Duane Graveline
Encyclopedia
Duane Edgar Graveline is an American
physician and former NASA
astronaut
. He was one of the six scientists selected in 1965, in NASA's fourth group of astronauts, for the Apollo program. He is most famous for being immersed in water for seven days as part of his zero gravity deconditioning research while a United States Air Force
(USAF) research scientist. He was consultant to magician David Blaine
for Blaine's week of water immersion in 2006, correctly predicting Blaine's profound weakness from deconditioning.
. He retired from family practice after twenty-three years and is now a writer of medical and science fiction
. His current hobbies include medical consulting in zero gravity deconditioning and galactic cosmic radiation and personal health maintenance.
degree from the University of Vermont
in June 1951 and his Doctor of Medicine
degree from the University of Vermont
College of Medicine in June 1955. Following his internship at Walter Reed, he specialized in Aerospace Medicine, receiving his Masters in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University
in 1958.
Medical Service after graduation from medical college. Following internship he attended the primary course in Aviation medicine
, Class 56C, at Randolph Air Force Base
and was assigned to Kelly Air Force Base
as Chief of the Aviation Medicine Service.
Graveline was granted the aeronautical rating of flight surgeon
in February 1957. From September 1957 to June 1958, he attended Johns Hopkins
School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he received his Master's degree
in Public Health
.
He then attended the Aerospace Medical residency at the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, completing his residency training in July 1960 at Brooks Air Force Base and receiving his specialty certification by the American Board in Preventative Medicine. At this time he was assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory as research scientist with special interest in prolonged weightlessness
deconditioning
and countermeasures. In July 1962, he returned to Brooks Air Force Base where he continued his research, served as intelligence analyst for Soviet bioastronautics
and was active as a NASA flight controller
for the Mercury
and Gemini missions.
Graveline is the author of ten professional publications and reports on biological deconditioning and weightlessness countermeasures. His research has involved bed rest and water immersion to study deconditioning. While in the USAF he did the original research on both the extremity tourniquet
and the prototype lower body negative pressure device for use in prolonged zero gravity missions. NASA's operational lower body negative pressure device has seen used in the Soviet MIR, as well as on the shuttle and station research. His most recent space medicine research (2004) was in studying the effect of galactic "heavies" in the brains of mice, using iron ions and NASA's linear accelerator at Brookhaven, NY.
In June 1965, Graveline was selected with NASA's fourth group of scientist astronauts and assigned to Williams Air Force Base
for jet pilot training. He resigned due to personal reasons prior to being assigned to a mission and returned to civilian
life. Graveline practiced medicine as a family doctor in Burlington, Vermont
during which time he also served as a flight surgeon for the Vermont Army National Guard
. Since his retirement at age sixty, Graveline has become a writer
of medical and science fiction thrillers with 15 novels to his credit and another in the works.
Following his experience with choloesterol drug side effects, Graveline has become a critic of the use of statins to treat high cholesterol levels. While on Lipitor, Graveline developed transient global amnesia
and could not recognize his family. He slowly recovered after stopping this medication. NASA physicians then prescribed half the dose, but the amnesia returned.
Although not responsible in his own right for new, peer reviewed research and trials he refers to extensive and well-known clinical trials and studies whose data show that statins have negligible impact on heart disease in primary patients (i.e., those who have not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease) yet increase their mortality overall from all causes. Like any other dissidents from the accepted wisdom of raised or excess cholesterol causing heart disease, he has no associations with pharmaceutical companies, receives no grants or funding from them or other state bodies.
He is not alone in questioning the wisdom of mass treatment with statins and has corresponded/collaborated with a Scottish doctor, Malcolm Kendrick who in his book "The Cholesterol Con" quotes extensive data from many well-known trials and World Health Organisation (WHO) data to show that statins do not increase life expectancy overall, do not prevent heart disease in patients without cardiovascular symptoms. He goes on to show that widely varying levels of cholesterol in fact are inversely correlated with deaths from heart disease BUT correlated with cancer mortality (i.e., within a reasonable range, higher total cholesterol is associated with lower cancer mortality).
Graveline was a contributor to the book "NASA's Scientist-Astronauts" by David Shayler and Colin Burgess
.
This article incorporates text from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/graveline-de.html, which is a webpage by NASA
. NASA policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. He was one of the six scientists selected in 1965, in NASA's fourth group of astronauts, for the Apollo program. He is most famous for being immersed in water for seven days as part of his zero gravity deconditioning research while a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) research scientist. He was consultant to magician David Blaine
David Blaine
David Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
for Blaine's week of water immersion in 2006, correctly predicting Blaine's profound weakness from deconditioning.
Personal
Graveline was born on March 2, 1931 in Newport, VermontNewport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
. He retired from family practice after twenty-three years and is now a writer of medical and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. His current hobbies include medical consulting in zero gravity deconditioning and galactic cosmic radiation and personal health maintenance.
Education
Graveline graduated from Newport High School in 1948. He received his Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
in June 1951 and his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
College of Medicine in June 1955. Following his internship at Walter Reed, he specialized in Aerospace Medicine, receiving his Masters in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in 1958.
Career
Graveline entered the United States Air ForceUnited States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Medical Service after graduation from medical college. Following internship he attended the primary course in Aviation medicine
Aviation medicine
Aviation medicine, also called flight medicine or aerospace medicine, is a preventive or occupational medicine in which the patients/subjects are pilots, aircrews, or persons involved in spaceflight...
