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A tribute to Elijah Saunders, MD
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by Roger S. Blumenthal, MD; Lisa A. Cooper, MD; and Michael Miller, MD
The worlds of hypertension and CV medicine lost a giant with the passing of Elijah Saunders, MD, a longtime member of the Cardiology Today Editorial Board. He was one of the leading voices on African-American CV care. He died of cancer at age 80, on April 6, 2015.
Dr. Saunders came to the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1956 and graduated in 1960, as one of just four African Americans in his class. He became the first African-American resident in internal medicine at the University of Maryland.
Elijah Saunders
After he completed his fellowship in cardiology at the University of Maryland, he opened a private practice in West Baltimore and became the first African-American cardiologist in the state. He played an integral role in the ending of the segregated medical wards at University Hospital.
In 1984, he came back full-time to the University of Maryland and became head of the section of hypertension in the CV division. His research interests focused on hypertension in the elderly, diabetes and ethnic/racial groups. He was very involved in efficacy and safety trials with antihypertensive drugs before and after FDA approval. His research found that certain classes of BP medications are more effective in particular ethnic/racial groups. This work was influential in FDA requirements to include sufficient numbers of African Americans in CV drug trials.
Dr. Saunders devoted much of his professional career to developing innovative programs to reach “at-risk adults” in nontraditional settings in the local community, and educating patients and their families about the importance of healthy lifestyle habits. In 2006, he developed the Hair, Heart and Health program to bring awareness of CVD risk factors to communities via barbers and hairstylists. This program continues to train barbers and hair stylists to pre-screen customers for hypertension and make referral for medical care if needed.
Roger S. Blumenthal
Dr. Saunders received the American Heart Association Award of Merit and the Louis B. Russell Award for his outstanding contributions to CV minority health. He is a founding member and past chairman of the board, and past president of the Association of Black Cardiologists; past president and founding member of the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks; a charter member of the American Society of Hypertension; and past president of the Maryland High Blood Pressure Coordinating Council.
He was the 2011 recipient of the Herbert W. Nickens Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges, which honors those who make outstanding contributions to promote justice in medical education and health care equality. In 2012, the Greater Maryland Chapter of the AHA established the Watkins-Saunders Award to recognize excellence in clinical, medical and community work focused on diminishing health care disparities in Maryland. Dr. Saunders and Levi Watkins, MD, a world renowned African-American cardiothoracic surgeon and civil rights advocate, who also passed away this April, were the inaugural recipients of the award named in their honor. Earlier this academic year, Dr. Saunders was selected to receive the Dean’s Distinguished Gold Medal “for exemplary life and work” at the 2015 School of Medicine graduation exercises.
Dr. Saunders treated many individuals with end-stage renal disease, cerebrovascular and atherosclerotic vascular disease, and he was a strong proponent of comprehensive lifestyle changes and judicious use of tolerable antihypertensive therapy. He always tried to educate his patients, their family members and the lay public about the strong connection between hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, MI and stroke.
Lisa A. Cooper
E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean of the School of Medicine, called Dr. Saunders a great pioneer, giant, legend and visionary who carried himself with grace and dignity each day and “who leaves a legacy that will always live on in the hearts and minds of many of us at the School of Medicine.”
He is survived by Sharon E. Saunders, MD, a geriatics specialist, to whom he was married for nearly 19 years; a son; two daughters; and three grandchildren. His first wife died in 1993.
On a personal level, Dr. Saunders was a great mentor and friend. He was a violinist who co-founded the University Players Orchestra. He was an ardent sports fan who was a passionate supporter of the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles. He was of great assistance in our own career development and it was always a pleasure to see the great big smile on his face in our many interactions with him over the years at national scientific sessions or CME conferences.
Michael Miller
What was particularly admirable about Dr. Saunders was his knack for making others feel at ease in his presence. Whether he was talking with a patient or family member, giving Grand Rounds before a large audience of teaching a group of housestaff and medical students, Dr. Saunders was always respectful of other views. We cannot recall a single occasion when he either raised his voice (except at a Ravens game) or interrupted another person. Dr. Saunders was a consummate gentleman and an extraordinarily beloved and caring physician. His scholarly activities were pivotal in advancing awareness and earlier treatment of hypertension and improving quality of care for CVD and we will miss him dearly.
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Roger S. Blumenthal, MD, is director of the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease and is the CHD and Prevention Section Editor of Cardiology Today. Lisa A. Cooper, MD, is director of the Hopkins Center to Eliminate Cardiovascular Disparities at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Michael Miller, MD, is professor of medicine in the division of cardiology and professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, as well as director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology for the University of Maryland Medical System and staff physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Baltimore.