Michael J. Halberstam

Michael J. "Mike" Halberstam (9 August 1932 – December 5 1980) was an American cardiologist and author.

Life and career
He graduated from Harvard in 1953 and from Boston University School of Medicine in 1957. In addition to medical papers in his field, Halberstam wrote on Medicare, litigation against physicians,, and television reviews of medical shows like Marcus Welby, M.D..

Death
On December 5, 1980, Halberstam was shot at his Washington, D.C. home by Bernard C. Welch, Jr., an escaped convict living in the area and Duluth, MN. Halberstam and his wife surprised Welch when they returned to their home while Welch was committing a burglary. In spite of being shot in the chest, Halberstam told his wife to get into their car, and drove towards Sibley Hospital. On the way to the hospital, Halberstam saw Welch crouched in some bushes. Halberstam shouted, "That's the guy!" and swerved to hit him. Welch was wounded, but not fatally injured. Halberstam crashed his car into a tree just outside the hospital, and was brought into the ER. His colleagues were unable to save him, and Halberstam died on the operating table approximately ninety minutes after he was shot. District of Columbia police arrested the wounded Welch. At Welch's trial, the prosecuting attorney pointed at him, and used Halberstam's words, "That's the guy!" Welch received life sentences for one count each of felony murder and second-degree armed burglary, to be served concurrently, four counts of burglary and four counts of grand larceny totalling 143 years.

In 1981 Halberstam was posthumously awarded the BUMC Distinguished Alumnus Award.

His brother was Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Halberstam.

Selected bibliography

 * The Wanting of Levine (1978)
 * A Coronary Event (1976)
 * The Pills in Your Life (1973)
 * Making the rounds with Sir William (1974)