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Henry D. Isenberg, Ph.D. 1
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Erik Munson1,2,3
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Wheaton Franciscan Laboratory,1 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53215; 7
College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee,2
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201; and Associate Editor, Journal of Clinical Microbiology3
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Running title: JCM Biographical Feature 11
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* -- Corresponding author Erik Munson 13
Wheaton Franciscan Laboratory 14
St. Francis Hospital 15
3237 South 16th Street 16
Milwaukee, WI 53215 17
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Telephone: (414) 647-7589 19
Facsimile: (414) 647-5504 20
Electronic mail: [email protected] 21
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JCM Accepts, published online ahead of print on 10 December 2014J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.03373-14Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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The year was 1975--the first issue of Journal of Clinical Microbiology (JCM) is published. 24
Advertisers include Microbiological Associates, Clinical Sciences, Incorporated, and General 25
Diagnostics. Fifty USD earn a one-year subscription. Subjects of published manuscripts include 26
Proteus morganii, a novel satellite test for Haemophilus spp., and rapid hippurate hydrolysis 27
testing of Streptococcus agalactiae. How apropos it is that as JCM commemorates its 40th 28
anniversary, the subject of the February 2015 biographical feature is Dr. Henry Isenberg, one of 29
the original editors of the Journal. 30
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Henry D. Isenberg was born in Germany in 1922. He emigrated alone to the United States at the 32
age of 14 to escape Nazi persecution, settling in New York City with a distant relative. 33
According to his son, Gerald A. Isenberg, M.D., Henry Isenberg “always had an inquisitive mind 34
and was always curious about things. He was interested in the ‘why’ of things.” Such impetus 35
drove his baccalaureate education at the City College of New York, from which he was 36
graduated in 1947. Over the next twelve years, additional scientific training came in the form of 37
master’s and doctorate degrees from Brooklyn College and St. John’s University, respectively. 38
Gerald Isenberg noted that his father possessed “unbelievable drive, determination, and 39
dedication.” Henry Isenberg was a lifelong learner; Lynne Garcia, editor-in-chief of Clinical 40
Microbiology Procedures Handbook third edition, spoke of the phenomenal breadth of 41
Isenberg’s knowledge, stating that “he was skilled and very knowledgeable, regardless of the 42
topic.” 43
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During the course of graduate studies, Isenberg obtained laboratory directorship appointments in 45
the New York City area, including one as Chief of Microbiology at Long Island Jewish Medical 46
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Center (LIJ) in New Hyde Park, NY. He held this title from 1954-1997. According to Steven D. 47
Douglas, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, LIJ 48
was a “community hospital that morphed into a major medical center” during this tenure. 49
Isenberg maintained basic operations of a diagnostic microbiology laboratory while developing a 50
basic science research laboratory. Moreover, in his early career, Isenberg oversaw activities in 51
the urinalysis, hematology, and blood bank departments. He was renowned for introducing 52
young people to science and forging opportunities for their involvement in the laboratory. As 53
high school or college students, several participated in research laboratory projects or (prior to 54
CLIA 1988) performance of complete blood counts in the hematology laboratory. Other 55
affiliations during his tenure at LIJ included research posts at Sloan Kettering Institute and 56
American Institute of Biological Science, as well as academic positions at SUNY-Stony Brook, 57
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Mt. Sinai Medical Center. 58
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Training and professional development resulted in certification with the American Board of 60
Medical Microbiology (ABMM), licensure with the New York City Department of Health, and 61
certificate of qualification with New York State Department of Health. Isenberg was granted 62
fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology, New York Academy of Sciences, 63
Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Institute of Chemists, to name a few. 64
Isenberg was honored with the Becton Dickinson Award in Clinical Microbiology in 1979, the 65
Alex C. Sonnenwirth Memorial Lectureship ten years later, the ABMM Professional Recognition 66
Award in 1994, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Distinguished Service Award in 67
1996, and was granted ASM Honorary Member status in 1999. Other scholarly activities 68
included consultancy/memberships in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 69
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American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Committee for Clinical and 70
