(Hypertension. 1999;34:162-163.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
In Memoriam |
Harriet Pearson Dustan
1 Editor-in-Chief
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Introduction |
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On June 27, 1999, the world of medicine, the entire cardiovascular community and, in particular, our hypertension clinical and research field lost a tireless leader, advocate, and worker with the passing of Harriet Pearson Dustan from our midst. Certainly, my family lost a valued and devoted "member" and, I, a close and dear friend and colleague. After a long-standing and energy-depleting illness, she finally succumbed to lung cancer, but not without planning for the acknowledged eventuality. Indeed, the week before her death, she systematically called her friends to inquire as to their families and work and to extend her personal farewells. How typical this was of this most selfless and very private person.
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Doctor Dustan was born in the very small and remote community of Craftsbury Common, Vermont, where she received her early education at the Craftsbury Academy as well as from her mother who had an extensive knowledge of literature. She then went on to receive her undergraduate and medical education at the University of Vermont; in later years, the University benefited from her counsel as a member of its Board of Trustees and a faithful supporter and active worker. Later, in her retirement, she actively participated in the academic activities of its Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Medicine.
Following her graduate medical education, she interned at the then Mary
Fletcher Hospital and then served her residency in internal medicine at
the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. She returned to Burlington to
help establish the medical student