Obituary of Hyman Bakst

Hyman Bakst, MD, died peacefully on June 9, 2008 at the age of 92 in Poughkeepsie, with his daughter, Marni Bakst and his granddaughter, Sadler Colley Bakst, at his side. A lifelong resident of New York City and also of the beautiful Hudson Valley for the last 35 years, Dr. Bakst was born in the Bronx on Feb. 13, 1916. He earned his B.S. from NYU in 1935 and his M.D. from NYU College of Medicine in 1939 at the age of 23. He did his internship and residency in Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital, during which time he was active in efforts to organize a Physician's Union. Dr. Bakst received Post-graduate training in Industrial Hygiene at Columbia University College, and enlisted in the Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant on Dec. 8, 1941, where this expertise led to his being promoted to Captain and put in charge of organizing the special Army 91st Medical Gas Treatment Battalion, which embarked for England and the European Theater. He participated in the Invasion at Normandy, and as the Allies began their push across France, Dr. Bakst drew up and implemented a plan, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, to break his Battalion up into six smaller, more mobile hospital units that would follow closer to the front, each able to care for a different part of the line. It put these units at greater risk, but made it possible to save countless more lives. He took part in the liberation of Paris, the liberation of the death-camp at Buchenwald and the fall of Berlin. His fluency in German was put to use after the fall to organize the Allied efforts, and he was honorably discharged from the Army as a decorated Major in December 1945. After the war, Dr. Bakst returned to NYC and became part of the research team working with Dr. Harry Gold to develop the Randomized DoubleBlind Controlled Clinical Trial protocol in the US, still the "Gold Standard" for conducting viable scientific studies, a bedrock of Clinical Pharmacology. Dr. Bakst was certified as a Diplomat by the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1953, and recertified in 1977. His Academic Appointments include an Assistant Clinical Professorship of Medicine and Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and an Assistant Clinical Professorship of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He was an Associate Physician at Bronx Municipal Hospital, and an Attending in Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital. In 1953, he became the Associate Medicine Chief of the Psychosomatic Service at Montefiore Hospital, where he designed and participated in groundbreaking studies using Psychiatry to predict the outcome of Cardiac Surgery and reduce its risks. Dr. Bakst was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, a Fellow of the NY Academy of Medicine, a Fellow of the NY Academy of Science, and a member of A.A.A.S. and the American Psychosomatic Society. Over his long career, Dr. Bakst published 21 papers and articles in numerous professional medical journals, and made two Educational Films, one for the popular NET Science Series "Spectrum". He was included in an article in "Life" Magazine in 1959, part of the series "You and Your Doctor". Dr. Bakst practiced Internal Medicine on Manhattan's east side for nearly 60 years, retiring from active practice at 81. He was a lifelong student and in turn, a mentor to many. He loved teaching and above all tried to teach young doctors to treat the patient, and not just the disease, to cultivate a 'human touch'. An expert diagnostician, his experience and skill brought him patients with difficult, complicated medical problems. His approach was to listen, he maintained that "the patient will tell you what's wrong if you only take the time to listen." He also made house calls when necessary (!), and was early in offering his services to AIDS patients when the epidemic began in NYC. He had a deep compassion for all life. Many patients and colleagues were singularly devoted to him and remained in contact throughout his life. He is survived by his beloved and loving family, daughter Marni Bakst, granddaughter, Sadler Colley Bakst, son-in-law, William Sadler, and the incomparable 'Bandito'. Contributions in his memory can be made to the World Wildlife Fund and Doctors Without Borders. If you would like information about a future Memorial Celebration, please contact mjbakst@aol.com. A lifelong aficionado of early jazz, Hy often said that if he had not become a doctor, he would have been a musician. Dad, I just know you've found your way to some great celestial jam session with Ella & Louis and all those 'cool cats'.... and I know they saved you a front row seat. Peace. Arrangements are under the direction of the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY.