|
| About | Membership | Imaging Informatics | Fellows | Awards | Purpose & Mission | Governance | Committees | History | Headquarters | Careers |
A Tribute to Samuel J. Dwyer, III, PhD, FSIIM (1932-2008)
A tribute to the "Father of PACS" from his colleagues who were fortunate enough to know Sam and work with him.
On May 4, 2002 at the SCAR Annual Meeting in Cleveland,Samuel Joseph Dwyer, III, PhD was inducted into the College of SIIM Fellows. Present at the Beginning: An appreciation and memory of Sam Dwyer
For most of us, at least those who have grown up in the United States, our picture of a revolutionary is strongly colored by our collective exposure to media over the years. We think of Ernesto “Che” Guevara (who was a physician), Vladimir Lenin, or Mao Zhedong. Around the Fourth of July, we might be reminded of our own revolutionaries: Washington, Adams, Paine, Franklin, Henry, and the others whom we know from our elementary school lessons or seeing the famous paintings of these historical American stalwarts.
With some notable exceptions, revolutionaries in science and engineering are less well known. In medical imaging, many would think of Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, Paul Lauterbur, and Sir Peter Mansfield as major revolutionaries. However, touching at least as many of us (and the general public), is the “father of PACS”, Samuel J. Dwyer, III. Meeting this humble man, you might not think of him as the leader of a revolution. But it was Sam Dwyer, together with Andre Duerinckx, who organized the first International Symposium on Picture Archiving and Communications Systems for Medical Applications in 1982.
Some may know that this meeting was preceded the year before by the meeting on Digital Radiography; Sam was there, and I was fortunate enough to attend as well. At one of the breaks, my colleague Chip Maguire and I had lunch and had a lively discussion about some of the work that we had heard from Sam – the idea of using computer networks to move digital images around instead of printing them on film. We had been doing some of this work ourselves in nuclear medicine, but Sam expanded the horizons, describing some of the work he was doing at the University of Kansas Medical Center. A year later, we were together again, this time at that first PACS meeting sharing some of the work that had been accomplished since. The list of participants and institutions at that meeting is regarded by many as the list of pioneers in PACS.
The PACS meeting, sponsored by the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), has been held every year since 1982, though the name was sometimes a bit obscure. For awhile, it fell under the name of “Application of Optical Instrumentation in Medicine”. It was held in Kansas City on two occasions and allowed the attendees to visit the KU Medical Center and see first hand was Sam was working on – a prototype PACS. The Chairman of the Department of Radiology at KU Medical Center, Arch Templeton, was so enthusiastic about Sam’s work that he invited attendees of the PACS meeting to visit him while he was still a patient in the Hospital. Sam Dwyer continued to be a leader for the SPIE PACS conference both as a Co-Chairman of the meeting and always as an advisor to the leadership.
An emphasis at the first SPIE PACS meeting was on the need for standards. The need for them in medical imaging formed the basis for a session of the conference and a topic for a spirited discussion (the transcription of which was included in the meeting proceedings). Sam later was influential in the start of the ACR-NEMA Digital Imaging and Communications Standards Committee. As a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), he brought the influence of the engineering fraternity to the fledgling efforts of the American College of Radiology, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, and the Food and Drug Administration in establishing what would become the ACR-NEMA Committee. My initial involvement in the ACR-NEMA effort begun when Sam told me about the work that was getting started.
Sam continued his leadership role in imaging informatics, serving as the Chairman of the Radiology Information Systems Consortium (RISC) and of SCAR as well. Throughout all this, Sam continued his research at the University of Kansas followed by faculty appointments at UCLA and the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Sam’s work on the retrieval rates of radiological examinations formed the basis for the storage system design of virtually all PACS. It is only in recent years that, owing to the rapidly falling costs and exponentially increasing capacities of magnetic disk drives, some systems departed from the “short term – long term” design fostered by Sam’s studies. In fact, the concept of hierarchical storage design has persisted as requirements for disaster recovery and storage of very large examinations are increasingly important.
Sam thought about display system design as well and implemented the first use of a then-experimental 2000-line CRT display. This was during a time when the typical computer display was 640 x 480 pixels and image processing systems might support up to 1280 x 1024 pixels. Introducing this display to radiologists had the effect of spurring the industry to develop additional high resolution displays for medical imaging. Not content just to try out and exhibit hardware, Sam also studied how radiologists performed on these displays. At one RSNA meeting, his exhibit featured softcopy displays on which radiologists could view images and evaluate their performance against other attendees – Sam produced an ROC plot for each person willing to test themselves. I tried it and was relieved to find that my performance was on par with that of other radiologists.
