Professor Ignac Fogelman
His clinical research pioneered the use of isotope bone scanning
THE INTERNATIONALLY renowned medical professor Ignac Fogelman,who has died in London aged 67, was a pioneer in the field of bone disease. He was the first to use isotope bone scanning and positron emission tomography (PET) to study metabolic bone disease.
Prof Fogelman was born in a displaced persons camp near Munich to Ruth and Richard Fogelman, and later settled in Glasgow, Scotland, where he undertook his medical training.
His parents wanted to ensure that he and his brother Charles would receive a goodeducation,andafterGlasgowHigh School he graduated in medicine from Glasgow University.
Early in his career he developed both a clinical and research focus in nuclear medicine, and was promoted through the various stages of his career at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, joining Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital in London as a consultant physician in 1983. In 1988 he became Director of the Nuclear Medicine Department and helped start the first osteoporosis screening service in the UK. In 1996 he was promoted to Professor of Nuclear Medicine, earning his lovable nickname, “The Prof.”
During his 30 years at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital,Fogelman was involved in various specialisms, including his expertise in DXA scanning and his central role in its adoption into everyday clinical practice. He madeimportantcontributionstoother developments in the bone field, including quantitative ultrasound, SPECT/ CT imaging, and the skeletal effects of osteoporosis treatment drugs. Most recently he and his research group led key studies relating to regional changes in bone remodelling in bone disease.
Fogelman personally supervised 17 PhD students and was chairman of the board of examiners for the MSc in Nuclear Medicine at Kings College, London.
He was a prolific contributor Ignac and Coral Fogelman to scientific literature, with over 400 papers and 15 textbooks, including the highly praised now in its 3rd edition, considered a classic for students of bone imaging. Throughout his professional life, Fogelman received innumerable awards and appreciation. The Society of NuclearMedicineof Indiaawardedhim the prestigious Vikram Sarabhai Oration award in 2005. In 2014 he received the Sir Godfrey Hounsfield Memorial Award from the British Institute of Radiology, and in 2015 he was invited to copresent the annual Bone Research Society Dent Lecture with Professor Judith Adams. He often appeared on national news, and has a current MBE application pending. Fogelman was closely involved with the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) from its inception in 1986, as one of the original board members. He sat on its Scientific Advisers Committee for many years. He c h a i r e d its Densitome t r y F o r u m between 1999 and 2005, and was an active member.
Fogelman married Coral Norton 1974, and they had two children, Gayle in 1974, and Richard in 1982. He recently said his family was his greatest achievement. His happiest moments were spent with his wife, children and extended family.
He was a warm, modest and pragmaticmanwithagreatsenseof humour and a zest for life, which he lived to the full. In addition to his outstanding contributions to the medical field, he will be remembered for his love of theatre, opera, art galleries, travelling, reading, fine wine, fast cars and bridge. He representedEnglandattheMaccabiahgames for bridge.
Over the years he documented every theatre, opera and art gallery he visited, accruing an amazing 517 operas and 2654 theatre productions. He was also a keen collector of scent bottles, having amassedover500.Fogelmanissurvived by his wife Coral, children Richard and Gayle, his brother Charles and his four grandsons. Ignac Fogelman: Born September 4, 1948. Died July 5, 2016