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Sport: Research Specialist of Infectious Diseases Residences: Injury: Surgery: |
For most of his adult life, Dr. Sanford Kuvin, or
“Sandy” as friends and family call him, has fervently studied, researched, practiced and lectured on infectious and tropical diseases—a focus he is passionate about and one that upholds his most sincere devotion.
From insect spreading diseases such as Leishmaniasis and malaria, to AIDS—a fatal and incurable disease that is transmitted by blood, sex, needles and birth and destroys the immune system—Dr. Kuvin has traveled the globe to explore treatment, prevention and cures for these devastating infectious and tropical illnesses. The countless hours spent in medical labs and the innumerable amount of personal energy that Dr. Kuvin has dedicated towards these cures has made him world-renowned. Google him and you will learn what a devoted individual he is and what he has to offer mankind.
“Sandy” as friends and family call him, has fervently studied, researched, practiced and lectured on infectious and tropical diseases—a focus he is passionate about and one that upholds his most sincere devotion.
From insect spreading diseases such as Leishmaniasis and malaria, to AIDS—a fatal and incurable disease that is transmitted by blood, sex, needles and birth and destroys the immune system—Dr. Kuvin has traveled the globe to explore treatment, prevention and cures for these devastating infectious and tropical illnesses. The countless hours spent in medical labs and the innumerable amount of personal energy that Dr. Kuvin has dedicated towards these cures has made him world-renowned. Google him and you will learn what a devoted individual he is and what he has to offer mankind.
Arriving in Vail in 2010, just shy of his 81st birthday, Dr. Kuvin had a new mission—he was there to visit Dr. Peter Millett for an explanation and treatment course of action for the constant and unrelenting pain that had been occurring in both of his shoulders for more than three years. A pain caused by osteoarthritis, a condition that is the direct result from normal aging and degenerative changes within the body.
One might certainly ask, what do a celebrated infectious disease specialist and an orthopedic shoulder surgeon have in common? According to Dr. Kuvin, “We have equal passion for different specialties. For various reasons, we bonded immediately.”
To understand the bond between these two physicians, it helps to understand a little history about the patient in question. Dr. Kuvin received his medical degree at the prestigious Cambridge University in Great Britain and continued his studies at some of the most elite colleges in the modern world. He has traveled to every continent to learn about specific diseases and how they are transmitted, diagnosed and treated. He was the discoverer of the very first immunological test for malaria and was sent around the globe by the National Institutes of Health to teach this test to physicians, researchers and specialists worldwide.
In 1964, Dr. Kuvin went into the private practice of medicine in Palm Beach, FL where he continued as an internal medicine and infectious disease specialist. But it was later that year when he made his first trip to Jerusalem that he began to see the vision that would shape the course for infectious and tropical disease research…and his own life. In the early 1970’s, his vision was fulfilled when he founded and established the international Sanford Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hadassah Hospital—Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem—a leading global organization for infectious and tropical disease research.
Although Dr. Kuvin retired from private practice in the early 1990’s, his days since have not slowed. He currently is International Chairman of the Kuvin center, which includes fundraising and seeking out financial support from governments and individuals in order to keep the Center productive and the Israeli scientists that run it doing the research they love. The Bill Gates Foundation recently awarded the Kuvin Center five million dollars for research in Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia, and similarly the U.S. Agency for International Development over the years has awarded multimillion dollar grants and contracts to the Kuvin Center for research in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In 1990, Dr. Kuvin was chosen as medical counsel to represent Ms. Kimberly Bergalis—the very first known patient who was infected with AIDS from an invasive medical professional (in her case, her dentist). This case was televised, publicized and criticized globally and eventually led, under the leadership of Kuvin, to monumental changes in the dental industry that impacted the way dentists perform their jobs by mandating gloves and masks and ultimately became what is now commonly known as “Universal Precautions.” To date, Dr. Kuvin still fights for change in the medical industry working to mandate HIV testing for all medical professionals who work in an invasive surgery environment—and for that matter—for everyone so that the spread of AIDS can be controlled.
