IN REMEMBRANCE : Arnold Belker , MD February 27 , 1934 - August 26 , 2023
Arnold Belker , MD , a pillar of the Louisville medical community , passed away in August 2023 . He was born and raised in Louisville . Arnold did his undergraduate and medical school studies at the University of Louisville and his urologic residency at the University of Iowa hospitals . Arnold also spent two years in the U . S . Public Health Service and completed a nephrology fellowship before opening his solo private practice in urology in 1965 .
For over 50 years , Arnold dedicated his life to the health and benefit of his patients . Beside his private practice , he was affiliated with the UofL Department of Surgery and Division of Urology , becoming a clinical professor of Urology . He was a mentor to hundreds of students , residents and fellows . He had a unique ability to inspire and educate with kindness , patience and good humor . With the help of Dr . Robert Acland , who established the microsurgical teaching laboratory at the university , Arnold helped attract physicians from all over the world to learn microsurgical techniques .
He dedicated his life ’ s work to the betterment of his patients and particularly to male reproductive health . He was one of the first urologists in the U . S . to perform microsurgical procedures , and advanced the technique used in microsurgical vasectomy reversal , significantly enhancing success rates and positively impacting countless lives . His work was not only a testament to his skill and dedication , but also his deep compassion for those he served .
His contributions to medicine were profound and far-reaching , earning him numerous awards and accolades throughout his illustrious career . He was the author of over 90 professional articles and / or chapters . He was a member of three different American Urological Association guideline committees and a member of 17 regional , national and international surgical societies , being president of three of these . He was much in demand as a speaker and lectured on four different continents .
His leadership as president of the Greater Louisville Medical Society underscored his commitment to the medical community in his hometown and beyond . Under his guidance as president was the initiation of the society ’ s centralized application processing service ( CAPS ). Additionally , he served as president of the Jewish Hospital medical staff and was on the Board of Directors of Jewish Hospital Healthcare Services for over 20 years .
Family was the cornerstone of his life . He cherished every moment spent with his loved ones and instilled in them the values of hard work and compassion , and the importance of making a difference in the world . He leaves behind his wife of 65 years , Terry Marks Belker ; son Paul , his wife Paula and grandson Adam ; his daughter Jill and her two sons , Mark and Jason .
He leaves behind a void in the medical community and in the lives of those who knew him . His life was one that was well-lived , marked by professional excellence , mentorship and love of humanity . For me , personally , my 40 years of partnership and friendship with Arnold have been the highlights of my medical career .
-Stephan Sweitzer , MD
Dr . Belker was a GLMS member for 57 years .
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