Department of Medicine honors the passing of Neil Shulman, MD

With deep sadness, we share the news of the passing of Neil Shulman, MD, retired Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Emory’s School of Medicine. Dr. Shulman graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 1971; after completing training in medicine and nephrology, he began a career in the Department of Medicine. He conducted research and co-authored over 50 scientific papers in the field of cardiovascular disease and hypertension.  Known at Emory as a consummate and outspoken advocate for the underserved, patient rights, and global health, Dr. Shulman was also a comedian, humanitarian, and published author. He was perhaps best known as the associate producer of the 1991 film Doc Hollywood, starring Michael J. Fox, based on his book What? Dead…Again?  However, he also authored and co-authored over 30 novels, children’s books, and books on medical topics, as well as consumer medical primers for adults and children.

Dr. Shulman took an active role on behalf of healthcare consumers and patients with limited access to care. In 1986, together with Wilbur Dallas Hall, MD, and Elijah Sanders, MD, Dr. Shulman co-founded the International Society of Hypertension in Blacks (ISHIB), a group of healthcare professionals dedicated to closing the gap in health disparities related to cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Blacks and other ethnic minorities through professional and population-based programming. Regularly engaged with numerous charitable organizations, Dr. Shulman served as chairman of the board of Patch Adams’ Gesundheit! Institute and founded the International Medical Volunteerism Conference, later renamed the Global Health and Humanitarian Summit. Out of these summits, the Global Humanitarians Unite (GHU) was founded in 2017 to physically support humanitarian endeavors in the Atlanta area and virtually support initiatives around the United States and the world.

Dr. Shulman was also a comic performer who brought humor to medical literacy. For decades, he performed comedy, motivational presentations, and lectures in medical education across the United States and around the world. He often performed at fundraisers for free clinics and other charitable ventures and even for Emory’s Department of Medicine Holiday parties. Dr. Shulman was also known as the public television personality “Doc Neil the Banana Peel” through his live “What’s in a Doctor’s Bag?” show based on one of his children’s books.

Dr. Shulman will be remembered for his humor and patient care advocacy. To learn more about Dr. Shulman’s legacy, read the 2013 Emory Wheel article, A Look at Emory’s Quirky “Doc Hollywood” | The Emory Wheel.

Please join the Department of Medicine in sending our sincere condolences to Dr. Shulman’s wife and son, as well as his family, friends, and colleagues.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, November 9, at Arlington Memorial Park and may be viewed via Zoom link via Dressler’s funeral home – www.jewishfuneralcare.com. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to www.secondwind.org.