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Frederick P. Zuspan, M.D.
January 20, 1922–June 7, 2009 
Frederick P. Zuspan, M.D., an internationally renowned leader in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, died peacefully Sunday, June 7, 2009, at the age of 87 in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Dr. Zuspan, known affectionately as “Dr. Z” or just “Z,” devoted his life to research, education and leadership in maternal-fetal medicine.
In 1963 he was the first to describe the use of intravenous magnesium sulfate for the treatment of preeclampsia/eclampsia, once a leading cause of death for pregnant women. This method of treatment, now internationally adopted, remains the standard for treating this condition over 45 years later.
Born January 20, 1922, Dr. Z was raised in Richwood, Ohio, where he graduated from high school. His studies at Ohio State University (OSU) were interrupted by World War II, in which he served as a Marine fighter pilot in the Pacific theater (V.M.F. 314 flying F4U Corsairs) and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1943 Lt. Zuspan married Mary Jane Cox.
After the war Dr. Z resumed studies at OSU, receiving his B.A. (1947) and M.D. (1951). His OB/ GYN residency was under Dr. Alan Barnes at Ohio State and Case Western Reserve. Dr. Zuspan spent 2 years as Department Chief at McDowell Memorial Hospital in McDowell, Kentucky, before returning to Case Western University for the Oglebay fellowship in Reproductive Biology.
He began his career in academic medicine at age 38 as OB/GYN Department Chair at the Medical College of Georgia (1960–1966). He then became Chairman at the University of Chicago (1966–1975) and the Ohio State University College of Medicine (1975–1987). He became a Professor Emeritus at OSU in 1991, and a named professorship, the Frederick P. Zuspan Chair, was established in his honor in 2001.
Dr. Zuspan's passion for teaching led him to train countless fellows, residents and medical students in the United States and to serve as a medical missionary in Africa and Malaysia. He served as editor of numerous medical journals and was a founding editor of The Journal of Reproductive Medicine, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypertension in Pregnancy and served for 40 years as an editor of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He authored/edited over 240 original scientific articles, 54 book chapters and 40 textbooks, and led in the establishment of Perinatal Resources, an organization committed to the continuing medical education of practicing physicians.
Dr. Zuspan was a member of more than 30 national or international medical societies. Of note, he served as a Director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is where he and best friend Dr. Ted Quilligan developed the Board's Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Z was president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society and one of the founders and president of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. He was also a founder and later president of the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. He was appointed to several national committees and served as consultant to the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, chairman of the Research Study Sections on Maternal and Child Health, Education and Welfare and ad hoc committee member for the National Academy of Sciences. In 1987 Governor Celeste of Ohio issued a proclamation honoring Dr. Zuspan for his service.
Following retirement from clinical practice in 1991, Dr. Zuspan continued to promote education, research and excellence in obstetrics and gynecology. He remained active as an author, an editor of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, served as a board member of Matria Healthcare Inc. and was active in many medical societies. He also found time to pursue his lifelong interest in golf, fishing and photography. Dr. Zuspan, a descendent of George Washington (his 6th great uncle), for many years attended the Washington family reunions in Virginia.
The greatest joy of Fred's life was always his family, particularly his wife of 65 years, Jane, and their 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a fund that Dr. Zuspan created to support perinatal research and education for high-risk pregnancies at OSU: Perinatal Development & Research Fund 307744 at the Ohio State University Medical Center, 660 Ackerman Road, PO Box 183112, Columbus, OH 43218-3112, or to the March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, Attn: DRFR. (www.marchofdimes.com).
Keywords: eclampsia, Frederick P. Zuspan, magnesium sulfate, perinatal care, pre-eclampsia (J Reprod Med 2009;54:337–338).
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