Joseph Polak

Always my "Go to Guy" for Vascular Ultrasound since fellowship. Always willing to take time to speak with me. Great loss to our community!

He was one of the nicest guys I have known, never letting his many, many accomplishments and honors go to his head. I suppose we're all getting to that age when we start to know the people in the obits, but it's still really sad.

Many good memories of chatting with Jo in the angio section. He is missed on many levels.

I was shocked and saddened to learn about Dr. Polak's death. As Executive Director of Shattuck Partners, I worked with Jo, a member of the Shattuck Partners Board, for ten years (I reported directly to him during his four years as President). Jo was very committed to Shattuck Partners and our work to improve the lives of patients at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. Jo was a compassionate, funny, down-to-earth man who loved his family (he spoke often of his daughter with such love and pride). I'm so sorry he had to suffer so much over this past year or so. He will be missed.

I met Jo when I was a Tufts student decades ago. He was the Chief of radiology even back The students could appreciate his impressive wealth of medical knowledge and saw him as a role model. Fast forward some years and we became colleagues working in the same hospital. He was President of the Medical Staff for consecutive years leading our group though few important changes. He was an outstanding teacher and mentor for countless of medical residents in the transitional year and students alike. On a personal base he was my thoughtful mentor and advisor in my new directorship role. The medical community as a whole , my hospital where he worked for decades improving the care of our vulnerable patients sustained a great loss with Jo´s untimely passing. Jo was a great man, a great doctor and scientist with a formidable thirst for knowledge.
Jo you will forever stay in our memory. May you rest in peace.

Simply one of the best humans I've ever encountered. Always wanted what was the best for everyone around him. Enormously energetic, wickedly intellectual, absurdly humorous. He fully owned his passionate love of medicine, ultrasound and teaching.

Jo Polak was my friend. It wasn´t just a work relationship. He was a great man and a great friend and the best drinking buddy. May he rest in peace. He gave so much to the field of Medicine and to patients. No words can describe how sad I am for losing my friend

Joe was my attending as a VIR fellow at BWH. He led and taught by example. He infused me with the power of vascular ultrasound. I carry this knowledge with me today and will be forever grateful. I was truly saddened when I read of his passing. Rest in peace Joe.

He was a man of intelligence, humor and kindness. He will be missed by so many.

He is a true legend in the field of vascular ultrasound. He will be truly missed in so many ways. Our condolences go out to his family and the vascular community her served.

I met Joe in Chicago at a vascular meeting where we were both lecturing. He was a knowledgeable clinician, great speaker and an overall nice person. RIP professor.