Lewis A. Barness, MD

Monday, November 25, 2013

TAMPA — Lewis Barness, a friend of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of modern pediatrics, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. He was 92.

Dr. Lewis Barness

Dr. Barness was the first chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine and had conducted research, taught students and treated patients in Tampa for more than four decades. In 1972, Barness was named chairman of the newly established USF Department of Pediatrics. He focused on recruiting top-tier faculty, building a curriculum and bringing in medical graduate students, nudging them toward careers in pediatrics.

He also conducted valuable research into the field of infant nutrition and metabolism and was recognized as a pioneer in the field, winning numerous medical awards and recognition.

Dr. Barness began his medical career in Boston. After completing medical school at Harvard University in 1944, he did his residency and research fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. His career spanned more than 55 years and was filled with professional accolades and awards, including the prestigious John Howland Medal from the American Pediatric Society, recognized as the highest praise attainable in pediatrics. He also had earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics in recognition of his outstanding teaching; the Abraham Jacobi Award from the American Academic of Pediatrics and the Joseph St. Geme Leadership award, bestowed by the Federation of Pediatric Organizations (FOPO).

His research field focused on infant nutrition and metabolism and he is the author of over 260 papers, 95 book chapters and 50 books. He and his wife, Enid Gilbert-Barness, also a medical doctor, recently published the eighth edition of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis.

For more details, see coverage on the University of Southern Florida Webpage and in the Tampa Tribune.

We remember his legacy and invite you to do the same.

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