Remembering Dr. Ed Frohlich

Ronald G. Amedee

doi:10.31486/toj.19.5009

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting, and autumn a mosaic of them all.
–Stanley Horowitz

This edition of the Journal includes a strong collection of original research manuscripts, including a timely article by Halton, Roberts, and Denton entitled “Factors associated with discussions of human immunodeficiency virus pre-exposure prophylaxis in men who have sex with men” which includes a recommendation made this year by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to offer PrEP to persons at high risk of HIV acquisition. Keep in mind that HIV rates in Louisiana are some of the highest in the country. As we attempt to enhance work-life balance and overall well-being among healthcare workers, take note of the article by Musso et al entitled “The relationship between grit and resilience in emergency medical service personnel.” Another important original research article for your review is the Boys et al paper, “Fortification of preservation solution with nitroprusside does not alter lung allograft survival in clinical human lung transplantation.” In addition, Bansal et al present “Right heart failure in different left ventricular assist devices: single-center experience.” Four other research articles round out the issue offerings and explore cognitive dysfunction in patients with diabetes, the responsibility for ensuring that patients with irritable bowel disease receive the appropriate vaccinations, fertility after isthmocele surgery, and the use of risk estimation techniques to investigate the source of a disease outbreak.

Under the heading of reviews and contemporary updates we find a paper authored by Ndunda et al that offers valuable insights into the “Clinical outcomes of transcatheter vs surgical aortic valve replacement in patients with chronic liver disease: a systematic review and metaanalysis.”

This issue also features 10 case reports and clinical observations, including a paper by Kaki et al on “Impella-induced incessant ventricular tachycardia.” A work by Mishra et al deals with “Early-onset bilateral severe valvular regurgitation after mediastinal radiotherapy in Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: should we screen prior to 10 years after mediastinal radiotherapy?” and a piece by Rashed et al reports on “Reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in a patient with prior apical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: challenging the beta receptor gradient theory.”

Since our last issue, Ochsner has mourned the loss of one of its giants with the passing of Dr Edward Frohlich. Ed epitomized what is meant by the phrase “a triple threat in medicine” as he was the consummate authority on all matters dealing with clinical issues, research (particularly in the field of hypertension), and excellence in scholarly activity/productivity as evidenced by having an entire bookshelf in his home filled with reprints from articles he published throughout his lifetime. He was an invaluable mentor and friend to all who practiced at Ochsner. Ed also headed the selection committee for the annual Alton Ochsner Award Relating Smoking and Disease, and it is significant that the 2019 honorees have just recently been named.

Some time ago, Ed asked Rev Anthony J. De Conciliis, CSC, DMin, PhD, who leads the Institute of Medicine, Education, and Spirituality at Ochsner (IMESO), to speak at his memorial service. Father De Conciliis paid tribute to his colleague and friend stating, “He was an accomplished man who cared about research, teaching, loving, caring, and his family.” Father Anthony concluded his remarks by mentioning that “Dr Frohlich was a part of IMESO's success. Part of Ochsner's success and notoriety is because of this great man of medicine.”

Dr Frohlich will be sadly missed by both his immediate family and his many colleagues at Ochsner who came to know and love this extraordinary physician.