Victor Dubowitz

Victor Dubowitz (born 6 August 1931) is a British neurologist and professor emeritus at Imperial College London. He is principally known along with his wife Lilly Dubowitz for developing two clinical tests, the Dubowitz Score to estimate gestational age and the other for the systematic neurological examination of the newborn.

Life Dubowitz is the son of Charley Dubowitz and Olga née Schattel. He was educated in Beaufort West Central High School in South Africa. Dubowitz graduated Doctor of Medicine from the University of Cape Town in 1954,

Dubowitz married Lilly Magdalena Suzanne née Sebők in July 1960, who was also a paediatrician. They had four children, all boys, David born 1963, Michael born 1964, Gerald born 1965, and Daniel born 1969.

In 1996, Dubowitz was made professor emeritus of paediatrics at the University of London. Dubowitz was president of the Medical Art Society from 1997 to 2000. From 1972 to 1996, Dubowitz was the director of Muscle Research Centre. From 1999 to 2003 Dubowitz was president and later honorary member European Neuromuscular Centre in The Netherlands.

World Muscle Society

The idea for the World Muscle Society began in 1995, when Dubowitz discussed the formation of a new society with the pediatrician Luciano Merlini, principally due to the quickening of medical advances in the field and it was felt that the interval between the 4-year meetings of the World Federation of Neurology was too long. Dubowitz felt that a new multidisciplinary society was needed that would meet frequently and focus more on the current research community rather than established figures in the medical community. Dubowitz further discussed the proposal with Italian pediatrician Giovanni Nigro and later with the French pediatrician George Serratrice in Marseille while travelling.

The name World Muscle Society was finally chosen as it was the most easily recognisable name. The society was legally established in London. Dubowitz wrote to 60 potential members asking the following two questions:

do you think there is a need a for a new international muscle society to arrange more frequent interdisciplinary meetings; and would you be able to attend a foundation meeting of the new society in London on Sunday 4th June, 1995?

15 people replied and attended the first meeting in London on Sunday 4 June 1995.

Awards

1987 — Jean Hunter Prize of the Royal College of Physicians. 1980 — Commander of the Order of Constantine the Great 1982 — Arvo Ylppö Gold Medal, Finland. 1991 — Gaetano Conte Gold Medal, Italy. 1997 — Cornelia de Lange Medal, The Netherlands. 2007 — James Spence Gold Medal, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 2009 — Inaugural Gold Medal, Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy 2011 — Peter Emil Becker Prize, German Paediatric Neurology Society.