In the years that I have known Sam Dwyer, he has been both a mentor and role model. It was a great honor to me that he treated me as a colleague. Sam gave advice willingly and was an honest but gentle critic when he thought ideas were not as robust as they could be. I knew him always ready with a smile or infectious laugh and with a perpetual gleam in his eye that spoke of his friendly manner. There are some who would claim the title of “PACS Man”, but it is Sam Dwyer who led the revolution in PACS. Whenever we use workstations, teach our residents about storage models, discuss information security, or learn about almost any facet of imaging informatics, we should remember that Sam Dwyer was a major pioneer who brought many of the important advances in technology to us and helped move concepts from the realm of engineering to that of healthcare. I will miss Sam very much, but the strong memory of him is never further than the PACS workstation I use every day.
Steve Horii, MD, Professor, Dept of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Health System - "Sam loved his gun collection, my description of what he told me is in the SIIM News column I wrote last year about each of the JDI associate editors."
Janice Honeyman-Buck, PhD, Editor in Chief, the Journal of Digital Imaging.
- A teacher, a mentor, a gentleman
As with many things, it is only with the perspective of time that the context of an individual’s interactions becomes clear. I am humbled to consider Sam Dwyer my friend, but describing him as such leaves an incomplete picture. I was very fortunate to make Sam’s company early in my career in medical imaging. However it is only now with the perspective and, arguably, wisdom as a seasoned industry veteran, that I can say the blessings of his company, friendship and mentorship have become fully appreciated.
Within months of taking a position with a major medical imaging company, I was thrust into the middle of a development project with a prestigious and well-regarded customer – the University of Kansas. As the “low man” on my team that day among VPs and international dignitaries, we met with the U of Kansas chairman Dr. Arch Templeton and a dark-suited scientist by the name of Samuel J. Dwyer III, Ph.D. While the discussion was way over my head, all the action items fell to the “low man”. We were going to do digital chest radiography with a “beer keg” image intensifier (57 cm), 525 line TV camera and VAS/Matrix Digistore. Anxious to proceed but with no clue as to how, Sam’s teaching, patience, counsel and encouragement made this project work. Well, sort of. Digital chest never panned out at this low resolution, but the first digital fluoroscopy system arose from this failure.This was the first of several projects I had the pleasure and honor of working on with Sam.
Visionary, pioneer, vanguard. All these are fitting to describe Sam and his many accomplishments. But for me, my treasured memories are much more personal. Already well accomplished at the time of our first meeting, Sam made the time to take an eager but inexperienced student under his wing. I was not an “assigned” grad student or research assistant from the University to which he had an obligation. I was a product manager from a vendor-partner. Over the years, answering technical questions in an understandable way, to providing unassuming career guidance, as well as a sympathetic ear to the challenges of fatherhood or life’s many challenges and struggles, Sam was always there for me. I hope in some small way, my accomplishments satisfied him.
While Sam left a legacy through his professional accomplishments, perhaps more lasting is the heritage of leadership he has left behind. He felt it his obligation to pass on his knowledge and wisdom to the next generation, and I was blessed as a recipient. I have and will continue to honor Sam by sharing his wisdom with those that come after me. Through this legacy, Sam will live among the radiology community for generations to come.
John Strauss, Director of Marketing, FUJIFILM Medical Systems
"Sam was a phenomenal resource, and the veritable fount of information on what we should do with informatics, and where the whole field was likely to go. He was never wrong, in my experience. He will be sorely missed by those of us who had segments of or even entire careers shaped around what he had developed and moved forward."
C. Douglas Phillips, MD FACR, Professor, Depts. of Radiology, Neurosurgery, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UVA Health Systems Sam Dwyer was so kind to me as I tried to learn the workings of JDI and journal administration.
