Itzhak Brook Explained

Itzhak Brook (born 1941) is an adjunct professor of pediatrics and medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC. He specializes in infectious diseases. He is a past chairman of the Anti-infective Drug Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[1] and chaired the Committee when AZT was approved for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in 1987.[2]

Medical research & work

Brook has developed treatment guidelines for primary care clinicians,[3] and has also done work on infectious disease of broad public interest. His main research interests are anaerobic infections, sinusitis, and tonsillitis. He is a long-standing campaigner against overuse of antibiotics which can lead to antibiotic resistance,[4] has researched common health threats like disease transmission on airplanes,[5] while dispelling common concerns about contaminated library books and subway handlebars.[6] [7] He has also been an expert source for major media on health issues like AZT,[8] improving patient care after his own serious illness and cancer,[9] [10] [11] and preventing medical errors.[12]

Brook has authored publications in scientific journals and 10 medical textbooks.[13] [14] [15] He is the author of "The Laryngectomee Guide" that was published in 22 languages.[16]

He is the US editor of Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,[17] Editor Textbook of "Pediatrics Infectious Diseases " at Medscape Reference,[18] Section Editor of "Pediatric Infections" at Current Infectious Diseases Report,[19] associate editor of Journal of Medical Case Reports,[20] a member of the editorial board of several medical journals, and a board member of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance.[21]

He served in the United States Navy from 1980 to 2006. He researched the treatment of bacterial infections after ionized radiation[22] for which he was awarded three Defense Meritorious Service Medals. Brook received the 2012 J. Conley Medical Ethics Award of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.[23]

Brook is a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Society for Pediatric Research, and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. His research interests include anaerobic infections, the pathogenesis and therapy of polymicrobial infections, including upper respiratory tract infections (i.e. sinusitis, tonsillitis).

Personal

Brook wrote a book about his experience as a patient with throat cancer [24] [25] and a book about his experiences as a battalion physician in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.[26] [27]

His daughter is Tammy Brook, founder and CEO of FYI Brand Group.[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/258/11/1517.extract Approval of Zidovudine (AZT) for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, September 18, 1987, Brook 258 (11): 1517 — JAMA
  2. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFDE1539F932A15751C1A961948260 Doctors Stretch Rules On Aids Drug - Nytimes.Com
  3. The Washington Post, TREATMENT OF CHOICE; Sinusitis: Many Forms, Many Treatments, Kathleen F. Phalen, Special to The Washington Post, May 23, 2000, Tuesday, Final Edition Correction Appended, HEALTH; Pg. Z31
  4. ANTIBIOTICS WARNING Misuse causing resistant bacteriaHerald Sun, August 11, 1992 Tuesday, 369 words, CARTER H
  5. [Betsy Wade]
  6. If you thought they were infectious you were wrong...Library books are cleanThe Times, October 27, 1994, Thursday, Features, 309 words, Dr Bruce Charlton
  7. The Washington Post, DO METRO HANDRAILS BEAR DEADLY GERMS?, March 07, 1995, Tuesday, Final Edition, HEALTH; Pg. Z05, 312 words
  8. DOCTORS STRETCH RULES ON AIDS DRUGThe New York Times, December 21, 1987, Monday, Late City Final Edition, Section A; Page 1, Column 5; National Desk, 1245 words, By GINA KOLATA
  9. Web site: Doctor learns to speak after losing his voice-box to cancer . https://web.archive.org/web/20121115061829/http://www.ksdk.com/rss/article/244284/9/Doctor-learns-to-speak-after-losing-his-voice-box-to-cancer . Feb 16, 2011 . Nov 15, 2012 . dead . Kristen . Gosling . St. Louis, MO . KSDK.com.
  10. Web site: Military Physician Discusses Facing Cancer, War . Sharon Renee . Taylor . Comprint Military Publications . dcmilitary.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20131121024532/http://www.dcmilitary.com/article/20130606/NEWS11/130609978/military-physician-discusses-facing-cancer-war . Jun 6, 2013 . Nov 21, 2013.
  11. News: Opinion | Mulling Martial Law . The New York Times . 22 December 2020 .
  12. News: Misdiagnosis is more common than drug errors or wrong-site surgery . 2013-05-06 . Sandra G. Boodman . . Washington, D.C. . 0190-8286 . 1330888409.
  13. Brook I. Anaerobic Infections Diagnosis and Management, Anaerobic Infections Diagnosis and Management. Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. New York. 2007.
  14. Brook I. Editor “ Sinusitis from Microbiology to Management” Taylor & Francis Group. New York, London. 2005.
  15. Brook I, Douma M. Antimicrobials Therapy Guide for the Dentist. Handbooks in Health Care Co. Newtown, Pennsylvania. 2004.
  16. Brook I . The Laryngectomee Guide. CreateSpace Publication, Charleston SC. 2013.
  17. http://www.iospress.nl/loadtop/load.php?isbn=13057707 IOSPress: Scientific, Technical Medical Publisher
  18. http://emedicine.medscape.com/pediatrics_general Medscape: Medscape Access
  19. https://www.springer.com/medicine/internal/journal/11908?detailsPage=editorialBoard Current Infectious Disease Reports (Editorial Board)
  20. Web site: Journal of Medical Case Reports . 2011-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101217151118/http://jmedicalcasereports.com/edboard/start.asp?id=704500 . 2010-12-17 . dead .
  21. Web site: Head and Neck Cancer Alliance . 2012-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140412081753/http://www.headandneck.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=8hKNI0MEImI4E&b=6341777&ct=11580277 . 2014-04-12 . dead .
  22. http://www.afrri.usuhs.mil/outreach/pdf/brook_NATO_2005.pdf Brook I, Elliott TB, Shoemaker MO, Ledney GD. Antimicrobials in the Management of Post-Irradiation Infection. Published in proceedings of the Human Factors and Medicine (HFM) Panel Research Task Group (RTG) 099 Meeting, “Radiation Bioeffects and Countermeasures,”
  23. Web site: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery . 2012-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141104235850/http://www.entnet.org/ . 2014-11-04 . dead .
  24. Web site: Doctor re-learns to talk after losing voice box - NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida . www.nbc-2.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161122153426/http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=14041662 . 2016-11-22.
  25. My Voice: A Physician’s Personal Experience with Throat Cancer. Published 2009.
  26. Web site: Yom Kippur battlefront . 11 September 2013 .
  27. In the Sands of Sinai: A Physician's Account of the Yom Kippur War. Published 2011.
  28. Web site: Shabbat Is for Everyone and Here Is Why - Thrive Global. thriveglobal.com. en-US. 2019-12-12.