Robert Francis Maronde (January 13, 1920 – August 13, 2008) was a professor at the

University of Southern California Medical School The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California teaches and trains physicians, biomedical scientists and other healthcare professionals, conducts medical research, and treats patients. Founded in 1885, it is the second oldest ...

. He helped create an artificial kidney, and the first computerized

pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...

system in the 1960s.

Early life and education

The son of a physician father, Maronde was born in Monterey Park, California, on January 13, 1920. He graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1937, received his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

from the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...

in 1941 and earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine in 1944. He was a ship's doctor in the United States Navy Medical Corps while on active duty in the Naval Reserve from 1946 to 1947."Culver Man Plays Part in 'Sea Drama'"
''Evening Vanguard'', Venice, California, volume XXII, number 189, January 17, 1946, page 1.

Career

In 1949, in collaboration with Helen Martin, Maronde implemented a hemodialysis program for acute renal failure at what is now

Los Angeles County Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, with 9,861,224 residents estimated as of 2022. It is the ...

USC USC most often refers to: * University of South Carolina, a public research university ** University of South Carolina System, the main university and its satellite campuses **South Carolina Gamecocks, the school athletic program * University of ...

Medical Center. With their creation of an artificial kidney—it used a stainless-steel beer keg as a reservoir—they were at the forefront of medical innovation. In the late 1960s, Maronde developed one of the first—if not the first—computerized prescription drug systems, which was launched in the outpatient pharmacy at County-USC.

Personal life

Maronde had four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maronde, Robert F. 1920 births 2008 deaths University of Southern California faculty Keck School of Medicine of USC alumni United States Navy Medical Corps officers