July 18 1945 December 31 2021
Obituary Dr. David J. Sahn, Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Oregon Health & Science University, passed away peacefully at home on December 31, 2021, with his wife and daughter at his side. David was born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 18, 1945 to Phillip B. Sahn and Muriel I. Sahn. He majored in chemistry as an undergraduate at Brooklyn College and graduated cum laude from the Yale School of Medicine in 1969. Following a medical internship and residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, he was a research fellow in Pediatric Cardiology at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine in 1973 and subsequently became an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics and Attending Physician at Children’s Hospital, San Diego. He then accepted positions at the University of Arizona as Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology in 1974, and Professor in 1981. From 1983 to 1992, he held positions as Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at UCSD School of Medicine. In 1992, he moved to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, where he was a Professor of Pediatrics, Diagnostic Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Biomedical Engineering, as well as Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Cardiac Imaging. Dr. Sahn was a founder and past president of the American Society of Echocardiography, was Associate Editor for the American Heart Association journal Circulation and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and on the editorial boards of many other journals. He also served on several National Institutes of Health study sections in diagnostic radiology and medical imaging and was a member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Board of Scientific Councilors. He was a pioneer in the field of echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound. As a fellow at UCSD Medical Center, Dr. Sahn started studying the use echocardiography for prenatal diagnosis of heart disease and performed the first real-time 2D echocardiogram in the USA in 1972. He went on to advance the field of ultrasound through years of research and discovery, and more recently studied applications of MRI to the treatment of adult congenital heart disease. He mentored many students, residents, and fellows over his career, some of who are now leaders in their field. Dr. Sahn was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, the author five books and hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, and a contributor to many more academic books in the medical field. He was tirelessly committed to his work, dedicating countless hours to seeing patients, consulting with medical technology companies on the design of equipment, authoring and reviewing grants and papers, and mentoring students and fellows in his lab. He traveled and lectured all over the world, sharing his expertise with far-flung physicians and colleagues. He believed strongly in justice, and was also involved in providing medical care to underserved communities in Mexico and Alaska. David was a loving husband of thirty-three years to his wife Christine, and the proud father of his daughter Jennifer and her husband Nick, and grandfather to his grandson Henry. He loved music, having played the violin as a child and taking up the guitar as an adult, playing folk songs to friends, family, and occasionally for colleagues at professional conferences. He was a sailor and a Sea Scout, enjoying time on his sailboat, the Tui. Nature was also a passion. David was a hiker, a literal hugger of trees, and a supporter of conservation and environmental causes. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Ende, and is survived by his wife Christine, daughter Jennifer (Nicholas Thielker), and grandson Henry Thielker. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Society of Echocardiography Foundation (www.asefoundation.org/ways-to-give/). An outdoor service will be held on Thursday, January 6, at 11 a.m. at River View Cemetery. The service can also be attended virtually at: www.hdezwebcast.com/show/david-jonathan-sahn-graveside-service. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Dr. David, please visit our Tree Store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr David Jonathan Sahn July 18 1945 December 31 2021.
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Death notice for the town of: Seaside, state: Oregon