Ken Baughman, 63, has died as a result of a traffic accident on Monday in Orlando, FL. Baughman, the former head of the division of cardiology at Johns Hopkins, was the Director of the Advanced Heart Disease Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
The Boston Globe reports that Baughman was hit by a car at 6 AM while jogging at the intersection of Sand Lake Road and Universal Boulevard in Orlando.
Here are statements from Baughman’s family, the president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and from the AHA:
Baughman Family statement:
“We are heart-broken today by the loss of a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and physician. Ken dedicated his life to his family and patients. His rewards from a life of caring were tremendous and his loss unfathomable.”
Message from Dr. Gary Gottlieb
President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital
November 17, 2009
Our hearts are filled with a deep sadness today upon learning that our beloved colleague Dr. Kenneth Baughman was killed in an accident yesterday. He was attending the American Heart Association convention in Orlando, Florida, when, we are told, he went for a run and was struck by a car. Ken, our trusted friend, inspiring leader and compassionate clinician had a rich and rewarding life blessed by the love of his wife, Cheryl, their two sons, Matthew and Christopher and his entire family, including two daughters-in-law Michelle and Holly and four beautiful grandchildren.
Ken came to Boston in 2002, recruited from Johns Hopkins, to be the director of the advanced heart disease section of the Cardiovascular Division for Brigham and Women’s. His passion for his patients was woven into the fabric of our hospital. Ken represented the very best in medicine and he shared this gift while he helped to guide our community in creating the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. He cared so deeply for each and every person he touched. Not only was he an extraordinary clinician, but he was a respected and accomplished researcher and brilliant mentor to dozens of young men and women who benefited from his nurturance and wisdom.
We will remember Ken as an avid athlete, who practiced what he preached to all his heart patients. He was thoughtful listener whose soft smile would warm any conversation, as he always took time on the Pike to pause and chat with a colleague, offer direction to a visitor or comfort someone in need.
May our thoughts and prayers be with his family, his friends and his colleagues today as we pause to remember his life, one that embodied a selfless devotion to his patients and the mission of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. As you can imagine, arrangements are still incomplete; we will share that information when it is available.
We will miss him very much.
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American Heart Association Statement on the passing of Kenneth Baughman, M.D.
The American Heart Association extends its condolences to the family and colleagues of Kenneth Baughman, M.D., age 63, Director of the Advanced Heart Disease Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who died as a result of a traffic accident on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 in Orlando, Fla.
Baughman was attending the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2009.
For many years, Baughman served as director of the cardiology division at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore.
“The untimely death of Ken Baughman saddens the cardiovascular community and leaves us with a profound sense of loss. His contributions to cardiology and heart failure were important. His legacy as a scholar, investigator, clinician and gentleman will remain,” said Clyde W. Yancy, M.D., president of the American Heart Association and medical director of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
“Ken was a role model for all of us as a superb clinician, educator and clinician-scientist. His sudden loss is truly tragic and we’ll miss him greatly,” said Robert O. Bonow, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association and chief of cardiology at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
“Ken was a physician’s physician, an exemplar of how you can lead and teach as a model to others,” said Myron L. Weisfeldt, M.D., Osler Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University Medical Center. “Thousands of patients knew him and benefited from his great expertise and his care. Generations of Osler house officers and Hopkins medical residents will mourn his passing. His friends and colleagues will miss him dearly.”
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He will be greatly missed. Thoughts go out to his friends and family.
It was an honor and a privilege to have worked with such an amazing physician. Dr.Baughman taught us all so much. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers for his family at this time of sorrow.
No one has been more influential in shaping my career than Ken Baughman. He was an inspiring doctor who guided me in many professional activities and he was a close friend who advised me on quite a number of things outside of work. We watched many a lacrosse game over the years with his wife Cheryl and sons Matt and Chris.
He was so happy when he moved to Boston. The Brigham and the NEJM truly appreciated his many talents. Ken was the consummate physician and contributed more to Hopkins Cardiology than anyone else has over the years.
Ken was my boss for 2 years while I was working on my masters degree in science education at Cambridge in Boston. I am devasted by this…I run daily and wore the shir that he and Cheryl bought me for Christmas everyday for the last few weeks. I can’t believe this man is gone. Even though we have not spoken in a few years, he was one reason I became a teacher. He menotored me in a lower level than the physicians, I was his secretary, and he showed me every single day that service is one of humilty and honesty. He didn’t have a boastful bone in his body nor a need to prove his intellengence. Ken was a man that loved his job and family; he loved his life while I was priveleged to be his secretary and my life is truly better for knowing him. I love you Ken and will miss you forever. I was the 2008 GA science teacher…thanks to you and your passion for learning.
xoxoxo
Last week was the worst week of my life.
I am not a member of the medical community, but a layman whose husband is alive because of Dr. Baughman and his colleagues at Brigham & Women’s.
We arrived in Dr. Baughman’s office last year from a city hundreds of miles away where some very fine, caring doctors had told us that my husband had an angiosarcoma of the right ventricle, likely inoperable. Dr. Baughman was tough and no-nonsense, but also funny and infinitely commpassionate.
One of the tests he ordered revealed that the tumor was actually a paraganglioma, difficult but possible to remove.. Three months later my husband walked out of B & W cured, and within weeks was back to normal life.
We will never forget Dr. Baughman, and in this season of thanks and light,, we will think of him., his family and colleagues, and will forever be grateful for having known him..
My deepest sympathy for Dr. Baughman’s family. He took care of my dad 3 months ago today and saved his life. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his service to mankind.
I grew up in Kansas City Missouri with Ken’s wife Cheryl “Cain” Baughman, who was my neighbor. I also knew Ken and was very happy when he ended up in Baltimore MD, My birth place.
Ken & Cheryl allowed me to stay with them in 1984 when I returned there on business.
Ken was a wonderful person and doctor who also will me missed by all who knew him here in Kansas City.
As a retired KCMO law Enforcement officer, I have seen many families go through the pain that Ken’s family and friends will go through for many years. That kind of pain never goes away.
To Cheryl, I love and miss you and am very very sorry about this loss.
Christopher Sager
Ret. Kansas City Missouri Police Department
JCCC/Johnson County Community College Police Dept.