Dr. Paul Walfish, a pioneer in the treatment of thyroid disease, passed away this past weekend. He had a prolific career at Mount Sinai Hospital that spanned over 50 years and he helped put us on the map as a leader in the field of head and neck diseases, including thyroid cancer.
“Dr. Walfish was an icon in the field of thyroidology; an innovative and lateral thinker who established clinical and research protocols that changed the way thyroid cancer is managed around the world,” says Dr. Ian Witterick, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief for Sinai Health System.
Dr. Walfish was a game-changer in the field of thyroid cancer. In 1965, after establishing the Nuclear Medicine Department at Mount Sinai, he and his colleagues pioneered studies in North America using fine needle biopsy and ultrasound technology for the early detection of thyroid cancer. He also pioneered a new testing method that can determine whether radioactive iodine treatment is required following thyroid cancer surgery. These new techniques armed clinicians with enhanced tools and knowledge, revolutionizing the management and treatment of thyroid cancer in North America.
He was named to the Order of Canada in 1990 for his contributions to medicine. In 2007, he received the Order of Ontario for establishing a newborn screening program to detect congenital hypothyroidism in infants – a condition that can cause brain damage, mental disability and growth failure. Since its discovery, the test has been adopted by hospitals around the world.
Dr. Walfish’s many discoveries not only reshaped clinical care at Mount Sinai, but also had international impact. As a clinician and researcher, he exemplified how the research conducted within a hospital setting makes its way to the patient’s bedside, with innovative approaches to treatment and care.