Robert L. Mayock, M.D.
1917-2006

Robert L. Mayock, M.D.
Pioneer in Pulmonary Medicine at Penn, Dies

Considered the “Father of Pulmonary Medicine at Penn,” the world of medicine has lost a pioneer with the death of Robert L. Mayock, MD on January 30, 2006. He was 89-years-old. Mayock founded the modern Pulmonary Division, one of the first in the U.S., at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His professional colleagues will remember him as a trailblazer in the care of pulmonary medicine. His students know him as the man who “taught us the character of a good physician.”

“He taught us to always respect our patients,” said John Hansen-Flaschen, MD, Chief of the Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Division at Penn, and former student of Mayock. “Clinically, he taught us to consider the whole person and the underlying symptoms that made them ill… to look at chest medicine as broadly defined.”

Mayock trained more than 180 pulmonary physicians during his career, many of whom are today’s leaders in the field of academic and clinical pulmonary medicine. He taught his students to always be mindful of the three “A’s” of a successful medical practice – Availability, Affability, Ability. Hansen-Flaschen explains, “To the generations of pulmonary specialists he has taught and inspired at Penn, Bob Mayock is the prototypical gentleman physician – caring, dedicated and compassionate. His style of practice became a model for what our division is today.”

Mayock’s medical career started off remarkably. In 1942, as a medical student, he contracted tuberculosis (TB) – a disease that is caused by bacteria that usually attacks the lungs. Ultimately, he survived and became immune to it, and went on to treat others who got it. During the first half of the 20th century, TB presented a major health problem as profound as the AIDS epidemic of today. Highly contagious, spread through the air from one person to another, TB was once the leading cause of death in this country. The advent of effective antibiotics eventually enabled control of the deadly disease and led to the new discipline of pulmonary medicine.

After serving in the army from 1952-1954 and caring for soldiers who returned from the Korean War with tuberculosis, Mayock brought his unique experience with TB to the Penn campus. Along with renowned physician and scientist Julius Comroe, Jr., MD, Mayock also established one of the first two-year fellowship training programs in pulmonary medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, which became the model in other academic medical centers.

Later, his attention shifted from TB to sarcoidosis, a disease similar to TB, but one that has no known infecting organism. He built a clinic here to treat those who had it; and he is known in the medical community for authoring several important papers on the topic, which made him one of the world’s leading authorities on this disease. During his career, he wrote more than 60 publications. Of his original papers, his article published in 1963 on the “Manifestations of Sarcoidosis” has been one of the most quoted articles on this disease in medical literature.

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mayock earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bucknell University in 1938. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1942 and completing his internship and residency at Penn, he served as the first Chief of the Pulmonary Disease Section at the University of Pennsylvania for nearly two decades, stepping down from the position in 1972.

He also served as Chief at the Philadelphia General Hospital where, in 1955, he founded the School of Respiratory Therapy -- the first of its kind in the United States. As a senior, and then Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, you could still find him on the campus for years after his retirement from clinical work. Overall, his career spanned more than 50 years in the Penn community.

What truly distinguished Mayock was his unique way in which he ministered to his patients with unselfish and unwavering care and devotion. He held a true love of pulmonary medicine, teaching and patient care. “Most of all, he will probably best be remembered for his genuine interest in people of all backgrounds, which transferred over to his patient care skills,” comments his daughter, Holly Mayock Luff. “He treated everyone the same, in a thoughtful, respectful and genuinely interested way. He had a way of making people feel special.”

Mayock was active in many professional organizations including the American Board of Internal Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, the Laennec Society of Philadelphia, the American Lung Association (ALA), and served as the Chairman of the American Thoracic Society. Mayock also led the effort to remove all cigarette vending machines inside HUP and helped the ALA in its push for a “smoke free” society.

Outside of his work, Mayock had a passion for woodworking, fly-fishing, sailing and bird watching. He was an avid reader and also held a deep respect for the wonders and beauty of nature. He traveled extensively with his wife, Connie.

He was a humble clinician, teacher, advisor and scientist and his legacy will live on through a professorship and teaching award at Penn, as well as a lecture series established by the Pennsylvania Thoracic Society which all bear his name.

Mayock, a long-time resident of Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, died of Parkinson’s Disease on January 30, 2006. In addition to Connie, his wife of 56 years, he is survived by his sons Robert L. Jr. and Stephen P.; daughter Holly M. Luff; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on February 28 at the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pulmonary Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, c/o John Hansen-Flaschen, MD, 873 Maloney Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Payable to: Trustees UPENN.