Dr. Barry B. Bercu

Barry B. Bercu, M.D. died on Friday, November 24, 2023. Dr. Bercu, a pediatric endocrinologist long associated with the University of South Florida, was internationally recognized as a visionary pioneer for his breakthrough research and discoveries related to human growth hormone and the causes of, and treatments for, certain epidemic and pandemic-prone endocrine and viral diseases. He improved the lives of thousands of children and families, including the thousands of patients for whom he provided medical care.

Born in Montreal, he spent his early years in the ice rink, even winning the MVP trophy in his youth league as a left defenseman and a league-leading scorer. Although he remained a lifelong sports fan – and a diehard fan of the teams in his adopted hometown of Tampa, where he and his wife raised their two sons and lived for almost 40 years – he soon began his lifelong pursuit of science and improving lives through medicine after moving to the United States. He graduated with honors at 19 from the University of Maryland before attending its medical school. Residency and training would take him to Boston, followed by fellowships in pediatric endocrinology and metabolism at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and at Tufts University Medical School, New England Medical Center.

After his fellowships, Dr. Bercu led the National Institutes of Health Pediatric Endocrine Research Laboratory Unit and created and directed the Institutes’ Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship training program. A professorship at the University of South Florida medical school brought Dr. Bercu to Tampa, where he also served as the chair of the Biomedical Institutional Review Board for twelve years and was one of the founders of the National Academy of Inventors, for which he was inducted as a Fellow this past summer. Dr. Bercu also was recognized by prestigious organizations in his field, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Pediatric Society, and the Society for Pediatric Research. Dr. Bercu ultimately retired from the University of South Florida as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Bercu’s academic medical career was defined by his commitment to improving children’s lives through science and innovation. He held seven patents (five U.S., two foreign), published nearly 200 articles and book chapters, edited seven books, and served as guest editor for several journal publications, editorial board member of eight peer-reviewed scientific journals, and reviewer for 35 journals. He was part of the landmark group of academic pediatric endocrinologists who created the original clinical biosynthetic human growth hormone protocol for the first biosynthetic recombinant DNA products. He also was first to demonstrate that chemical substances outside the hypothalamus can potentially regulate pituitary melanocytestimulating hormone — a breakthrough discovery in neuroendocrinology. In addition, Dr. Bercu was recognized for identifying what has become known in the scientific literature as the “Bercu patient” — a discovery providing unprecedented insights into an unusual inherited thyroid disorder. Lastly, he also was first to clinically describe (and coin the term) Growth Hormone Neurosecretory Dysfunction.

His expertise led him to longstanding service as an expert consultant for the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services and a member of the Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration.

Beyond his dedication to medical science, Dr. Bercu was dedicated to medical care. He was always available day and night to his patients, many of whom he treated from the time they were children to adulthood. When a patient’s medical concern – or that of the many friends and family he quietly helped when they came to him – fell outside of his expertise, he found expert colleagues around the country and world that could provide them the top level of care, and followed their case to make sure they received it. When serving as a U.S. Air Force pediatrician stationed in Taiwan after his training in Boston, Dr. Bercu would use his free time to travel with the Maryknoll Missionary nuns in an open jeep up into Miaoli Mountains near Chanuga to provide medical care to impoverished villagers, treating illnesses ranging from the common cold to leprosy.

Above all, his greatest dedication was to his family and friends. Dr. Bercu recently moved back to the Washington, D.C. area, the location where he had met the love of his life nearly 44 years before and the current home of his younger son and family, with plans to also have a place in Atlanta, where his other son and family reside. Dr. Bercu is survived by his beloved wife, Sandy Bercu, his cherished sons and daughters-in-law, Zachary Bercu and Sivan Ben-Moshe of Atlanta and Joshua and Lisa Bercu of Washington, D.C., and his five adoring grandchildren to whom he was affectionately known as Papa, Pops, and Papa Doc. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Sally Bercu of Houston, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Glenda Minkin of Atlanta.

Plans are underway to create a legacy scholarship in research, innovation and invention in memory of Dr. Bercu. Donations can be sent to the National Academy of Inventors, in Memory of Dr. Barry Bercu, at 3702 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 165, Tampa, Florida 33612.