Kurt Hirschhorn
Kurt Hirschhorn is an Austrian-born American pediatrician, medical geneticist, and cytogeneticist who identified the chromosomal defects that underlie Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.
In 1995, Hirschhorn was the recipient of the William Allan Award in human medical genetics. He is a fellow of the Hastings Center, an independent bioethics research institution. Along with his wife, Rochelle, he has a son, Joel Hirschhorn, who is also a human geneticist.Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, caused by a chromosomal abnormality, is characterized by typical craniofacial features in infancy consisting of "Greek warrior helmet appearance" of the nose, microcephaly, high forehead with prominent glabella, ocular hypertelorism, epicanthus, highly arched eyebrows, short philtrum, downturned mouth, micrognathia, and poorly formed ears with pits/tags.
All affected individuals have prenatal-onset growth deficiency followed by postnatal growth retardation and hypotonia with muscle underdevelopment. Developmental delay and mental retardation of variable degree is present in all.
Dr. Kurt Hirschhorn is currently Professor of Pediatrics, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Medicine Chairman Emeritus of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
