Robert D. Corwin, MD, 80, of Meshanticut Valley Parkway, a pediatric cardiologist and the first chief of pediatric cardiology at Rhode Island Hospital from 1977 to 1985, died October 16 at Cedar Crest Rehabilitation Center.
He was the beloved husband of Carol (Anisewski) Corwin for 29 years. Born in New York City, he was the son of Ernest and Sydel Cohen. He lived in Providence before moving to Cranston.
Dr. Corwin was a graduate of Hofstra University. He received his medical degree from Albany Medical College, Union University. He completed a rotating internship at the Albany Medical Center Hospital and a two-year fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Boston Floating Hospital, New England Medical Center Tufts University School of Medicine.
He was licensed in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was on the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatric Cardiology.
His appointments include the following: Consultant, Pediatric Cardiology, Division of Child Health, RI Dept. of Health; Fellow, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, American Academy of Pediatrics; Chairman, RI Heart Association Heart Health in the Young; Member National Nutrition Committee, American Heart Association; and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Cardiology Section, Preventive Cardiology Committee; Education and Scientific Board Member (CME) RI Medical Society; Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Cardiology; Executive Board of the RI Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Nominating Committee and the Executive Committee.
His academic appointments included Instructor in Pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, and at Buffalo University School of Medicine. Most recently he was Clinical Instructor in Medicine, Division of Biological & Medical Science at Brown University School of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University.
He practiced in Pediatric Cardiology in Providence from 1964 to 2005 and was an active staff member at RI Hospital and other RI and southeastern Massachusetts hospitals. He worked part time in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology from 2005-2007 with an interest in adult congenital heart disease and familial lipid disorders until his retirement.
Dr. Corwin has written on the topics of unusual congenital heart anomalies, such as intra-pericardial teratoma; double outlet right atrium and interruption of the aortic arch with balloon dilation of a closing patent ductus arteriosus.
He enjoyed classical music, reading, writing letters to the Editor and foreign travel. He was an active alumni of the Albany Medical College.
He is also survived by his children, Pamela Greiner of Tampa, Florida; Faith Tobias and grandchildren, Kaden and Mason Tobias of San Francisco, CA; Chaim Cohen and grandchildren Yonah and Shira Cohen of Jerusalem, Israel; Julie Corwin of Arlington, MA; step-daughter, Shelley P. Flaherty and step grandchildren Rose and Hope Flaherty all of Warwick, RI; stepson, Edwin G. Avery, IV, MD and step grandchildren, Sophia Avery and Edwin G. Avery, V all of Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 12 noon in Temple Beth El, 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence. FLOWERS OMITTED. Donations in his memory may be made to Albany Medical College, 43 New Scotland Avenue, MC 119, Albany, NY 12208