Left to Right: Adekunle Dawodu, MD and paul perlstein, md
In Memorium: Drs. Adekunle Dawodu and Paul Perlstein
Cincinnati recently lost two champions in the field of Neonatology - Adekunle Dawodu and Paul Perlstein.
Adekunle Dawodu, MD passed on October 31, 2021. Adekunle is remembered as a gentle and persuasive individual who advocated for clinical pediatric care throughout the world. He joined Cincinnati Children’s in 1976 as a fellow in Neonatology after completing residency training in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Upon completion of his Neonatology Fellowship, he led pediatric programs in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. He developed an academic focus on maternal-infant nutrition and vitamin D for prevention of neonatal rickets. Cincinnati Children’s was fortunate to recruit him back to the Department of Pediatrics to develop long lasting links to international pediatric programs that are today embodied in our Global Health Program. His thoughtfulness, kindness, passion for improving maternal-child health, and ever-present smiles brought him friendships and partnerships throughout the world. He celebrated his 50th year of marriage with his wife Bisi and five children this year.
Paul Perlstein, MD passed on November 9, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. A long-time faculty member in the Division of Neonatology, Paul represented the vanguard of care for newborns at Cincinnati Children’s and the University of Cincinnati. Paul joined an outstanding group of neonatologists led by Jim Sutherland, including Lenny Kleinman, Irwin Light, and Bill Keenan who together founded our newborn care program in Cincinnati. He made seminal observations regarding the role of thermal stability for the survival of NICU patients and developed a novel computer system, Alcyon, to translate his ideas into practice. As his career progressed, Paul worked closely with Ed Donovan, Uma Kotagal and others in the Division of Neonatology to inculcate systems thinking into clinical practice. He was a creative clinician and educator who always prioritized the best outcomes for his patients and their families. He brought incisive wit, vast clinical knowledge, and unending commitment to his work. He will be missed by those who had the opportunity to work with him and remembered by countless families and the children in his care.