Died 13 August 2008 | ||
Robert Francis Maronde, MD, (January 13, 1920 - August 13, 2008) was a Professor at the University of Southern California Medical School. He had many notable accomplishments, including the creation of an artificial kidney, and the creation of the first computerized pharmacy system.
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Birth
The son of a physician father, Maronde was born in Monterey Park, California on Jan. 13, 1920.
Education
He graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1937, received his bachelor's degree from USC in 1941 and earned his medical degree from the USC School of Medicine in 1944. He was a ship's doctor while on active duty in the Naval Reserve in 1946-47.
Development of Artificial Kidney
In 1949, in collaboration with Dr. Helen Martin, Maronde implemented a hemodialysis program for acute renal failure at what is now Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. With their creation of an artificial kidney—it used a stainless-steel beer keg as a reservoir—they were at the forefront of medical innovation.
Computerized Prescription Drug System
And in the late 1960s, Maronde developed one of the first—if not the first—computerized prescription drug systems, which was launched in the outpatient pharmacy at County-USC. "Now, of course, all pharmacists use the computer, but in those days nobody did, at least in this area," said Dr. Peter Lee, one of Maronde's colleagues in developing the system. "Here's a doctor who got well enough acquainted with the computer in those days and really led the way."
Family
Dr. Maronde's father, Dr. J. A. Maronde, was a Monterey Park physician credited with delivering 5104 babies over the course of his career. Maronde Drive in Monterey Park was named in his honor.
Dr. Maronde is survived by his children, Robert, Donna Varnau, James, and Craig, and also survived by seven grandchildren, Chris, Daniel, Kian, and Ariana Maronde, Greg and Heather Varnau, and Dr. Rauz Shadman