John Ludden, M.D. was an extraordinary man. He was a physician, a business executive, and a teacher who radiated both intelligence and humility, despite holding three degrees from Harvard. He was generous with his insights, only requesting that the recipient in turn share theirs. He was a “pay it forward” guy.

John was immensely interested in how the health care system itself could be improved. He realized early that people and processes were both vital. Many of the best parts of ongoing health reform came out of ideas that John helped pioneer, first as Medical Director at Harvard Community Health Plan, then as Director of the MD/MBA program at Tufts Medical School. He was busy there and as a director at NCQA, the American College of Physician Executives, and elsewhere, but still found time to help an emerging eHealth start-up, (Body1).

John was not only a director of Body1, he was an active contributing creative force. He was intrigued by the Internet’s promise as a means to improve patient care. As just one example, John’s psychiatry experience and insights were the intellectual basis behind Body1’s online depression self-assessment tool. This tool was so robust when it first launched that we had to reduce some of the functionality, as we did not want to “practice medicine online”. But that was classic John Ludden–give what you needed, and then also give some extra.

John died last month but his legacy lives on. I am grateful to have known and worked with him. Everyone at Body1 is. We remember his keen intelligence, his unique grin when a particularly good insight hit him, and his kind sense of humor. In a world where gentlemen are often hard to find, Dr. John Ludden was a consummate gentleman and we are all better people because of him.

Chris Messina, CEO, Body1

Note: John’s family has chosen to support The Great Books Foundation in his memory.