William H. Beierwaltes, M.D,
Chapter Award Honoree Passes

William H. Beierwaltes, MD, a true pioneer in the field of nuclear medicine, died in August at the age of 88. He attended the first training course for physicians on the medical use of radioactive iodine, held at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1946, soon after radioactive elements first became available for civilian medical use.

He founded one of the nation's first hospital programs for the use of radioactivity in medicine. At the University of Michigan, he opened a clinic for patients with hyperthyroid disease and thyroid cancer, using radioactive iodine to detect abnormal activity in the thyroid gland and locate tumors. He later pioneered the combined use of radioiodine and surgery for therapy of benign and malignant disease of the thyroid. He was also instrumental in developing several nuclear medicine agents still in use today.

Dr. Beierwaltes is credited with the original idea to label MIBG (meta-iodo benzylguanidine) with I-131 (and later I-123) and was the co-holder of a patent on MIBG, now widely used for identifying and treating pheochromocytomas and neuroblastomas. I-123 MIBG has more recently been extensively utilized in the evaluation of cardiac innervation. In keeping with his endocrinology training, he also fostered development of I131-iodonorcholesterol, useful in the diagnosis of adreno-cortical tumors, such as aldosteronomas and cortisol-producing adenomas.

He was responsible for promoting the profession of Nuclear Medicine. In 1957 he wrote Clinical Use of Radioisotopes, the first textbook to fill a gap in the novel field the clinical applications of radionuclides. He was instrumental in creating one of the first nuclear medicine fellowship programs in the nation at the University of Michigan. Beierwaltes is also known as one of the first physicians to propose radionuclide-labelling of antibodies, a concept that has led to its widespread use in both imaging and treatment.

An internationally renowned scholar, Beierwaltes wrote or co-authored during the course of his prolific career 257 peer-reviewed papers, 61 other academic papers, four books, and 77 book chapters and gave hundreds of presentations at medical society meetings and other talks.

Born in Saginaw, MI, Dr. Beierwaltes received his bachelor's degree in 1938 and his medical degree in 1941 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he later trained as an endocrinologist. He soon developed an interest in the new field of nuclear medicine, after joining the faculty at the University of Michigan Medical School in 1945. He was appointed to lead the university's new Clinical Radioisotope Service in 1952, and then later became chief of the newly created Division of Nuclear Medicine in the early 1960s.

He was the recipient of numerous awards during his long career, among which were the Society of Nuclear Medicine George de Hevesy Nuclear Medicine Pioneer Award in 1982 and the American Medical Association's Scientific Achievement Award in 1994.

He was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences and the American College of Physicians, served as president of the Society for Nuclear Medicine in 1965 and was a longtime member, and was a founding member and distinguished fellow of the American College of Nuclear Medicine. He was also a member of the American Association of Physicians.

Throughout his career, Beierwaltes promoted both the scientific and public knowledge of the profession of nuclear medicine in its multiple facets, contributing historical milestones in research and development of radiopharmaceuticals, fostering the professional development of generations of physicians and technologist, and setting high standards of professional and technical achievement through wide dissemination of clinical knowledge and the unrelenting work in professional organizations, some of which he helped create. Dr. Beierwaltes helped mold the field of Nuclear Medicine as we all know it today. In His honor, the Central Chapter instituted several years ago the W. H. Beierwaltes Award for oral presentations by residents or basic scientists at the Annual Meeting.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary-Martha, and by children Andrew, William Howard and Martha.

To him goes, our perennial gratitude and admiration.

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