University Times

A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Sept. 18 in Heinz Chapel for Allan L. Drash, emeritus professor of pediatrics and epidemiology in the School of Medicine and the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s Hospital. Drash, 77, died Aug. 3, 2009.

Recognized as a driving force behind early research on the care of children with diabetes, Drash is credited with helping expand the hospital’s research and clinical care programs and impacting the lives of both patients and researchers in the field.

Longtime collaborator Lewis H. Kuller of the Department of Epidemiology said Drash “moved the whole field” as a pioneer in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. “If you look at a tree of people around the U.S. and the world, especially in epidemiology, you’d see this tree that grew out of Allan’s enthusiasm and interest in treatment and prevention of insulin-dependent diabetes. He made a huge difference,” said Kuller, a Distinguished University Professor of Public Health.

Drash recognized the importance of studying environmental and genetic factors behind the disease, research that continues today.

He also supported the idea of having a team of nurses, nutritionists, social workers and others to work alongside doctors in caring for patients with diabetes. A common practice now, “in those days, it was unique,” Kuller said.

“It’s important to recognize a lot of what we see now at the University, especially in pediatrics,” are the results of Drash’s vision. “His insights were ahead of many of us,” Kuller said.

“He was convinced of the importance of high-quality careful care of children with diabetes,” said Kuller, adding that Drash was committed to the idea that intensive therapy to lower glucose in such patients was critical. “That’s been proven now,” Kuller said.

“He played a tremendous role in training endocrinologists in the proper care of children with diabetes. He also was committed to the idea we had to do good research,” Kuller said, citing Drash’s design of a regional registry of children with insulin-dependent diabetes and their families.

“He was an enthusiastic guy. He had good ideas. He listened to people and he pushed things. He was good at getting people to collaborate and work together,” Kuller said.

In addition to his diabetes research, in the 1970s Drash developed a local program to modify high cholesterol in children through diet, exercise and behavioral modifications “long before the idea of looking for high cholesterol in kids was thought about by most people,” Kuller said.

Drash also developed a program at Children’s Hospital to screen children and families with high cholesterol and to treat them with dietary interventions before today’s drug therapy options were available.

Trevor J. Orchard, interim chair of the Department of Epidemiology and professor of epidemiology, pediatrics and medicine, met Drash 30 years ago when Orchard arrived here as a young researcher. “He had the remarkable combination not only of warmth, but of great stature in academic achievement.”

Orchard said Drash put him at ease and inspired him as a young researcher to undertake more than he otherwise would have had the courage to attempt. “He was inspiring and supportive, a combination of mentor and friend.”

Drash was open-minded with an outgoing, friendly nature that drew him into conversations with those in other specialties and led him to hear more about other clinical fields, Orchard said. “He didn’t restrict his focus and thoughts to what he necessarily knew best.”

Drash earned his bachelor’s degree at Vanderbilt University and his MD at the University of Virginia. He served internships and fellowships at Johns Hopkins before coming to Pitt as an assistant professor of pediatrics in 1966.

He ascended the ranks to become director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and was named a full professor in 1975. He received a secondary appointment in epidemiology and retired from the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s Hospital in 1991, but after five years returned as an active clinician. Drash retired as emeritus professor of pediatrics in 1996 and retired from the hospital in 2006.

He was American Diabetes Association president, medicine & science, 1983-84. and was editor-in-chief of its journal Diabetes Care, 1992-96.

Drash chaired the International Study Group on Diabetes in Children and Adolescents, 1981-87, and was president of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, 1987-88. He received a number of awards including the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Clinician in the Field of Diabetes, the American College of Endocrinology’s Distinguished Clinician Award and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) Scientific Achievement Award. Additionally, each year since 2006, ISPAD has awarded a six-week clinical fellowship in Drash’s name.

Drash is survived by his wife, Diane Dixon Drash; children Allison Drash and James Drash, and three grandchildren.

A new Allan Drash Diabetes Scholarship for pediatric diabetes trainees has been established through Children’s Hospital. Donations may be made online at www.GivetoChildrens.org or in care of Chip Eagle, 1251 Waterfront Place, 5th floor, Pittsburgh 15222.

—Kimberly K. Barlow