Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg, former chair of the department of internal medicine, former dean and vice president for medical affairs at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, passed away on Aug. 21, 2016.
Dr. Kreisberg was born in 1934 in New York City. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Northwestern University in Chicago. He completed his internship in Northwestern’s health system, where he also completed his residency training in internal medicine. He then completed a two-year fellowship in endocrinology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Prior to his first appointment at USA, Dr. Kreisberg was a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) where he held many key positions including director of the division of medical education for the UAB department of internal medicine, professor of medicine and director of the Clinical Research Center.
Dr. Kreisberg had a long history as an important leader in the USA College of Medicine and USA Health. In 1973, as the USA College of Medicine was beginning its operation, Dr. Kreisberg joined the faculty as professor and founding chair of internal medicine, a position he held until 1987. From 1976 to 1980, he chaired internal medicine while also serving as dean of the medical school during an early reorganization of the college’s administrative structure.
“The appointment of Dr. Kreisberg brought great prominence to our school as he was considered a star in internal medicine and especially in the field of endocrinology,” said Dr. Samuel J. Strada, former dean of the USA College of Medicine. “He was also successful in recruiting a group of outstanding young faculty members who, together, helped shape the school and its educational programs for medical students and residents that has remained a strength of our college for over four decades.”
In 1987, Dr. Kreisberg returned to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he served as professor and vice chairman of internal medicine until 1994, when he became director of the internal medicine residency program at Baptist Health Systems in Birmingham.
In 1999, Kreisberg returned to USA as associate vice president for clinical affairs, chief of staff for the USA Hospitals and chief executive officer for the Health Services Foundation. In 2000, he began his second stint as dean and vice president for medical affairs following the death of his friend, Dr. Charles M. Baugh. After retiring in 2006, he was appointed professor emeritus of internal medicine in honor of his many contributions to USA, the medical profession and the field of internal medicine.
Dr. Kreisberg was known as a gifted teacher, caring physician, committed mentor and nationally respected researcher and scholar in endocrinology. He was the recipient of numerous teaching awards including Best Clinical Instructor, Best Clinical Faculty Teacher, Best Clinical Senior Elective, an Excellence in Clinical Teaching Lifetime Award and the USA Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award. He also received a Distinguished Teacher Award from the American College of Physicians and the Distinguished Physician Award from The Endocrine Society.
Dr. Kreisberg was a member of numerous professional organizations, such as the American Diabetes Association, Alpha Omega Alpha, Sigma Xi, The Endocrine Society, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation and American Society for Clinical Investigation. In addition, Dr. Kreisberg has served as principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health grant award.
Dr. Kreisberg also served on the editorial boards for The Annuals of Internal Medicine, The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, The American Journal of Medicine, The Endocrinologist, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism Yearbook.
Dr. Kreisberg was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Leonora, and is survived by wife Ginger; children Howard Kreisberg (wife Elise, children Alexa and Jordan), Mark Kreisberg (wife Chinh, children Anna and Adan), David Kreisberg (daughter Grace), Michele Kreisberg Palmer (husband Marty), and John Kreisberg; Step-children Shannon Wilder (husband Thomas, children Ramsey, Thomas, Jr., Ginny and Olivia), Holly McKinney (children Mac and Charlie), and Christen McKinney; sister Maryce Cohen (husband Lewis, children Lauren and Rick).
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at 6 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church located in Birmingham, Ala. A second memorial service in Mobile will be scheduled at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Robert A. Kreisberg College of Medicine Endowment Fund, University of South Alabama Development Office, 300 Alumni Circle, Mobile Ala. 36688.
Dolores Archie, accounting supervisor for USA Health, recently retired after 30 years of service to the University of South Alabama.
