Now in his early 90s, Dr Kolff has received over 100 National and international awards including the prestigious Lasker Award, often regarded as the American equivalent of the Nobel Prize, and in early 2003 will receive the Russ Award, worth $500,000, from The Academy of Engineers. In 1992 he was listed as one of the 100 most important Americans of the century. He is responsible for over 600 publications, including five complete books and many chapters in other books. Not surprisingly, his biography contains enough honours to satisfy half a dozen 'normal' doctors.
From his pioneering work during Nazi-occupied Holland in the 1940s when he developed the first artificial kidney, through the invention of the first heart-lung machine and then the artificial heart, to his ongoing research on a wearable artificial lung, he has constantly improved life for patients. Indeed this is his whole philosophy - to restore people to an enjoyable existence. In a world where medical technology can sometimes seem to be driving practice, and patients can be kept alive at the expense of quality of life, this view is as welcome as it is refreshing.
Dr Kolff and Membrana
Willem Kolff has long been associated with Membrana, from the early days when kidney dialysis was in its infancy and CUPROPHAN® had recently been introduced as the first membrane specifically for use in treating renal patients. The collaboration was resumed in 2002 after a meeting between Dr Kolff and Kadija Raoudi of Membrana at The European Society for Artificial Organs congress in Ghent.
Despite his age and increasing visual impairment, Dr Kolff inspired the researchers, developers and production staff during a two-day visit to Membrana in Wuppertal. During this time he also granted an interview to Dr Gilles Fournier for an article which appeared in the journal of the French speaking Society of Nephrology Dialyse Technique et Econnomie (N°3, Automne 2002). Membrana in turn has been able to help him with practicalities in relation to his attendance at the 24th Nephrology Seminar in Bamberg, Germany. Dr Kolff has since collaborated with the company at EDTA by co-chairing the Membrana Accord Symposium and signing copies of Jacob van Noordwijk 's book, "Dialysing for Life: The Development of the Artificial Kidney" , at the Membrana booth. Shortly after he received the Lasker Award Kadija Raoudi paid a visit to Dr Kolff at his home in West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. Dr Kolff will shortly visit Membrana's parent company Polypore at their headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.
|
|
|
