Henry Janowitz

Henry David Janowitz (March 13, 1915 – August 21, 2008) was professor emeritus of gastroenterology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is known for his contributions into inflammatory bowel diseases and being a leader in the Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis research.

Early life and education Janowitz was born in a Jewish household to Rose and Sam Janowitz on March 13, 1915, in Paterson, New Jersey. The sociologist Morris Janowitz was his younger brother. After graduating from Eastside High School at the age of 16, Janowitz entered Columbia College from which he graduated with honors and a membership into Phi Beta Kappa. His major there was biology but his undergraduate was history of philosophy.

Because he was uncertain whether to pursue medicine or philosophy, he sought an advice from his mentor and professor, Dr. Irwin Edman. Edman suggested to him to become a physician, and so he did. After graduating from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1939 with Alpha Omega Alpha honor, Janowitz did a two-year fellowship in clinical pathology. While leading that group, he trained over 100 residents and fellows among which were Bernard Wolf and Richard Marshak. He also was known for the resurrection of the American Journal of Digestive Diseases which existed from 1956 to 1966. and was survived by two children Anne and Mary Janowitz. (1956)