Award from the

, and the French Legion of Honour.

References

External links

David D. Rutstein: Distinguished PhysicianDavid D. Rutstein Papers, 1916-1989 (inclusive), 1938-1980 (bulk), H MS c315. Harvard Medical Library, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Boston, Mass.PubMed search for DD Rutstein
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rutstein, David 1909 births 1986 deaths Harvard University faculty People from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Physicians from Cambridge, Massachusetts Harvard Medical School alumni Harvard College alumni Members of the National Academy of Medicine American television personalities