GERALD SALEN Obituary

SALEN--Gerald, MD. 85, of Haworth, NJ, died peacefully at his home on November 19, 2020, of complications related to metastatic disease. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, he received a degree in pharmacy from Temple University and an MD at Jefferson College of Medicine. After completing a two-year residency in gastroenterology at Jefferson, he conducted research on lipid diseases at the Rockefeller University in New York City. Throughout his career, he published many papers on the identification and treatment of CTX, a rare genetic disorder. Dr. Salen was a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at UMDNJ and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He had a clinical practice at Cabrini Medical Center. Dr. Salen was always available to his patients, and was much loved by them. Beloved husband of Nancy (deceased), committed father of Philip (Michiyo), Louis (Maria), Jennifer (Yuanjun Tang), and Ruth (Jeroen Smits), and loving granddad to Emily, Arabella, Isabelle, Aaron, and Vicki. Donations in his memory may be made to ULF.org or KolDorot.org

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Published by New York Times on Nov. 21, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for GERALD SALEN

6 Entries

Patrick Ottuso

March 7, 2024

Thank you Dr. Salen for allowing me to exit GI and pursue my passion for Dermatology. You gave me permission to rescind my GI acceptance at Cabrini and move forward with my Dermatology residency . I am forever grateful! Just was thinking of you and those at Cabrini! I´m sorry you are not here to share my thanks to you.

Fran F

June 25, 2023

Dr Salen was my mom's doctor. She speaks of him so fondly. I just looked online and found this. Sorry to hear about his passing. Mom was his patient at Cabrini MC. Dr. Salen was so compassionate and an amazing physican. He helped my mom alot, he would not charge her, when she couldn't pay. He saved her twice from unnecessary surgeries! He is what a physician should be! She talks about his compassion even 30 years later! You were the BEST doctor!

Jim Leonard

May 5, 2023

Very sorry to hear of the good doctors passing.
I worked at Cabrini during his time there and was also a patient of his .
He gave me excellent care and advice.

BEVERLY BEVILLE

January 22, 2023

JAN 20, 2023 AND I'M JUST FINDING OUT THAT DR. SALEN PASSED AWAY ON NOV 19, 2020. DR. SALEN FIRST TREATED ME IN NYC 1996 FOR LIVER DISEASE. HE WAS A WONDERFUL AND EXTREMELY CARING GASTRO DR.. I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM FROM THE START. HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I FELT AT EASE TO CONFIDE IN HIM WITH MY PERSONAL MEDICAL ISSUES. I HAD LOST CONTACT WITH HIM DURING THE LATTER YEARS AFTER MOVING FROM NYC TO NJ IN 1997. IN 1996 BEFORE I HAD MOVED TO NJ., DR SALEN PERFORMED A LIVER BIOPSY AT CAPRINI HOSP. AFTER GETTING SUCH POSITIVE RESULTS AT THE TIME, HE SUGGESTED THAT I NOT TAKE THE MEDICATION THAT HAD EXTREME NEGATIVE SIDE AFFECTS BECAUSE HE WAS VERY PLEASED AND SATISFIED WITH HOW MY LIVER WAS REPAIRING ITSELF IN A SWIFT MANNER. DR SALEN PREDICTED THAT THE PROS OUT WEIGHED THE CONS. THE MEDICATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME WOULD'VE POSSIBLY CAUSED MORE HARM TO ME THAN GOOD BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE SIDE AFFECTS THAT COULD'VE POSSIBLY TRIGGERED OTHER PERSONAL ISSUES THAT I WAS DEALING WITH AT THE TIME. HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WOULD BE A BETTER MEDICATION AVAILABLE IN TIME WITH LESS INVASIVE SIDE AFFECTS OR POSSIBLY A CURE AVAILABLE IN TIME DUE TO THE CONSTANT MEDICAL RESEARCH FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONDITION. HE GAVE ME SOME POSITIVE GUILDLINES TO FOLLOW AS HE MONITORED ME ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAD LOST CONTACT WITH HIM AFTER MOVING TO NJ IN 1997 FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. FORTUNATELY, FATE CONNECTED US AGAIN. I WAS LOOKING FOR A GASTRO DOCTOR AT UMDNJ AND NOTICED DR SALEN'S NAME AS THE CHIEF OF GASTRO ON THE BILL BOARD IN THE HOSPITAL. I THOUGHT, WOW!!! HE WAS MEANT TO BE MY GASTRO DOCTOR. HE STARTED TREATING ME AGAIN, AND FEW YEARS LATER, HE WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! A CURE BECAME AVAILABLE FOR MY CHRONIC CONDITION. I WAS TREATED WITH THAT PARTICULAR MEDICATION AND NOW I AM CURED!!! I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR HIS OUTSTANDING MEDICAL ADVICE AND SERVICE THAT HE HAD CONTINUED TO GIVE ME THOUGHOUT THE YEARS. MY CONDOLENCES TO ALL OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. HE WILL TRULY BE MISSED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Anonymous

June 12, 2021

Dr. Salen saved me from surgery when every other doctor said I needed it. As a result I went on to have two successful pregnancies and more than 30 years later, I still have my gall bladder. I am so grateful to him for the research he conducted and the medication he prescribed. His warmth and compassion were evidenced when he saw not one, but two of my relatives with no insurance for no charge. They don’t make them like this anymore! My sincerest condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing.

Randy Glatt

April 26, 2021

An amazing doctor, teacher, humanitarian, & compassionate man.
His research will live on as well as his memory.

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