Robert E. Fuisz, MD, was a pioneer in medical communications and an Emmy-winning producer, known for his work on The Body Human and Lifeline series.
He was the son of the late Anton and Margaret Fuisz, and is survived by his wife of more than 41 years, Beverly Howie Fuisz. Dr. Fuisz graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School, Georgetown University (cum laude), and the Georgetown University School of Medicine (magna cum laude). Following medical school, Dr. Fuisz completed his internship and residency at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, MA, a part of the Harvard Medical System.
Dr. Fuisz specialized in the field of Endocrinology and published numerous scientific articles dealing with human fluid and electrolyte metabolism. His research contributions on the subject of human sodium metabolism and renal gluconeogenesis were widely quoted in medical literature. While a resident at the Brigham, Dr. Fuisz founded MEDCOM, INC., a medical communications firm, and left the practice of medicine to run his company. MEDCOM was a pioneer in the use of multimedia communications techniques in the dissemination of high technology medical information to physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. MEDCOM learning systems were used worldwide and subsequently spawned a variety of companies creating a new segment in the medical information publishing industry. At the time of its sale to a Fortune 500 company, MEDCOM was the largest company of its kind in the world.
Dr. Fuisz was also a critically acclaimed television producer, known for such groundbreaking programming as The Body Human series for CBS, the Lifeline series for NBC, and a version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott. Among other accolades, Dr. Fuisz was a recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award, the Emmy Award (six-time recipient), the Christopher Award (three-time recipient) and the Writers Guild of America Award (two-time recipient).
Dr. Fuisz, the first in his family to attend college, was devoted to Georgetown University. He was a co-benefactor of the Anton and Margaret Fuisz Professor of Medicine Chair at the Georgetown University Medical Center, served three terms on the Board of Regents of Georgetown University, and was an avid fan of his beloved Hoyas Men's Basketball Team. In his younger years, Dr. Fuisz was a passionate aviator, and completion of his Instrument Flight Rating was one of his fondest achievements.
Though his professional accomplishments were many, Dr. Fuisz was most proud to be a loving son, husband and father. He will be dearly missed by his wife, Beverly, his three children, Jeffrey, Jonathan and Juliet, and three grandchildren, Oliver, Sydney and Pepper.