Choosing a Surgeon of His Own
So, the question: How does a man with such an extensive and exceptional medical background—one with driven purpose and endowed passion—choose a surgeon of his own? Well, research of course.
“When I knew I had to take a more drastic step to cure the pain in both of my shoulders, I turned to Dr. Millett because I wanted someone with experience and my research led me straight to him. When I met him for the first time, I trusted his judgment when he told me I needed total shoulder replacement surgery. Although I was not mentally ready to hear this, my mind was quickly changed after speaking with a couple of his patients who had gone through the surgery themselves. In addition, knowing that Dr. Millett had performed more than 500 of these surgeries, more than most doctors who practice shoulder replacements in the US and abroad, I knew I was going to move forward and that he would be the one to do it. I scheduled surgery that same day and was wheeled into the operating room just 48 hours later.”
In January of 2010, Dr. Millett performed total shoulder replacement surgery on Dr. Kuvin’s left shoulder. In March, he did the same to the right side. With each total shoulder replacement surgery, weeks of intense rehab followed and continuous exercises and strengthening maneuvers ensued daily. Within a few short weeks after surgery, Dr. Kuvin, also an accomplished musician, found himself pain-free and very grateful.
“I came from a point of not being able to put on a belt, button my shirt, play my instruments or partake in the activities I love so much—like snow skiing, playing my flute and clarinet, and riding my jet-skis. I now have complete range of motion and am living pain-free.”
Dr. Kuvin went on to say, “I am not an athlete. I am just your basic road warrior and at the age of 80, I wasn’t ready to slow down. In addition to my research center and the trips I take to Jerusalem each year, travel and music are huge parts of my life and the shoulder pain I was experiencing prohibited me from living my life to its absolute fullest. To wake up each day, pain free and feeling as good as I do is nothing short of a miracle.”
“As a physician myself, I’m keenly aware of what my doctors are interested in—what I feel as a patient—I need that to be reciprocated by my physician. I do analyze and evaluate everything very carefully because I came from the same medical background. Dr. Millett is simply brilliant. He is a “compleat” physician. Since my surgeries, I have asked other doctors to look at my shoulders to see if they can determine which shoulder was operated on. They cannot determine what shoulder was operated on, when in fact both were operated on! You have to do a great number of surgeries to get this good.”
Dr. Kuvin recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to his devoted wife, Gabrielle. Together, they have 4 grown children and 10 grandchildren. With an astounding career and marriage that has spanned decades, Dr. Kuvin’s life has most certainly exceeded pinnacles of completeness. He ends by saying that life is what you make of it. Age is only a number. If there is something slowing you down, do your research and have it corrected. “You only get one shot at this thing called life. Thankfully, Dr. Millett was able to put mine back where I wanted it.”
To understand the bond between these two physicians, it helps to understand a little history about the patient in question. Dr. Kuvin received his medical degree at the prestigious Cambridge University in Great Britain and continued his studies at some of the most elite colleges in the modern world. He has traveled to every continent to learn about specific diseases and how they are transmitted, diagnosed and treated. He was the discoverer of the very first immunological test for malaria and was sent around the globe by the National Institutes of Health to teach this test to physicians, researchers and specialists worldwide.
In 1964, Dr. Kuvin went into the private practice of medicine in Palm Beach, FL where he continued as an internal medicine and infectious disease specialist. But it was later that year when he made his first trip to Jerusalem that he began to see the vision that would shape the course for infectious and tropical disease research…and his own life. In the early 1970’s, his vision was fulfilled when he founded and established the international Sanford Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases at the Hadassah Hospital—Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem—a leading global organization for infectious and tropical disease research.
