July 2006 | Vol. 24, No. 7

Obituary

Michael Rush and his wife Karen Eberman

SVU Fellow Michael Rush, 57, passed away on Sunday, June 25, 2006, at the home he shared with his wife, Karen, in Jenkintown, PA. Mike died after a year long battle with cancer. He is the beloved husband of Karen Eberman; the loving father of Stefanie (Joe) Schwaiger; devoted son of Roy and Pat Rush; dear brother of Lisa Prim, Steve Rush and Christy Rush; step-father of Adrian Beentjes; cherished grandfather of Gavin and Kaleigh Schwaiger and Cassidy Beentjes. He was also a beloved mentor and friend to many in the vascular technology profession and will be deeply missed.

Michael is believed to be the first SVU Fellow to pass away. He was inducted as a SVU Fellow at the 2004 SVU Annual Conference in Anaheim, CA.

Michael Patrick Rush was born in Dallas, TX, in 1949. After graduation from Eastfield College, Michael transferred to the Scripps Institute in La Jolla, CA. At the beginning of his tenure Michael worked as an EEG technologist. When the field of vascular ultrasound was in its infancy, Michael trained to perform imaging studies in this new “up and coming field”. When the Vascular Lab started up at Scripps Clinic, Michael became the lab manager and was in that position for twenty years. With Dr. Shirley Otis as his mentor, they went on to develop an outstanding vascular laboratory in the field of research and clinical ultrasound. Michael’s final research was in the field of Transcranial Doppler and has been recognized as an expert in TCD testing. Michael’s greatest achievement was through his teaching abilities. He had an uncanny knack for making the most difficult clinical or technical skill available to anyone who wanted to learn.

Michael was very active in the Society for Vascular Ultrasound (SVU) from its inception in 1977. Michael’s SVU committee activity included the Education Committee, and he served for several years as the Chair of the Abstracts Committee. Michael was also a member of the American Heart Association Stroke Council and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Michael's Funeral Services were private. Contributions in his memory preferred to the American Cancer Society, 1626 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. SVU has made a contribution in Michael's memory to the American Cancer Society.