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A tribute to Emile Mohler, MD
Emile R. Mohler III, MD, was a colleague, role model, mentor and, most importantly, a dear friend to many. In 2017, he received the Society for Vascular Medicine’s highest honor — Master of the Society of Vascular Medicine — for his extraordinary service, selfless dedication and leadership in the field of vascular medicine. For Cardiology Today, he provided many perspectives over the years in the area of peripheral artery disease. On Oct. 13, Dr. Mohler lost his valiant battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The son of a hematologist, Dr. Mohler learned early the joy of medicine. In conjunction with his Master of the Society of Vascular Medicine award, Dr. Mohler wrote an editorial in Vascular Medicine, titled “Research lessons I’ve learned over a career in vascular medicine.” He explained how, at Boston College as an undergraduate majoring in philosophy and biology, he became conscious of the thrill of scientific discovery, its processes and the principles of investigation.
After graduating with honors, he went on to Georgetown where he obtained a MS in physiology in 1984 and MD in 1988, followed by his residency in internal medicine there (1988 to 1991). He was inspired by W. Proctor Harvey, MD, and Charles Rackley, MD, leading him to a cardiovascular fellowship at Indiana University Medical Center, where he first began research into the pathogenesis of calcific aortic valve disease and PAD in the laboratory of David Hathaway, MD. In 1996, he was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania as an assistant professor and director of the vascular medicine program at Penn-Presbyterian Hospital. In addition to rising to the rank of professor of medicine, he became the founding director of the Vascular Medicine Program at Penn. In addition, he directed the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and was a member of the Preventive Cardiology Study Group, the Cardiovascular Institute, the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, the Institute for Diabetes, and the Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group.
Dr. Mohler was an internationally recognized leader in vascular medicine, having authored more than 250 manuscripts and contributed to numerous editorials, reviews, chapters and committee reports. He was the author of seven books on vascular medicine, served on the guideline committees for the treatment of patients with heart and vascular diseases, and was on the editorial boards of all the major vascular medicine journals. He was an NIH-funded investigator, and among his many investigations, he and his colleagues showed that calcific aortic stenosis is caused by an inflammatory process that triggers reactivation of the developmental bone-forming program. He directed multiple clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of exercise programs, cholesterol-lowering agents and novel therapies, including stem cells and genes encoding angiogenic factors, in patients with symptomatic PAD.
While these academic contributions are only a small part of a larger list, Dr. Mohler will be remembered for much more than that. Most importantly, he was a teacher, mentor, advisor and friend. He touched patients, their families and those with whom he worked. Despite challenges, and at the end ALS, Dr. Mohler never wavered from his inspiring forward-looking refrain that highlighted the positive. His never-wavering drive to strive for joy in life was palpable. He always saw the good in people and brought out the best in those around him. His love of family was obvious, and he never hid his love and appreciation for Bonnie, his wife and strongest supporter.
No one could ever leave Emile without feeling simply better. Just weeks before his death, he “ran” in an ALS fundraiser with friends and his family. On my last visit with him, Bonnie and my wife, he charged us with coming back for wine and cheese in the not-too-distant future. Emile’s friend since fellowship at Indiana University and colleague at Penn, Robert Wilensky, MD, remembers that, “Dr. Mohler had a unique ability to connect with scientific colleagues in various subspecialties — subspecialties which generally have little interaction with cardiovascular physicians, in large part due to his inquisitive nature, his love of scientific investigation and his pleasant personality.” Michael Parmacek, MD, the Frank Wister Thomas Professor of Medicine and chair of the department of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, leaves us with a perfect memory: “Emile’s superb skills as a vascular medicine specialist were only exceeded by his remarkable qualities as a colleague, friend and father. He exemplified professionalism and humanism to his colleagues and trainees.”
Dr. Mohler is survived by his wife Bonnie; three sons, Riggs, Greg and John; his father, Dr. Emile Mohler Jr.; mother, Peggy Mohler; and brothers, Tom, Bill and Bob. One of his many wishes was the establishment of the Mohler Innovation Fund for Biomedical Research at Penn Medicine, which has come to fruition. As written in his memoir, Emile would want us to strive for joy in life. We will miss you.
- Reference:
- Mohler ER 3rd. Vasc Med. 2017;doi:10.1177/1358863X17728332.
- For more information:
- Andrew E. Epstein, MD, FAHA, FACC, FHRS, is professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. He is also a Cardiology Today Editorial Board Member. Epstein can be reached at the Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St., 9 Founders Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA 19104; email: andrew.epstein@uphs.upenn.edu.