Newsletters

Healthy Child Spring/Summer 2004

Anthony Minnefor, M.D.; Physician and Friend

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Minnefor. Following is a tribute to his life and work.

Most people live in fear of the infectious diseases that plague our society, ravage and destroy the body and send panic through the community. Anthony Minnefor, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, devoted many years of his life to the study and treatment of these afflictions. His focus was those most helpless to fight infectious disease, children.

In the second part of his career, Dr. Minnefor spearheaded the growth and development of The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas. Under his guidance, the Department of Pediatrics has emerged as a leader, treating more pediatric patients than any other hospital in New Jersey.

Seeking Cures
Dr. Minnefor devoted his early career to understanding and fighting a disease that has continued to kill generations of people, AIDS. He, along with James Oleske, M.D., pioneered pediatric AIDS research in New Jersey beginning in the early 80s, a time when many AIDS patients suffered from a lack of compassionate care and understanding of the disease. Dr. Minnefor treated the first case of AIDS in New Jersey.

He also saw the first case of Lyme disease in the state and became the first physician to utilize anti-viral medicine for children. Dr. Minnefor was a noted lecturer on pediatric infectious diseases and was published throughout the United States and Europe. He was honored with the distinguished Alumnus Award from UMDNJ and in 2000 was given the Black Infant Mortality Reduction Award.

“He combined the best aspects of medicine and always kept the trust of the patients,” says Dr. Oleske, pediatric infectious disease specialist.

Leading the Department
Dr. Minnefor, who completed his pediatric residency at Yale-New Haven Medical Center and a pediatric infectious disease fellowship at Johns Hopkins, was named as Chair of The Department of Pediatrics at Saint Barnabas in 1992. Under his direction, a stateof-the-art Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PICU) was established, the number of pediatric specialists was greatly increased, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit became one of only 16 hospitals in America to treat more than 1000 infants each year.

“Dr. Minnefor was a doctor’s doctor, a true leader, and an incredible visionary,” says Susan Margolin, M.D., Chief of General Pediatrics and Acting Director of the Department. “What we are and what we hope to become originate directly from him. He was greatly admired and respected, but he was also beloved by all. Dr. Minnefor was a mentor and friend to so many.”

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