Itzhak Brook

Itzhak Brook (1941 - January 10, 2025) was an Israeli-American physician and medical researcher.

Early life and career

Itzhak Brook was born in Afula in present-day Israel during the British Mandate era and raised in Haifa. His parents, Bernard (Baruch) and Chaya Brook, were immigrants from Austria and Poland respectively. His mother was a seamstress and his father was a welder and professional soccer player for Hapoel Haifa F.C. He had a younger sister, Zipi, who he cared for after his parents' deaths.[1]

Brook graduated from the Hareali Haivri high school and was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in 1959 and completed an officer's course. He studied medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Hadassah School of Medicine, earning an MD in 1968 and subsequently completing his residency there, and obtained an MSc in pediatrics from Tel Aviv University in 1972. He served as a medic in the Israeli army during the Six-Day War in 1967 and subsequently as a Lieutenant battalion physician during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. After crossing the Suez Canal in his ambulance he was severely wounded by artillery fire.[1] In 1974, Brook moved to the United States with his family. He completed a fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of California, Los Angeles and served in the United States Navy Medical Corps for 27 years.[2][3]

Brook was also an adjunct professor of pediatrics and medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., specializing in infectious diseases. He served as chairman of the Anti-infective Drug Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[4] and chaired the Committee when AZT was approved for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in 1987.[5]

Medical research & work

Brook has developed treatment guidelines for primary care clinicians,[6] and has also done work on infectious disease of broad public interest. His main research interests are anaerobic infections, sinusitis, and tonsillitis. He is a long-standing campaigner against overuse of antibiotics which can lead to antibiotic resistance,[7] has researched common health threats like disease transmission on airplanes,[8] while dispelling common concerns about contaminated library books and subway handlebars.[9][10] He has also been an expert source for major media on health issues like AZT,[11] improving patient care after his own serious illness and cancer,[12][13][14] and preventing medical errors.[15]

Brook authored publications in scientific journals and 10 medical textbooks.[16][17][18] He is the author of "The Laryngectomee Guide" that was published in 22 languages.[19]

He was the US editor of Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,[20] Editor Textbook of "Pediatrics Infectious Diseases " at Medscape Reference,[21] Section Editor of "Pediatric Infections" at Current Infectious Diseases Report,[22] associate editor of Journal of Medical Case Reports,[23] a member of the editorial board of several medical journals, and a board member of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.[24]

During his service in the United States Navy he researched the treatment of bacterial infections after ionized radiation[25] for which he was awarded three Defense Meritorious Service Medals. Brook received the 2012 J. Conley Medical Ethics Award of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.[26]

Brook was a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Pediatric Research, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. His research interests included anaerobic infections, the pathogenesis and therapy of polymicrobial infections, including upper respiratory tract infections (i.e. sinusitis, tonsillitis).

Personal life

At age 65, Brook was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent a laryngectomy.[1] He wrote a book about that experience [27][28] and a book about his experiences as a battalion physician in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.[29][30]

Brook married Zahava Goldwasser in 1966. They had two children in Israel, Dafna and Danny, and a third child, Tammy, in the United States. (Tammy is the founder and CEO of FYI Brand Group.[31]) The marriage later ended in divorce. He subsequently married Joyce Reback in 1981 and they had two children, Yoni and Sara. Brook died of cancer on January 10, 2025 at the age of 83. He was survived by his wife Joyce, five children, five grandchildren, and sister.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Itzhak Brook
  2. ^ Itzhak Brook
  3. ^ Itzhak Brook, M.D. MSc.
  4. ^ Approval of Zidovudine (AZT) for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, September 18, 1987, Brook 258 (11): 1517 — JAMA
  5. ^ Doctors Stretch Rules On Aids Drug - Nytimes.Com
  6. ^ The Washington Post, TREATMENT OF CHOICE; Sinusitis: Many Forms, Many Treatments, Kathleen F. Phalen, Special to The Washington Post, May 23, 2000, Tuesday, Final Edition Correction Appended, HEALTH; Pg. Z31
  7. ^ ANTIBIOTICS WARNING Misuse causing resistant bacteria Herald Sun, August 11, 1992 Tuesday, 369 words, CARTER H
  8. ^ Betsy Wade, 'PRACTICAL TRAVELER; That Airline Pillow May Be Well Traveled', The New York Times, January 3, 1993, Sunday, Late Edition - Final, Section 5; Page 3; Column 1; Travel Desk, 1362 words
  9. ^ If you thought they were infectious you were wrong...Library books are clean The Times, October 27, 1994, Thursday, Features, 309 words, Dr Bruce Charlton
  10. ^ The Washington Post, DO METRO HANDRAILS BEAR DEADLY GERMS?, March 07, 1995, Tuesday, Final Edition, HEALTH; Pg. Z05, 312 words
  11. ^ DOCTORS STRETCH RULES ON AIDS DRUG The New York Times, December 21, 1987, Monday, Late City Final Edition, Section A; Page 1, Column 5; National Desk, 1245 words, By GINA KOLATA
  12. ^ Gosling, Kristen (Feb 16, 2011). "Doctor learns to speak after losing his voice-box to cancer". St. Louis, MO: KSDK.com. Archived from the original on Nov 15, 2012.
  13. ^ Taylor, Sharon Renee (Jun 6, 2013). "Military Physician Discusses Facing Cancer, War". dcmilitary.com. Comprint Military Publications. Archived from the original on Nov 21, 2013.
  14. ^ "Opinion | Mulling Martial Law". The New York Times. 22 December 2020.
  15. ^ Sandra G. Boodman (2013-05-06). "Misdiagnosis is more common than drug errors or wrong-site surgery". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  16. ^ Brook I. Anaerobic Infections Diagnosis and Management, Anaerobic Infections Diagnosis and Management. Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. New York. 2007.
  17. ^ Brook I. Editor “ Sinusitis from Microbiology to Management” Taylor & Francis Group. New York, London. 2005.
  18. ^ Brook I , Douma M. Antimicrobials Therapy Guide for the Dentist. Handbooks in Health Care Co. Newtown, Pennsylvania. 2004.
  19. ^ Brook I . The Laryngectomee Guide. CreateSpace Publication, Charleston SC. 2013.
  20. ^ IOSPress: Scientific, Technical Medical Publisher
  21. ^ Medscape: Medscape Access
  22. ^ Current Infectious Disease Reports (Editorial Board)
  23. ^ "Journal of Medical Case Reports". Archived from the original on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2011-02-06.
  24. ^ "Head and Neck Cancer Alliance". Archived from the original on 2014-04-12. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  25. ^ Brook I, Elliott TB, Shoemaker MO, Ledney GD. Antimicrobials in the Management of Post-Irradiation Infection. Published in proceedings of the Human Factors and Medicine (HFM) Panel Research Task Group (RTG) 099 Meeting, “Radiation Bioeffects and Countermeasures,”
  26. ^ "American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery". Archived from the original on 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  27. ^ "Doctor re-learns to talk after losing voice box - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida". www.nbc-2.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-22.
  28. ^ My Voice: A Physician’s Personal Experience with Throat Cancer. Published 2009.
  29. ^ "Yom Kippur battlefront". 11 September 2013.
  30. ^ In the Sands of Sinai: A Physician's Account of the Yom Kippur War. Published 2011.
  31. ^ "Shabbat Is for Everyone and Here Is Why - Thrive Global". thriveglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
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