Bernard Lown

Bernard Lown (1921–2021) was a U.S. cardiologist of Lithuanian origin. His family emigrated to the United States in 1935. He was a professor of cardiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and founded the Lown Cardiovascular Center. In the 1960s, he developed direct-current defibrillation and electrocardioversion for atrial fibrillation; he also identified the effectiveness of lidocaine in cardiac treatment. In 1985, he and Soviet cardiologist Yevgeny Chazov received the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and for their engagement against the nuclear arms race.