Celebrating the life of Joseph Flood, MD, FACP, MACR, MAPLAR
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The rheumatology community is mourning the death of Joseph Flood, MD, FACP, MACR, MAPLAR, a longtime educator and rheumatologist at Columbus Arthritis Center, in Ohio, and former president of the American College of Rheumatology.
Flood, a member of the Healio Rheumatology Peer Perspective Board and Healio contributor, died July 13 at his home surrounded by family members and friends. He was 70 years old and survived by his spouse, Jeanne M. Likins, PhD, and brothers-in-law William “Hank” Likins, of Nashville, and David Scott Likins, of Atlanta, as well as nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Flood passed away due to complications of liver disease, diabetes and recurrent, metastasized liver cancer, according to his obituary.
A life serving patients
Born in Cleveland, Flood completed his undergraduate studies at Cuyahoga Community College and Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin-Wallace University) — where he met his future spouse — before enrolling in medical school at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, in Washington, D.C.
After medical school, Flood remained at Georgetown University Hospitals for his internship and residency, then served as a fellow in rheumatology at Georgetown and the Washington VA Medical Center. After completing medical training, Flood and Likins moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1984, where he would practice rheumatology thereafter, including at the Central Ohio Medical Group and in solo practice. He joined the Columbus Arthritis Center in 2012.
In addition to his clinical work, Flood was a clinical professor of medicine at Ohio State University, serving on the College of Medicine Committee on Admissions for 3 decades. There, he received the Distinguished Educator Award and was inducted into the Courage to Teach Society. In addition, Flood created — and for many years led — the rheumatology clinic at Grant Medical Center, in Columbus, and served as needed at the Columbus Medical Association’s free clinic.
Throughout his career, Flood was deeply involved with the American College of Rheumatology, chairing several committees and serving as president in 2014. There, he helped establish the ACR’s Political Action Committee, which represents rheumatologists and other health professionals in the specialty — and their patients — to the federal government.
He had also been a fellow with the American College of Physicians, as well as a member of the Ohio State Medical Association, the Columbus Medical Association and the Association of Women in Rheumatology.
In addition to his work in academia and the clinic, Flood made a lasting mark on colleagues around the country.
‘Will not soon be forgotten’
Flood is remembered by colleagues not only for his work in rheumatology, but also for the character and warmth he demonstrated on a regular basis.
“Joseph’s contributions to the rheumatology community, on a global scale, will not soon be forgotten,” Douglas White, MD, PhD, the current president of the ACR, told Healio. “However, I'll remember him most for his warmth, the way he welcomed others into his circle, and the grace and aplomb with which he led the ACR.”
For Leonard Calabrese, DO, RJ Fasenmyer chair of clinical immunology at the Cleveland Clinic, and chief medical editor of Healio Rheumatology, Flood will be remembered as a welcoming, gracious man who never hesitated to extend a kind gesture.
“I have many fond remembrances of Joe Flood far beyond his prominent role in the world of rheumatology,” Calabrese said. “I remember him is a gracious man. More than a decade ago, when I was briefly hospitalized, I came home to find a FedEx shipment of Jeni’s ice cream on my front doorstep courtesy of Joe and his lovely wife Jeannie. I also remember his gracious capacity for entertainment and making everybody feel welcome in their lovely home. He will still be missed.”
Fellow Healio Rheumatology Peer Perspective Board member Stanley Cohen, MD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, noted Flood’s leadership and significant contributions to the early development of targeted therapy in rheumatology.
“I knew Joe long before we became involved in ACR, as he had a keen interest in clinical research and new therapeutic development, as did I,” Cohen told Healio. “His contributions in the early days of targeted therapy development were significant in moving along the approval of these highly effective therapies. His leadership capabilities resulted in his advancement as president of the ACR, and as expected he performed an exemplary fashion. He had a great love for the college and that was demonstrated by his contributions over his many years of service.
“In addition to all his contributions to our specialty and to his patients, he had a joy for life with a love for the finer things,” he added. “He will be missed by all of us who had the opportunity to spend time with him.”
Jonathan Kay, MD, of the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and member of the Healio Rheumatology Peer Perspective Board, described how Flood helped build global bonds and relationships throughout the specialty.
“Joseph Flood was a gentle giant,” Kay said. “He cared deeply about rheumatology, patients and the health care professionals who care for them.
“As a leader of the American College of Rheumatology, he always advocated for that which was in the best interest of patients,” he added. “With his cheerful, kind, and larger than life personality, Joseph established bonds with rheumatologists around the world and strengthened the relationship between the American College of Rheumatology, EULAR and other international rheumatology associations. As a friend, I could always rely upon him for sound advice. He will be missed.”
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