, Class 56C, at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
and was assigned to Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Air Force Base
Kelly Field Annex and is a former United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas. In 2001, the runway and land west of the runway became "Kelly Field Annex" and control of it was transferred to the adjacent Lackland Air Force Base, part of Joint Base San Antonio...
as Chief of the Aviation Medicine Service.
Graveline was granted the aeronautical rating of flight surgeon
Flight surgeon
A flight surgeon is a military medical officer assigned to duties in the clinical field variously known as aviation medicine, aerospace medicine, or flight medicine...
in February 1957. From September 1957 to June 1958, he attended Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
School of Hygiene and Public Health, where he received his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Public Health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
.
He then attended the Aerospace Medical residency at the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, completing his residency training in July 1960 at Brooks Air Force Base and receiving his specialty certification by the American Board in Preventative Medicine. At this time he was assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory as research scientist with special interest in prolonged weightlessness
Weightlessness
Weightlessness is the condition that exists for an object or person when they experience little or no acceleration except the acceleration that defines their inertial trajectory, or the trajectory of pure free-fall...
deconditioning
Deconditioning
Deconditioning is adaptation of an organism to less demanding environment, or, alternatively, the decrease of physiological adaptation to normal conditions...
and countermeasures. In July 1962, he returned to Brooks Air Force Base where he continued his research, served as intelligence analyst for Soviet bioastronautics
Bioastronautics
Bioastronautics is a specialty area of bioengineering research which encompasses numerous aspects of biological, behavioral, and medical concern governing humans and other living organisms in a space flight environment; and includes design of payloads, space habitats, and life support systems...
and was active as a NASA flight controller
Flight controller
Flight controllers are personnel who aid in the operations of a space flight, working in Mission Control Centers such as NASA's Mission Control Center, or ESA's Operations Center. Flight controllers sit at computer consoles and use telemetry to monitor in real time various technical aspects of a...
for the Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
and Gemini missions.
Graveline is the author of ten professional publications and reports on biological deconditioning and weightlessness countermeasures. His research has involved bed rest and water immersion to study deconditioning. While in the USAF he did the original research on both the extremity tourniquet
Tourniquet
An emergency tourniquet is a tightly tied band applied around a body part sometimes used in an attempt to stop severe traumatic bleeding. Tourniquets are also used during venipuncture and other medical procedures. Severe bleeding means the loss of more than 1,000 ml of blood. This flow of blood...
and the prototype lower body negative pressure device for use in prolonged zero gravity missions. NASA's operational lower body negative pressure device has seen used in the Soviet MIR, as well as on the shuttle and station research. His most recent space medicine research (2004) was in studying the effect of galactic "heavies" in the brains of mice, using iron ions and NASA's linear accelerator at Brookhaven, NY.
In June 1965, Graveline was selected with NASA's fourth group of scientist astronauts and assigned to Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
for jet pilot training. He resigned due to personal reasons prior to being assigned to a mission and returned to civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
life. Graveline practiced medicine as a family doctor in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
during which time he also served as a flight surgeon for the Vermont Army National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
. Since his retirement at age sixty, Graveline has become a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
of medical and science fiction thrillers with 15 novels to his credit and another in the works.
Following his experience with choloesterol drug side effects, Graveline has become a critic of the use of statins to treat high cholesterol levels. While on Lipitor, Graveline developed transient global amnesia
Transient global amnesia
Transient global amnesia is a syndrome in clinical neurology whose key defining characteristic is temporary but almost total disruption of short-term memory with a range of problems accessing older memories...
and could not recognize his family. He slowly recovered after stopping this medication. NASA physicians then prescribed half the dose, but the amnesia returned.
Books
Graveline has written three books in support of his statin drug research: Lipitor, Thief of Memory, Statin Drugs Side Effects and, his most recent, Statin Damage Crisis. Many of his criticisms are backed up by the known metabolic pathway that cholesterol forms a significant part of the brain and is needed for its proper functioning mediating the formation of new synapses.Although not responsible in his own right for new, peer reviewed research and trials he refers to extensive and well-known clinical trials and studies whose data show that statins have negligible impact on heart disease in primary patients (i.e., those who have not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease) yet increase their mortality overall from all causes. Like any other dissidents from the accepted wisdom of raised or excess cholesterol causing heart disease, he has no associations with pharmaceutical companies, receives no grants or funding from them or other state bodies.
He is not alone in questioning the wisdom of mass treatment with statins and has corresponded/collaborated with a Scottish doctor, Malcolm Kendrick who in his book "The Cholesterol Con" quotes extensive data from many well-known trials and World Health Organisation (WHO) data to show that statins do not increase life expectancy overall, do not prevent heart disease in patients without cardiovascular symptoms. He goes on to show that widely varying levels of cholesterol in fact are inversely correlated with deaths from heart disease BUT correlated with cancer mortality (i.e., within a reasonable range, higher total cholesterol is associated with lower cancer mortality).
Graveline was a contributor to the book "NASA's Scientist-Astronauts" by David Shayler and Colin Burgess
Colin Burgess (author)
Colin Burgess is an Australian author and historian, specializing in space flight and military history. He is a former customer service manager for Qantas Airways, and a regular contributor to the collectSPACE online community. He lives in New South Wales...
.
External links
- Duane Graveline's web site
- NASA biographical data on Graveline
- Spacefacts biography of Duane Graveline
This article incorporates text from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/graveline-de.html, which is a webpage by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. NASA policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted."