Stephen Evan Malawista (April 4, 1934 – September 18, 2013) was an American medical researcher and Professor of medicine within the rheumatology department of Yale University.[1] Malawista is credited as the co-discover of Lyme disease and led the research team which identified the disease.[1][2][3]
In 1975, Malawista and his Yale colleague, researcher Dr. Allen Steere, began work which would reveal Lyme disease as a new, distinct illness.[1] Malawista and Steere had been contacted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which had been concerned about a mysterious cluster of similar illnesses and symptoms which had begun afflicting patients within the southeastern region of Connecticut.[1] Malawista and Steere identified the illness, as a new bacterial infection spread by the bite of a tick.[1] In 1977, Malwista and Steere identified the illness as a new infection spread by tick bites.[1][4] Malawista initially named the new disease "Lyme arthritis."[4] The name was later changed to Lyme disease after the illness was later shown to encompass a wide range of symptoms which were not limited to joint pain.[4]
Malawista and his colleagues initially hypothesized that Lyme disease was caused by a virus.[4] However, was later disproved in 1982 by microbiologist Willy Burgdorfer, who correctly identified the Borrelia burgdorferibacterium as the cause of Lyme disease in Connecticut and the eastern United States.[4] Other scientists later determined that the deer tick was the carrier of the bacterium.[4] Malawista and his colleagues contributed to the research the possible spread of Lyme disease by deer ticks by comparing the incidents of the disease along the eastern and western sides of the Connecticut River.[4]
Another of Malawista's colleagues within the Yale rheumatology department, Dr. Linda Bockenstedt later spoke of his commitment to his research on Lyme disease, telling the Hartford Courant in 2013, "I think he recognized an opportunity when this was unfurling in 1975 that this was something different and unusual...It was this detective work that led to the discoveries that set the stage for the treatment that ultimately worked against it."[1]
Early lifeedit
Malawista was born in New York City on April 4, 1934.[4] His mother, Ann Marlowe Straus, was a theatrical producer and the head of the Berkshire Theater Festival.[3] His father, Lawrence Malawista, was a real estate developer.[3]
While attending the Berkshire School, he was accepted to Harvard University when he was just 15 years old.[4][3] Malawista studied under B.F. Skinner as an undergraduate student.[4] He received a bachelor's degree in experimental psychology from Harvard in 1954.[4] In 1958, he received a medical degree from Columbia University.[4]
Malawista died from metastatic melanoma at his home in Hamden, Connecticut, on September 18, 2013, at the age of 79.[1][4] He was survived by his wife of 44 years, Tobé Miller Malawista.[4]
^ abcdMartin, Douglas (2013-09-18). "Stephen E. Malawista, Lyme Disease Researcher, Dies at 79". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
^ abcdefghijklmnLanger, Emily (2013-09-21). "Stephen E. Malawista, Yale researcher who helped discover Lyme disease, dies at 79". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
External linksedit
Stephen E. Malawista papers. Historical Library, Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University.
January 01, 1970
stephen, malawista, stephen, evan, malawista, april, 1934, september, 2013, american, medical, researcher, professor, medicine, within, rheumatology, department, yale, university, malawista, credited, discover, lyme, disease, research, team, which, identified,. Stephen Evan Malawista April 4 1934 September 18 2013 was an American medical researcher and Professor of medicine within the rheumatology department of Yale University 1 Malawista is credited as the co discover of Lyme disease and led the research team which identified the disease 1 2 3 In 1975 Malawista and his Yale colleague researcher Dr Allen Steere began work which would reveal Lyme disease as a new distinct illness 1 Malawista and Steere had been contacted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health which had been concerned about a mysterious cluster of similar illnesses and symptoms which had begun afflicting patients within the southeastern region of Connecticut 1 Malawista and Steere identified the illness as a new bacterial infection spread by the bite of a tick 1 In 1977 Malwista and Steere identified the illness as a new infection spread by tick bites 1 4 Malawista initially named the new disease Lyme arthritis 4 The name was later changed to Lyme disease after the illness was later shown to encompass a wide range of symptoms which were not limited to joint pain 4 Malawista and his colleagues initially hypothesized that Lyme disease was caused by a virus 4 However was later disproved in 1982 by microbiologist Willy Burgdorfer who correctly identified the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium as the cause of Lyme disease in Connecticut and the eastern United States 4 Other scientists later determined that the deer tick was the carrier of the bacterium 4 Malawista and his colleagues contributed to the research the possible spread of Lyme disease by deer ticks by comparing the incidents of the disease along the eastern and western sides of the Connecticut River 4 Another of Malawista s colleagues within the Yale rheumatology department Dr Linda Bockenstedt later spoke of his commitment to his research on Lyme disease telling the Hartford Courant in 2013 I think he recognized an opportunity when this was unfurling in 1975 that this was something different and unusual It was this detective work that led to the discoveries that set the stage for the treatment that ultimately worked against it 1 Early life editMalawista was born in New York City on April 4 1934 4 His mother Ann Marlowe Straus was a theatrical producer and the head of the Berkshire Theater Festival 3 His father Lawrence Malawista was a real estate developer 3 While attending the Berkshire School he was accepted to Harvard University when he was just 15 years old 4 3 Malawista studied under B F Skinner as an undergraduate student 4 He received a bachelor s degree in experimental psychology from Harvard in 1954 4 In 1958 he received a medical degree from Columbia University 4 In 1994 the American College of Rheumatology awarded Malawista the Distinguished Investigator Award calling him one of the most creative investigators of our time 1 He was also the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2001 Malawista died from metastatic melanoma at his home in Hamden Connecticut on September 18 2013 at the age of 79 1 4 He was survived by his wife of 44 years Tobe Miller Malawista 4 References edit nbsp Scholia has a profile for Stephen Malawista Q15993246 a b c d e f g h i Weir William 2013 09 19 Lyme Disease Pioneer Stephen Malawista Dies Hartford Courant Retrieved 2013 10 14 Stephen Malawista The Daily Telegraph 2013 09 29 Retrieved 2013 10 14 a b c d Martin Douglas 2013 09 18 Stephen E Malawista Lyme Disease Researcher Dies at 79 New York Times Retrieved 2013 10 14 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Langer Emily 2013 09 21 Stephen E Malawista Yale researcher who helped discover Lyme disease dies at 79 Washington Post Archived from the original on 2013 10 14 Retrieved 2013 10 14 External links editStephen E Malawista papers Historical Library Harvey Cushing John Hay Whitney Medical Library Yale University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Malawista amp oldid 1217553952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