Laboratory Standards, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, 71
and several leadership positions within ASM and ABMM. 72
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According to Dr. Douglas, Isenberg was a “great clinical microbiologist, biologist, and microbial 74
biochemist.” This translated into a diverse, multi-disciplinary research portfolio (refer to 75
selected bibliography at end of the biographical feature). Isenberg studied nutritional and 76
metabolic mechanisms of microbes during the 1950s with Dr. Albert Schatz. Isenberg developed 77
a unique protozoan model (Hymenomonas Mary Parke 156) for the study of calcification, with 78
the ultimate goal of investigating hard tissue formation in mammalian hosts. He also 79
demonstrated a lifelong interest in host/microbe relationships. For example, he investigated the 80
role of Candida albicans in the overall ecology of the gastrointestinal tract. Isenberg also 81
established a rat polyvinyl sponge model for assessment of microbial proliferation. In the words 82
of Ms. Garcia, Isenberg was the “ultimate clinical microbiologist. He knew microbiology, he 83
knew medicine, and he knew therapy.” At an early time, Isenberg recognized the importance of 84
antimicrobial susceptibility testing and surveillance in the face of emerging antimicrobial 85
resistance. While clinical microbiologists today desire increased automation in terms of daily 86
laboratory workflow, Isenberg was already considering similar prospects in the 1960s and 1970s, 87
pioneering automation advances in data management, bacterial identification, and antimicrobial 88
susceptibility testing. As one example, he participated in early assessments of the precursor to 89
today’s VITEK®
technology. Isenberg’s work also stressed the importance of the clinical 90
microbiology laboratory in hospital infection control. Moreover, he investigated downstream 91
clinical outcomes of data generated by the microbiology laboratory. With all of that said, Dr. 92
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Douglas stated that Isenberg “was a champion of med techs and students.” Ms. Garcia added 93
that Isenberg was “very supportive of young microbiologists.” 94
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Perhaps Isenberg’s greatest contribution to the field of clinical microbiology was dissemination 96
of information both to bench technologists and clinical practitioners. Over 150 PubMed-indexed 97
peer-reviewed publications are attributed to him; Isenberg also penned more than 50 books or 98
book chapters. Isenberg has more than 6000 ISI citations to his credit. He served as JCM editor 99
from 1975-1989, assuming editor-in-chief activities from 1979-1989. Gerald Isenberg remarked 100
that his father took extreme pride in being editor-in-chief of JCM. Henry Isenberg’s multi-101
disciplinary outlook on the field of microbiology was pivotal to the creation of the ASM Journal 102
Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, now known as Clinical and Vaccine 103
Immunology. He was also a section editor for Manual of Clinical Microbiology, third and fourth 104
editions. Clinical microbiology laboratories worldwide have Clinical Microbiology Procedures 105
Handbook at their disposal; beginning in 1992, Isenberg was editor-in-chief of the first two 106
editions of this invaluable and authoritative series. Ms. Garcia recalled the genesis of this 107
publication. “Henry was thinking about the procedures handbook long before it got started. He 108
saw it as a need very early. It serves a purpose that no one had identified or tackled. He 109
encouraged many microbiologists to become involved with this project; bench technologists did 110
most of the writing and compiling at that time. Henry led the charge but didn’t take charge. He 111
turned us loose to do this.” She further noted that Isenberg had the ability to recognize both the 112
big picture and the importance of meticulous detail; he was a champion of a well-scribed 113
Materials and Methods section. Peer-described attributes of precision, fastidiousness, and 114
dedication, as related to editorial duties, were indeed a reflection of the man himself. 115
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In a retrospective essay published in 2003, Isenberg wrote, “…the practice of clinical 117
microbiology is the application of knowledge gained to the betterment of the human condition, 118
the goal of clinical microbiologists. To appreciate the history of microbiology, it must be 119
said…that this practical side has earned us the disdain of those who emphasize theory 120
exclusively. Our working behind the scenes is misinterpreted by colleagues in related fields 121
whose egos require constant applause. Our role is belittled, but the wondrous ingenuity of our 122
test objects underlies our contributions to health, disease diagnoses, and therapy” (J. Clin. 123
Microbiol. 41: 917-918; 2003). Henry Isenberg died in 2006; may we, as present and future 124
clinical microbiologists, continue to carry the torches of past pioneers, innovators, and 125
contributors, while maintaining requisite duty and humility as we remember the true purpose for 126
our discipline. 127
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT 129
Certain content within this biographical feature would not have been possible without the
tremendous assistance of Steven D. Douglas, M.D., Lynne Garcia, and Gerald A. Isenberg, M.D.
