Gerald Reaven
Encyclopedia
Gerald M. "Jerry" Reaven is an American
endocrinologist
and professor emeritus in medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine
in Stanford, California
, United States
.
Reaven's work on insulin resistance and diabetes
with John W. Farquhar goes back at least to 1968.
A long-term researcher into diabetes
, he achieved significant notability with his 1988 Banting Lecture (organized annually by the American Diabetes Association
in memory of Frederick Banting
). In his lecture, he propounded the theory that central obesity
(male-type or apple-shaped obesity), diabetes and hypertension
(high blood pressure) have a common cause in insulin resistance
and impaired glucose tolerance
. Initially titled "syndrome X", the constellation of symptoms is now known as the metabolic syndrome
and an object of extensive scientific inquiry, especially given that the combination strongly predisposes for cardiovascular disease
. Still, Reaven believes that contemporary criteria are arbitrary and that it may not be necessary to define it as a diagnostic entity more than a pathophysiological parameter.
He obtained his academic qualifications at the University of Chicago
and did his internship there. After research work in Stanford and two years in the U.S. Army medical corps
he completed his residency at the University of Michigan
. He then took up a US Public Health Service research post at Stanford, where he progressed to a full professorship in 1970. He led endocrinology and gerontology
research.
Apart from his work at Stanford he is also Senior Vice President for Research for Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in South San Francisco.
He is a member of several research organizations and has received numerous prizes for his research achievements. He is co-author of a popular book on Syndrome X and its repercussions on cardiovascular disease.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
endocrinologist
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
and professor emeritus in medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
in Stanford, California
Stanford, California
Stanford is a census-designated place in Santa Clara County, California, United States and is the home of Stanford University. The population was 13,809 at the 2010 census....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Reaven's work on insulin resistance and diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
with John W. Farquhar goes back at least to 1968.
A long-term researcher into diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
, he achieved significant notability with his 1988 Banting Lecture (organized annually by the American Diabetes Association
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is a United States-based association working to fight the consequences of diabetes, and to help those affected by diabetes...
in memory of Frederick Banting
Frederick Banting
Sir Frederick Grant Banting, KBE, MC, FRS, FRSC was a Canadian medical scientist, doctor and Nobel laureate noted as one of the main discoverers of insulin....
). In his lecture, he propounded the theory that central obesity
Central obesity
Abdominal obesity, colloquially known as belly fat or clinically as central obesity, is the accumulation of abdominal fat resulting in an increase in waist size...
(male-type or apple-shaped obesity), diabetes and hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
(high blood pressure) have a common cause in insulin resistance
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance is a physiological condition where the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars. The resulting increase in blood glucose may raise levels outside the normal range and cause adverse health effects, depending on dietary conditions. Certain cell types...
and impaired glucose tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance
Impaired glucose tolerance is a pre-diabetic state of dysglycemia that is associated with insulin resistance and increased risk of cardiovascular pathology. IGT may precede type 2 diabetes mellitus by many years...
. Initially titled "syndrome X", the constellation of symptoms is now known as the metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders that, when occurring together, increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It affects one in five people in the United States and prevalence increases with age...
and an object of extensive scientific inquiry, especially given that the combination strongly predisposes for cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
. Still, Reaven believes that contemporary criteria are arbitrary and that it may not be necessary to define it as a diagnostic entity more than a pathophysiological parameter.
He obtained his academic qualifications at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and did his internship there. After research work in Stanford and two years in the U.S. Army medical corps
Army Medical Department (United States)
The Army Medical Department of the U.S. Army – known as the AMEDD – comprises the Army's six medical Special Branches of officers and medical enlisted soldiers. It was established as the "Army Hospital" in July 1775 to coordinate the medical care required by the Continental Army during the...
he completed his residency at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He then took up a US Public Health Service research post at Stanford, where he progressed to a full professorship in 1970. He led endocrinology and gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
research.
Apart from his work at Stanford he is also Senior Vice President for Research for Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in South San Francisco.
He is a member of several research organizations and has received numerous prizes for his research achievements. He is co-author of a popular book on Syndrome X and its repercussions on cardiovascular disease.
External links
- Interview - Canadian Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation