Bernard Louis Segal, md, facc

Bernard Louis Segal, MD, FACC

Cardiologist, of Villanova PA and Palm Beach FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 in Palm Beach, Florida after a brief illness, surrounded by his family, at age 91. He is survived by his beloved spouse, Idajane Fischman Segal, cherished daughter, Jody Segal Reinbold (Kirk), and precious grandchildren, Darby and Pierce.

Dr. Segal was born in Montreal, Canada during the great depression to Russian immigrants. He received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from McGill University in Montreal. He was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and graduated with honors in 1955.

Dr. Segal completed his internship at Jewish General Hospital in Montreal and completed his first year of residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. His second year of residency was completed at Beth Israel Hospital of Harvard University, under Paul Zoll, MD, who developed the pacemaker. Dr. Segal then completed a one-year Cardiology fellowship at Georgetown Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health under the tutelage of W. Proctor Harvey, MD and Eugene Braunwald, MD. While in Washington, Dr. Harvey introduced him to William Likoff, MD, who asked Dr. Segal to join him in practice but agreed to wait because Dr. Segal had already accepted a position at St. George's Hospital in London, England as a U.S. Public Health Fellow. At St. George's, he furthered his post doctoral training under two of the leading cardiologists of his day, Aubrey Leatham, MD and Paul Wood, MD.

Dr. Segal returned to Philadelphia where he spent 24 years with Dr. Likoff at Hahnemann University Hospital and was later appointed Chief of Cardiology. He went on to develop the successful Philadelphia Heart Institute at Presbyterian Medical Center. After Dr. Segal spent 10 years at Presbyterian, Allegheny University persuaded him to move his entire faculty to develop a new cardiovascular network and serve as their Senior Vice President.

In 1998, Dr. Segal and his faculty joined Thomas Jefferson University, where he served for ten years as Director of the Division of Cardiology. In 2010 through his Foundation, he endowed the Bernard L. Segal Chair in Clinical Cardiology at Jefferson.

He retired in 2016 after practicing medicine for over 60 years. He helped pioneer modern cardiology as a physician, investigator and educator. His 12 books and 375 scientific papers established him firmly in the vanguard of cardiology.

Dr. Segal has served on the editorial boards of several medical journals. He was a member of Philadelphia County Medical Society PAMED and Fellow and Emeritus member of the American College of Cardiology, where he served on many committees as well as their Board of Trustees. Dr. Segal is also past Fellow of the American Heart Association; the American College of Physicians; and the Laennec Society.

Dr. Segal has been recognized with many honors during his outstanding career, most recently the Strittmatter Award, presented by the Philadelphia County Medical Society in 2015.



Medicine was not just a career, but a sacred calling to Dr. Segal. When he wasn't practicing, he was researching the latest advancement and strategizing how to put it in practice and bring it to his current institution. A true visionary with an entrepreneurial spirit, his philanthropy brought many programs and innovations in Cardiology to the Philadelphia area.

It could be said that Philanthropy was his second calling; he had no true hobbies. Although he did learn to play golf in his later years and appreciated a good wine, they never compared to his passion for Medicine. He lived his life in service to others. His heartfelt empathy for patients and his medical acumen earned Dr. Segal a reputation as one of the finest cardiologists in the country, and one of the most beloved physicians among his patients and staff.

Funeral service and burial will be private, officiated by Rabbi Jon Cutler, Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County. Shiva will be observed on Tuesday, February 16, 7PM via Zoom.



In lieu of flowers and other tangible expressions of sympathy, the family asks that memorial donations be made to your charity of choice. Memorial tributes and messages of condolences may be sent to the family through Joseph Levine and Sons. www.levinefuneral.com