Heart study pioneer, Dr. Curtis G. Hames diesDr. Curtis G. Hames Sr., a pioneer in the epidemologic study of heart disease and stroke and a visiting clinical professor in the MUSC Department of Family Medicine, died Jan. 6 in Savannah, Ga.He was a native and life long resident of Claxton, Ga., where he practiced medicine from 1947 to 1988. He was one of the last of the so-called “general practitioners” caring for his patients from birth to old age. He loved the practice of medicine and meeting the everyday medical needs of his patients. To him the true physician was one who was able to bring to the suffering patient a quiet sense of humility, dignity, confidence, and security based upon the conviction that all will be done that could be done. While seeing as many as 50 to 60 patients a day, Dr. Hames somehow found the time in the mid-1950s to begin an epidemiologic study of Evans County residents that attracted international attention from the scientific community. The National Institutes of Health funded the Evans County Heart Study from 1958 to 1995. This study allowed Dr. Hames to become one of the first researchers to study patients within their environment. The data collected resulted in more than 560 published papers in major medical journals worldwide on subjects including heart disease, genetics, cancer, hypertension; on stroke, pesticide pollution, neurohormones, and psychological determinants of disease; on immunology, viruses, and the effects of social interaction on disease. It was one of the first studies to show the protective value of HDL cholesterol and the possible impact of the absence of certain trace elements in the diet of coastal residents. He donated all of the frozen specimen samples from the Evans County study to MUSC for future research. This study became a model for many other family practice community based research projects including most recently HamesNet created by the Medical College of Georgia Department of Family Practice and named in his honor. In addition, The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine established the Curtis G. Hames Research Award in Family Medicine. The award, supported by the Hames Endowment of the Medical College of Georgia, is given annually to honor those individuals whose careers through the years exemplify dedication to research in family medicine. Dr. Hames was a clinical professor, Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Georgia; a clinical professor, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina; an adjunct professor, Family Medicine, Mercer Medical School; and adjunct professor, School of Health and Professional Studies, Georgia Southern University. Some of the many honors he received include the Lamartine Griffin Hardman Cup Award presented by the Medical Association of Georgia, the Albert Lasker Special Public Health Award, the Curtis G. Hames, Chair in Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia, the Curtis G. Hames Scholarships in Nursing at Georgia Southern University, and he was the 1984 recipient of the John D. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Award. He received an honorary doctor of science degree from Emory University in 1991 and an honorary doctor of medical science degree from MUSC. He was fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a member of the American Medical Association, and a trustee of the Medical College of Georgia Foundation. He was also an active member of numerous local civic organizations and clubs. Dr. Hames is survived by his wife, Betty Connell Hames of Claxton, Ga., his son, Curtis G. Hames Jr., and his wife Edwina N. Hames; and his son, Dr. R. Christopher Hames. The family requests donations be made to the Curtis G. Hames Chair of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in August, Ga., the Curtis G. Hames Scholarship in Nursing at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga., or the Evans Memorial Foundation in Claxton. “Curtis Hames was indeed a modern day John Snow for cardiovascular
disease epidemiology. He will forever be remembered for his famous
unannounced visits that began as a complete surprise that resulted in exchange
of scholarly concepts and thoughts! His vision will be continued with the
study data base and information he left with MUSC.”
“As my father collaborated with Dr. Hames, I had the privilege of
knowing Dr. Hames for over 40 years. He was one of the most amazing
men that I have ever encountered—an astute clinician who translated
observations from his medical practice into one of the most influential
studies in recent history. He will be deeply missed by the patients that
he served and by the physicians and researchers whom he influenced.”
Friday, Jan. 14, 2005
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