Herbert Howard Schaumburg

Herbert Howard Schaumburg, MD, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Pathology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, died at age 93 on November 29, 2025, of an acute respiratory illness at his home on City Island, NY.
Born in Houston TX, he contracted polio as a teenager and became the first patient in the United States to receive a full vertebral fusion. Despite the treatment, the disease left him partially disabled. His positive experiences as a patient inspired his interest in medicine.
Dr. Schaumburg attended St. John’s Preparatory School in Houston, Texas, and then Harvard College. He then attended Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis. He remained forever grateful for the financial support that made his education possible and chose to pursue medical research alongside practicing clinically. In 1961, he interned at Vanderbilt University Hospital, followed by a residency in Neurology at the Bronx Municipal Hospital through 1964. In 1969, he embarked on a two-year fellowship in Neuropathology under the tutelage of C. Miller Fisher and Raymond D. Adams at Massachusetts General Hospital. Between 1986 and 2004, Dr. Schaumburg served as Chair of Neurology at Einstein-Montefiore. Upon his retirement, colleagues saluted him with the motto, “Leadership and Friendship for Decades.”
Dr. Schaumburg was known not only for his pioneering research in neuropathology and neurotoxicology, but also for his compassionate patient care.
While in Boston, Dr. Schaumburg became interested in adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare genetic disorder affecting males at a young age, which damages the nervous system and adrenal glands. After moving back to Einstein, he defined the pathology and biochemistry of the disease. He combined complete, empathetic clinical exams with hours of cellular research at the electron microscope.
Deeply concerned with neurotoxins in the workplace and their effects on cognition and the nervous system, he identified the peripheral nerve and cognitive pathology associated with insecticides, glue, and other industrial manufacturing agents. Dr. Schaumburg worked on these issues with international communities and businesses, including the Egyptian and Indian governments. He was also a consultant for the New York City Poison Control Center.
Dr. Schaumburg always combined practical observation with innovative research: indeed, he was the expert who discovered the cause of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” or that monosodium glutamate (MSG) in food causes headaches. After he ate Chinese food, he set out to understand his own reaction. As a part of his study, in his laboratory he injected himself (IV) with MSG. In addition, Dr. Schaumburg was the first scientist to discover that high doses of water-soluble vitamins are toxic, including over-the-counter popular supplements such as B6. This research also became essential to understand peripheral nerve degeneration in diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Schaumburg co-edited Experimental and Clinical Neurotoxicology with Dr. Peter Spencer, which was described in 2000 as “the definitive reference text on neurotoxicology.” His research and clinical observations were published in 122 peer-reviewed articles as well as in 65 chapters and review articles.
As a professor of Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he was beloved by students for his excellence in teaching and sense of humor. His former residents remember his wide-ranging interests, stories, knowledge, and personal approach. In 2000, he received the Association of University Professors Award for recruiting the most medical students into Neurology.
Because of his polio-related physical challenges, Dr. Schaumburg emerged as a tireless and visionary champion for people with disabilities. Drawing on his own experience, he committed himself to breaking down barriers for aspiring medical students with severe spinal cord injuries. His advocacy transformed countless lives: many of those he guided and encouraged went on to become outstanding physicians, including James Post, MD, now Chief of Medicine at the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Dr. Schaumburg was predeceased by his wife, Joanna and his son, Barnabas. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Lucy L. Brown, his daughter, Kristin E. Schaumburg, and son-in-law, Daimon B. Empfield.
Services will be held at Grace Church on City Island on December 14 at 1:00 PM with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, Herb requested that donations be sent to St. John’s Preparatory School in Houston, Texas to thank them for their early support: https://sjs.myschoolapp.com/page/support-st-johns/tribute-gift?siteId=1228&ssl=1

Emails can be sent to Dr. Lucy Brown, [email protected]