May 6, 2005

In memoriam: John D. Crawford, MD

John D. Crawford, MD, of MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHC),
died April 19 three days after suffering a stroke. He was 85.

For more than 60 years, Crawford cared for young patients at the MGH, serving in several key positions such as chief of the MGH Endocrine Unit's Children's Service from 1962 to 1991. He made many important contributions to the medical field in such areas as growth disorders, intersex disorders, energy metabolism and — most notably — the prevention and treatment of severe burns.

Crawford studied biology and literature at Harvard College in 1938 and went on to study at Harvard Medical School. After completing his residency in Pediatrics at the MGH, he joined the Army in 1946 and served as a captain.

Crawford (right) was integral in establishing the close relationship between Shriner's Burns Institute and the MGH, serving as the first chief of Pediatrics at Shriner's and practicing there from 1968 to 1986. His public education efforts to prevent burns in children led to legislation governing the flammability of children's pajamas and promoted more awareness of the common causes of pediatric burns.

He published more than 230 medical papers and several books and was working on a history of pediatrics in Boston at the time of his death.

"Dr. Crawford was the quintessential pediatrician and scientist," says Alan Ezekowitz, MBChB, DPhil, chief of Pediatrics for MGHC. "His incredible intellect, warm sense of humor and great humanity inspired respect, admiration and adoration among colleagues, families and especially the children who were his patients."