Dr. Richard B. Hornick M.D.

HORNICK M.D., MACP,
DR. RICHARD B., a renowned physician scientist, master clinician, and beloved teacher who contributed to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases including tularemia, typhoid fever, and dysenteric disorders, died on August 9, 2011 in Winter Park, FL, of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. He was born in Johnstown PA, graduated from Westmont High school and attended Johns Hopkins University on scholarship, graduating in 1951. He entered Hopkins medical school, graduating in 1955. He completed his house officer training on the Osler Medical service at Johns Hopkins in 1959, interrupted by a stint in the Army and assignment with the Walter Reed Medical Unit at Fort Detrick. He then joined faculty at the University of Maryland where he rose to become professor and chairman of Infectious Disease. In 1979, he was appointed chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. In 1987, he accepted appointment as the Vice President for Medical Education at the Orlando Regional Medical Center. After "retirement" in 1999, he continued to round with and teach residents and students at the Orlando Regional Medical Center, finally putting down the stethoscope in July, 2011, 3 weeks before his death. His contributions to medicine include the development and direction of a large research group in infectious diseases, which conducted studies on the effectiveness of vaccines for tularemia and typhoid fever and the study of the pathophysiology of numerous infectious diseases. During his career, Dr Hornick was involved extensively in the development of preventive medicine procedures needed for the control of typhoid, cholera, dysentery disorders, tularemia, Q fever and others. He was responsible in large part for shifting the emphasis to immunization via the intestinal tract. He was an author or co-author of more than 160 scientific papers and book chapters related to these topics. Dr
Hornick was a member of many national and international academic professional organizations, including the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians, the American Clinical and Climatological Association, the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, and the Infectious Disease Society of America of which he was a founding member, fellow, and past president. Dr Hornick has been the recipient of many honors and awards: The James Bruce Memorial Award from the American College of Physicians, the Presidential Award from the Infectious Disease Society of America, and election to the Society of Scholars at Johns Hopkins University. Dr Hornick is survived by his wife,
Susan Finnegan; sons, Douglas and Thomas Hornick; daughters, Martha Hornick and Blaine Hawley; and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at the Knowles Memorial chapel at 11 AM, August 13, 2011. Donations in his name can be made to the Richard B Hornick Memorial Medical Education Fund at the Orlando Health Foundation, 3160 Southgate Commerce Blvd, Suite 50, Orlando Fl 32806, or online at
orlandohealthfoundation.com. Arrangements are entrusted to
DeGusipe Funeral Home &
Crematory, 9001 N. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751,
407-695-CARE (2273). Please visit www.degusipefuneralhome.com to leave a special condolence.