CHARLES OLANOW Obituary
OLANOW--Charles Warren, MD. It is with enormous sadness that we mourn the passing on October 25, 2024, of Charles Warren Olanow, MD, a distinguished member of the Mount Sinai community, internationally recognized for his leadership and research contributions in movement disorders. Dr. Olanow was the Henry P. and Georgette Goldschmidt Professor and Chair of Neurology and Professor of Neuroscience from 1994 to 2009 at Mount Sinai before becoming Professor and Chair Emeritus. Dr. Olanow devoted his career to advancing care and improving outcomes for individuals with movement disorders. His groundbreaking research led to more effective therapies for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, through clinical trials on innovative formulations of levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, deep brain stimulation, tissue transplantation, gene therapy, and sublingual apomorphine. He was co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Movement Disorders and lectured at universities and conferences worldwide, authoring more than 400 articles and 100 book chapters, with over 96,000 citations. Dr. Olanow was past president of and received the Presidential Award from the Movement Disorder Society, and received the Movement Disorder Research Award from the American Academy of Neurology and the Honorary Membership Award for Lifetime Achievement from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. He earned his medical degree from the University of Toronto and completed neurology training at the New York Neurological Institute and postgraduate neuroanatomy studies at Columbia University. Before joining Mount Sinai, he was on the faculty at McGill University, Duke University, and the University of South Florida. In addition to substantial scientific contributions, Dr. Olanow trained numerous medical students, neurology residents, and movement disorder fellows. As a teacher, he had phenomenal knowledge, enthusiasm, and ability to communicate a logical approach to diagnosis and management of neurological disorders. He loved academic neurology, especially nurturing creative ideas, and he transmitted that passion to trainees and colleagues. He was upbeat and full of life, with a great sense of humor and capacity for joyful story- telling. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mariana Olanow, and survived by four children and six grandchildren: Edward (Lauren, spouse; children Conrad and Grant), James, Alessandra (child Coco), and Andrew (Chelsea, spouse; children Isabella, Max, and Ines). We at Mount Sinai extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Olanow family and his many loved ones and friends. He is deeply missed. Barbara G Vickrey, MD, MPH, Chair, Department of Neurology, and Susan Bressman, MD, Mirken Family Professor of Neurology; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Published by New York Times on Dec. 8, 2024.