 |
Richard Tobin, M.D. |
Richard Tobin, M.D., a pioneer in establishing endocrinology at UNMC, died Dec. 6 in Omaha at the age of 90.
In 1968, Dr. Tobin was selected by Robert Grissom, M.D., to start the endocrinology program when Dr. Grissom formed the academic department of internal medicine at UNMC.
“What we now recognize as the robust academic programs of UNMC began when Dr. Grissom recruited a few key faculty,” said Jennifer Larsen, M.D., vice chancellor for research. “Dr. Tobin was one of those recruits. He was one of the first endocrinologists as well as a clinician-scientist.
“With the loss of Dr. Tobin, we lose a little bit of that early history. Dr. Tobin is someone who consistently valued the role of research as well as understood the importance of the Omaha VA Medical Center to our academic center.”
Service information
The Tobin family will receive friends today from 5-7 p.m. at the Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel, 7805 W. Center Rd. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the same location. Memorials are suggested to a charity of one’s choice.
Dr. Tobin came to Omaha in 1966 as associate chief of staff for the Omaha VA Medical Center and as associate professor of internal medicine for UNMC. He continued as associate chief of staff at the VA Medical Center until 1973 and remained on the VA staff until he retired in 1995.
In addition to his internal medicine appointment at UNMC, Dr. Tobin also held appointments in physiology and biochemistry. He was a full professor.
The Tobin File
- Dr. Tobin served in the U.S. Army as a medical officer during the Korean War.
- He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester College of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y.
- He did his internship at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, and his residency and fellowship in internal medicine and endocrinology at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.
- He completed another fellowship in biochemistry at the University of Amsterdam.
- From 1955-1966, he served on the faculty of the University of Rochester rising to assistant professor level.
- In 2009, he received the Friends of Omaha VA Research Service Award.
“Dr. Tobin was very committed to the academic mission of UNMC and made it a point to attend journal club and other educational events until recently,” said Cyrus Desouza, M.B.B.S., professor and chief of the division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism in the UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. “He was a strong supporter of research both at UNMC and the VA Medical Center. Many of our faculty have been supported by him in their initial research years.”
Dr. Tobin’s research focused on thyroid hormone action with a particular focus on how it impacted mitochondria and other cellular functions. Dr. Desouza noted that even after Dr. Tobin closed his research laboratory, he continued to be a mentor and consultant to faculty, participated in clinical conferences, and supported thyroid research within the UNMC division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism.
“He was so committed to UNMC, academic medicine in general and the department of medicine. We will miss him,” said Deb Romberger, M.D., professor and chair of internal medicine, who said that efforts were underway to nominate Dr. Tobin for professor emeritus status.
Oh, no. I have such fond memories of Dick and Jean Tobin. He'll find plenty of company among UofR med school '49 classmates. Condolences and love to Jean.