With sadness, we announce the passing of Michael Stanley Gordon, MD unexpectedly on July 7th at the age of 80. Dr. Gordon developed Harvey, the cardiopulmonary patient simulator which realistically simulates nearly any cardiac disease at the touch of a button by varying blood pressure, pulses, heart sounds, murmurs and breath sounds. Harvey is in use at nearly 700 medical centers around the world. Dr. Gordon attended the University of Illinois as an undergraduate and a medical student while at the same time, also earning a master’s degree in biochemistry.
Dr. Gordon established the Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory as well as a Multimedia Computer Curriculum in Cardiology known as UMedic. The oratory eventually became a University of Miami Center for Excellence and 10 years ago was renamed the Michael S. Gordon Center for Research in Medication.
He was honored in 2015 by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare as recipient of the Simulation Pioneer Award and was presented with the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois in 2012. With a career full of tributes, Dr. Gordon would be the first to say what moved him most was thinking about the many lives saved. He and his wife Lynda have been generous benefactors of several academic and charitable organizations, including the University of Illinois.
Dr. Gordon will be missed but his legacy will live on in those who have and will benefit from his contributions.