Leigh Burke “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”
The embodiment of this ancient Chinese proverb, Dr. Sam Dwyer was a teacher. While he could (on something as simple as a paper napkin) describe the very complex, technical aspects of the oldest, or most contemporary technology in his field, he was much more inclined to engage a willing audience with a new opportunity to learn--soup-to-nuts. "Dr. Sam" was by far one of the kindest, gentlest and most respectable souls our industry has had the pleasure to know. As well as his unmatched intellect, and his ticklish laugh, Sam brought depth and heart to digital imaging. The "Grandfather of PACS," Sam was a true visionary with an unending dedication to improving healthcare through the use of technology. His innovative and pioneering nature fed his drive for change, as he graciously invited participation in his plight by all willing to join. In the words of an admirer, Sam "once convinced an entire industry that its future was digital." Sam was not afraid of thinking outside the "box" (or, of endlessly thinking on how to get things into, and out of the "box"). He was likewise undaunted by opposition or challenge. Sam stood strong in his convictions, backed by research and scientific principle, and he was accepting of alternative points of view, equally supported in science. I was a young lawyer-- in a vast sea of academics, physicians, technologists, and the like. Sam gave me confidence to pose new ideas and thoughts, and taught me to remain willing and ready to educate and learn from others with patience, humility, and grace. As he did many others in his lifetime, Sam taught me to fish! His legacy is strong, and his contribution to our industry, unequaled.This world is a better place because of you, Sam. We will miss your smile!
Kristen (Kris) Knight, JD, Director, Privacy Compliance, Philips Healthcare My Father, Sam Dwyer
My father loved his work and the people that he worked with in radiology. He never quite accepted that he couldn’t continuehis work. For those that continued contact with my father, I thank you. He treasured every call and wanted to go back and be part of the excitement. His notes by his chair Tuesday evening when I arrived at the house included hand written formulas and letters to colleagues. He missed it all so much that it was heartbreaking to watch.Thank you all for your thoughts in prayers as we grieve his loss but are so thankful that he is no longer in pain and suffering, which he continually tried to cover up.
Donna Phillips,Technology Network Administrator, Maize USD266 Sam was one of the first individuals I met when I got into the PACS business, some 25 years ago. He was extremely supportive of and patient with this neophyte. I will miss him.
Wayne DeJarnette, PhD, President & CEO, DeJarnette Research Systems, Inc. The professional Legacy of Samuel J. Dwyer, III, Ph.D. is phenomenal, with many of us owing our careers to Sam. However, it is surpassed by his Personal Legacy. He was friendly to everyone he met and would go out of the way to help people. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease his Family and Friends. Sam never had a disparaging word about anyone – A True Gentleman. He was very humble (“Call me Sam not Dr. Dwyer”) and often shied away from praise or taking credit. However, Sam was quick to praise others. He put my name on several papers where I only did a little to contribute, but Sam insisted. He never complained, even when his health was failing. Sam was always positive. He could never quit working. He was an unpaid consultant to me and even contributed to a paper several of us submitted last year. Sam was a very dear Friend and I feel like I lost my Big Brother. I feel very privileged, as I may be the last person in Medical Imaging to talk to Sam. He called me the morning before he passed away and talked for a very long time. Sam reminisced about many of the great times we shared, both professionally and personally. Looking back, I wonder if he felt the end was near. Sam was a great scientist and a great man. I can not find the words to fully and properly thank Sam for all he did for Medical Imaging and for me personally. I am left with a simple Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You for Sam Dwyer.
Ronald G. Gesell, Manager, Product Development Medical Imaging Solutions,Compressus Inc. I worked as the Administrative Assistant to Dr. Bruce Hillman in the Department of Radiology at the University of Virginia for over 10 years. Dr. Dwyer was a very sweet, humble man. There was never a time that he didn't ask me about my boys and always gave me excellent parenting advice. I always took his advice very seriously since I figured he was a professional with the number of children he had! Dr. Dwyer will be greatly missed. My best to his wife and family.
Kimberly Thibodeau Oakes, University of Virginia Sam Dwyer was an inspiration to many of us and I know that his vision and passion stimulted me to enter this avenue of work. I hope SIIM will create a lasting tribute to this leader, perhaps a named student award or research grant.
David Channin, MD, Chief, Imaging Informatics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine It was 1979, I first met Sam at the Kansas City Airport for an interview for a post-doc at Kansas University (KU). I screwed up and didn’t notice that my bag was checked to Dallas (it wasn’t carry on back then). I learned several things: check your bag ticket, wear interview clothes, and how lucky I was to have a truly classy guy to handle an awkward situation. He gave the luggage folks his card and my destination and we went to Alameda Plaza. I was impressed. My talks and the interviews went well, I thought, Sam was always over my shoulder and making sure things were on time and right (I went to other interviews later – not impressed). I was particularly impressed when I posed some tax questions (suggested by my dissertation advisor). Sam picked up the phone and called Mary Lou. He knew that she knew – I knew that he didn’t know; but they knew one another very well and that was great to me.
