David Glass Honored With Dedication of Art Work

In honor of David Glass, MD, former professor of pediatrics at UC and director of the division of rheumatology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a piece of artwork belonging to Glass was presented to the division for display during a special unveiling ceremony Wednesday, June 19.

Glass, who also served as associate director of the Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation, passed away in November 2012; he was the husband of Laura Wexler, MD, adjunct professor of internal medicine in the division of cardiovascular diseases.

He was a leading authority on the immunogenetics of pediatric rheumatic disease and devoted his career to studying and treating arthritic and musculoskeletal diseases of children, conducting pioneering research to better understand the genetics of juvenile arthritis.

The art—which measures about 4x5 feet—is a quilt depicting a teenage Native American girl with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and weaves in visuals of chromosomes to depict the importance of genetics in finding the keys to its treatment.

Wexler, who had the piece framed and dedicated it along with members of her family, says the meaning behind it speaks to her husband’s life work and has an interesting side story.

"David was invited to be a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma in 2002 by John Harley, MD, PhD, the current director of the rheumatology division at Children’s. The quilt, created by Native American artist Carisa Cooney, was commissioned by Dr. Harley and presented to David from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to commemorate his visit.

"At that time, Dr Glass had no idea Dr Harley would one day succeed him as division director at Children’s Hospital. It’s interesting how it all came full circle.”

Wexler says that the quilt hung in Glass’ lab for years and that she felt it would be at home in Children’s rheumatology division.

"The quilt truly pays tribute to David’s revolutionary research and how treatment for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis has progressed,” she says.