In Memoriam: Jack Gluckman, MD

Myles Pensak, MD, emeritus professor who succeeded Gluckman as department chair from 2005 until last year, recalls Gluckman as a skilled and empathetic surgeon with a unique capacity to clearly articulate what would take place during and after surgery in a way that would educate, but not frighten or intimidate, patients or their families.

“He was a colleague revered for his integrity and humanistic approach to the care of his patients and their families and was a gracious, gentle and charismatic leader who rarely displayed anger or frustration, but was quick to lend support and encouragement,” Pensak says. “His ethical and moral compass was clearly defined and focused; comporting himself personally and professionally, with unimpeachable integrity.”

Gluckman inspired and mentored many future leaders in the field.

“Jack exemplified qualities admired by colleagues around the world,” Steward says. “At a local, regional, national and international level, his reputation has always been based on his unimpeachable integrity and high standard of ethics by which he comported himself. His service to the specialty and his patients will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues and patients alike.”

In 2008, when Gluckman received the Daniel Drake Medal, the highest honor awarded by the College of Medicine, he explained how his mother had completed the application forms for him to attend medical school and announced to him that he had been accepted.

“Actually, I was thrilled that she had assumed the onus of choosing a career for me as at that time my only thoughts were of girls and rugby—certainly no time for thoughts of the future,” he said.

Born and raised in the South African city of Port Elizabeth (its name changed to Gqeberha in 2021), Gluckman received his medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 1967. After completing his internship at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, he served as a medical officer in Port Elizabeth and then in England until 1971. Gluckman returned to South Africa for a residency in otolaryngology and was in private practice before coming to the University of Cincinnati in 1977 for his fellowship. He joined the faculty as an assistant professor in 1979 and achieved the rank of professor in 1985. He became an emeritus professor in 2008.

In addition to serving as chair of the department, Gluckman was associate dean of clinical affairs at the college and chief of staff at the UC Medical Center from 1987 until 1991.

Gluckman published 10 text books during his career and more than 290 scientific papers. He was editor of Current Opinions in Otolaryngology. He also was on the editorial boards of many scientific journals.

Gluckman was named a fellow of the College of Surgeons of South Africa in 1973 and an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 2000. He was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha in 1989. He received presidential citations from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS), the Triological Society and the American Broncho-Esophagologic Society. Gluckman also received the Distinguished Service Award from the AAO-HNS in 2000 and was named the Best Clinical Practitioner for the 2005 Healthcare Heroes awards by the Business Courier.

Gluckman served as president of the AAO-HNS and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO), vice president of the Triologic Society and was a member of the boards of the AAO-HNS, the AHNS, Triological Society and ABO. He was regional secretary to North America, Mexico and the Caribbean for the International Federation of Otolaryngologic Societies.

“I can honestly say I have loved every facet of medicine,” Gluckman said when receiving the Drake Medal. “Clinical practice, research, teaching, organized medicine, even administration on a good day, have been tremendously rewarding. Nothing, however, can beat taking care of patients. What a privilege to be able to be in a position to help someone in their time of need and just as important, be a resource for one’s own community.”

Gluckman is survived by his wife, Vickie; children, Nick, Kate, Simon, Jonathan, Samantha and Eddie; and 13 grandchildren

Funeral service and burial will be held privately at the family's request. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jack L. Gluckman Lectureship of Humanism and Ethics in Healthcare online at the UC Foundation or by mail at Gluckman Lectureship Fund, University of Cincinnati Foundation, PO Box 19970, Cincinnati, OH 45219.