Actually that was my first “Sam” mentoring. I’ve conducted many interviews since – they all reflect Sam. As it turned out, the Chair, Dr. Arch Templeton (a good friend) decided that KU needed faculty – not a post-doc – and one of my dissertation committee faculty got the job. Sam and I remained in touch. His paper on queuing was classic. I went to the University of Minnesota. He sometimes called at 7:00 AM , sometimes at 7:00 PM. If I wasn’t there he’d remind me – I was a slakard!! Every RSNA!! I love him. All our love to Mary Lou and the kids.
Carol, Charles, & Rick Morin To Sam's family
Sam envisioned a technology that transformed the radiologist workflow, and has resulted in a revolution in patient care. In 1983, GE Medical Systems (now GE Healthcare) was working with IBM to see if this radical thing (called Multimodality at that time) had a supporting technology base that would allow a market development. I met Sam in Kansas, while working as an engineering technical lead for GE Medical Systems. Sam was a visionary. He conceived a film-less work environment for Radiologists that would improve health care by improving the delivery and viewing of medical diagnostic images.
When our IBM/GE team met him in 83, he showed us his theory, and demonstrated his ideas in real working hardware. His personality was infectious. His challenging ideas, simple statement of technology, and his enthusiasm propelled me to believe that this was the imaging technology of the future. This meeting was key, and Sam was a major influencing factor in propelling GE to begin serious technology investigations, and shortly thereafter GE began the technology investment in PACS.
Sam's ideas were infectious. Within a short period of time, due to Sam's drive and vision, key companies were pursuing storage and network delivery systems. Diagnostic display businesses were formed, expanded, and transformed.The digital PACS world and Sam's vision resulted in many significant improvements in patient care.
-Instant Access to images locally and remotely
-The problems with film, chemicals, lost folders and films, and film viewers were eliminated
-Without PACS, CAD would be impossible
Today, digital storage, delivery, and display of images is a "given."Can you imaging the impact on the quality of care for patients if we still performed:
- Ultrasound, CT, MR, X-Ray, 3-D, PET, etc with key images captured on Film
-CT/MR without being able to scroll through images
-Images with no window level or magnification -- use a light and a magnifying glass
-Film viewers showing a limited number of images per patient
(today we average 200 to 2000 images per CT Study -- Try that on film)
-3D with no rotation -- in black and white -- with just key images burned on a film
-No electronic measurement of distance or size
-Cine Film Cassettes and readers to capture flow studies
Sam and his vision produced image storage systems and network systems that radically changed the ability of our Radiologist to diagnose disease. Thank-you Sam!!!!!
David Roth Sam equates sincerity, smile, smoking-a-pipe, focus, openness, with a large family; working in the evenings into the late nights at his office, pushing further the edge of technology to help humanity, publishing technical papers to share his knowledge with society, interacting with colleagues and students to spark ephemeral creativity.
I had the privilege of knowing him as my professor, advisor, and member of my PhD panel of five, with C. Leon Partain, Robert W. McLaren, Allen W. Hahn, S. Loyalka during 1968-1974 in University of Missouri, Columbia. We drifted from Midwest to Mid-Atlantic region; keeping occasional contacts over the decades. He was also a reference - during my work in Washington, DC, over the last 30 years. I still have his perceptive recommendation letters for my prospective employers.
He was in medical, black-grey-white, static, 2-D, general-purpose computer processed imaging; I went into educational, color, dynamic, 3-D, special-processor real-time, computer generated imaging. I co-founded Trillium, a competition to Silicon Graphics Inc, in the 80's; being readied with the prospectus for going public; instead, perished in the Black Monday of 19 October 1987 stock crash.
Sam is alive in my memory as an icon of kindness, focus, and insight. His legacy lives on among seekers of truth to the end of time. His humanity refreshes the “image” of a portrait of a smart, smiling, and smoking-a-pipe head in the skulls of those who were privileged knowing him on a personal, professional horizon in the 20th Century.
Sam B Baran, PhD, Senior IT Consultant, Washington, DC.
Please send to the SIIM office your messages or remembrances of Sam Dwyer that you would like to share on this page with his family and friends.
|