Although Dr. Kuvin retired from private practice in the early 1990’s, his days since have not slowed. He currently is International Chairman of the Kuvin center, which includes fundraising and seeking out financial support from governments and individuals in order to keep the Center productive and the Israeli scientists that run it doing the research they love. The Bill Gates Foundation recently awarded the Kuvin Center five million dollars for research in Leishmaniasis in Ethiopia, and similarly the U.S. Agency for International Development over the years has awarded multimillion dollar grants and contracts to the Kuvin Center for research in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
In 1990, Dr. Kuvin was chosen as medical counsel to represent Ms. Kimberly Bergalis—the very first known patient who was infected with AIDS from an invasive medical professional (in her case, her dentist). This case was televised, publicized and criticized globally and eventually led, under the leadership of Kuvin, to monumental changes in the dental industry that impacted the way dentists perform their jobs by mandating gloves and masks and ultimately became what is now commonly known as “Universal Precautions.” To date, Dr. Kuvin still fights for change in the medical industry working to mandate HIV testing for all medical professionals who work in an invasive surgery environment—and for that matter—for everyone so that the spread of AIDS can be controlled.Choosing a Surgeon of His Own
So, the question: How does a man with such an extensive and exceptional medical background—one with driven purpose and endowed passion—choose a surgeon of his own? Well, research of course.
“When I knew I had to take a more drastic step to cure the pain in both of my shoulders, I turned to Dr. Millett because I wanted someone with experience and my research led me straight to him. When I met him for the first time, I trusted his judgment when he told me I needed total shoulder replacement surgery. Although I was not mentally ready to hear this, my mind was quickly changed after speaking with a couple of his patients who had gone through the surgery themselves. In addition, knowing that Dr. Millett had performed more than 500 of these surgeries, more than most doctors who practice shoulder replacements in the US and abroad, I knew I was going to move forward and that he would be the one to do it. I scheduled surgery that same day and was wheeled into the operating room just 48 hours later.”
In January of 2010, Dr. Millett performed total shoulder replacement surgery on Dr. Kuvin’s left shoulder. In March, he did the same to the right side. With each total shoulder replacement surgery, weeks of intense rehab followed and continuous exercises and strengthening maneuvers ensued daily. Within a few short weeks after surgery, Dr. Kuvin, also an accomplished musician, found himself pain-free and very grateful.
“I came from a point of not being able to put on a belt, button my shirt, play my instruments or partake in the activities I love so much—like snow skiing, playing my flute and clarinet, and riding my jet-skis. I now have complete range of motion and am living pain-free.”
Dr. Kuvin went on to say, “I am not an athlete. I am just your basic road warrior and at the age of 80, I wasn’t ready to slow down. In addition to my research center and the trips I take to Jerusalem each year, travel and music are huge parts of my life and the shoulder pain I was experiencing prohibited me from living my life to its absolute fullest. To wake up each day, pain free and feeling as good as I do is nothing short of a miracle.”
“As a physician myself, I’m keenly aware of what my doctors are interested in—what I feel as a patient—I need that to be reciprocated by my physician. I do analyze and evaluate everything very carefully because I came from the same medical background. Dr. Millett is simply brilliant. He is a “compleat” physician. Since my surgeries, I have asked other doctors to look at my shoulders to see if they can determine which shoulder was operated on. They cannot determine what shoulder was operated on, when in fact both were operated on! You have to do a great number of surgeries to get this good.”
Dr. Kuvin recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to his devoted wife, Gabrielle. Together, they have 4 grown children and 10 grandchildren. With an astounding career and marriage that has spanned decades, Dr. Kuvin’s life has most certainly exceeded pinnacles of completeness. He ends by saying that life is what you make of it. Age is only a number. If there is something slowing you down, do your research and have it corrected. “You only get one shot at this thing called life. Thankfully, Dr. Millett was able to put mine back where I wanted it.”
For information on arthritis of the shoulder or for additional resources on other shoulder related injuries, please contact Dr. Peter Millett at his office in Vail, Colorado.