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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS 130
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Isenberg, H. D., and S. Shapiro. 1958. An inexpensive, easily constructed microbiological 132
zone reader. Antibiot. Chemother. 8: 466-469. 133
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Isenberg, H. D., M. A. Pisano, S. L. Carito, and J. I. Berkman. 1960. Factors leading to 135
overt monilial disease. I. Preliminary studies of the ecological relationship between Candida 136
albicans and intestinal bacteria. Antibiot. Chemother. 10: 353-363. 137
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Heitler, M. S., H. D. Isenberg, S. Karelitz, H. Acs, and M. Driller. 1963. Clinical and 139
laboratory experience and evaluation of cephalothin in pediatric patients. Antimicrob. Agents 140
Chemother. 161: 261-266. 141
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Lavine, L. S., and H. D. Isenberg. 1964. Comparative biology of calcification. J. Bone Joint 143
Surg. Am. 46: 1563-1576. 144
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Isenberg, H. D. 1965. The consistency of in vitro microbial response: a survey of the 146
Americas, Europe, and Japan. Health Lab. Sci. 2: 163-178. 147
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Isenberg, H. D. 1967. Clinical evaluation of laboratory guidance of antibiotic therapy. Health 149
Lab. Sci. 4: 166-180. 150
151
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Isenberg, H. D., A. Reichler, and D. Wiseman. 1971. Prototype of a fully automated device 152
for determination of bacterial antibiotic susceptibility in the clinical laboratory. Appl. Microbiol. 153
22: 980-986. 154
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Isenberg, H. D., and J. D. MacLowry. 1976. Automated methods and data handling in 156
bacteriology. Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 30: 483-505. 157
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Isenberg, H. D., S. L. Wiener, G. A. Isenberg, J. Sampson-Scherer, M. Urivetsky, and J. I. 159
Berkman. 1976. Rat polyvinyl sponge model for the study of infections: host factors and 160
microbial proliferation. Infect. Immun. 14: 490-495. 161
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Tilton, R. C., and H. D. Isenberg. 1977. Evaluation of the performance parameters of a 163
prediluted, quantitative antibiotic susceptibility test device. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 11: 164
271-276. 165
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Smith, P. B., T. L. Gavan, H. D. Isenberg, A. Sonnenwirth, W. I Taylor, J. A. Washington 167
II, and A. Balows. 1978. Multi-laboratory evaluation of an automated microbial 168
detection/identification system. J. Clin. Microbiol. 8: 657-666. 169
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Isenberg, H. D., T. L. Gavan, P. B. Smith, A. Sonnenwirth, W. Taylor, W. J. Martin, D. 171
Rhoden, and A. Balows. 1980. Collaborative investigation of the AutoMicrobic System 172
Enterobacteriaceae biochemical card. J. Clin. Microbiol. 11: 694-702. 173
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Isenberg, H. D. 1988. Pathogenicity and virulence: another view. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 1: 175
40-53. 176
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Isenberg, H. D., and R. F. D’Amato. 1996. Does proficiency testing meet its objective? J. 178
Clin. Microbiol. 34: 2643-2644. 179
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Isenberg, H. D. 2003. Clinical microbiology: past, present, and future. J. Clin. Microbiol. 41: 181
917-918.182
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