In Memoriam: Dr Abram Hoffer

28th May 2009

We pay special tribute in this eBlast to Dr Abram Hoffer—the Canadian psychiatrist who was instrumental in discovering the importance of vitamins in the treatment of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.  Dr Hoffer died yesterday at the age of 91.  He will be sorely missed, but in his physical absence, many of us will feel more compelled than ever to help ensure that Dr Hoffer’s greatest wish, to see ‘orthomolecular medicine’ accepted by mainstream, becomes a reality.

I learned the news of Dr Hoffer’s passing yesterday via a text message from our Medical Director Dr Damien Downing while attending the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) annual symposium in Hollywood, Florida.  It was hard to resist the desire to ask for the plenary lecture to be paused for a minute or two in honour of the man who had been central to the development of the very medical models that set the theme for this year’s symposium (“Illuminating the Path Forward”).  But this morning, special tribute was paid.  We, the participants— some 500 doctors, other practitioners and scientists—exchanged views about the great man’s life work and then watched a tribute video of Dr Hoffer being interviewed by the IFM’s co-founder, Dr Jeff Bland.  It was evident that the people in the hall had a renewed mission, re-ignited by Dr Hoffer’s physical loss.

It has become clear that if each one of us achieves just a fraction of that achieved by Dr Hoffer in his lifetime, Dr Hoffer’s greatest wish will be achieved many times over.

Robert Verkerk PhD
Executive & scientific director, ANH

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