Thomas Moshang Jr., physician
Thomas Moshang Jr., 70, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and an internationally recognized expert on growth disorders, died of pancreatic cancer Sunday at home in Blue Bell.
Thomas Moshang Jr., 70, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and an internationally recognized expert on growth disorders, died of pancreatic cancer Sunday at home in Blue Bell.
In 1983, Dr. Moshang was founding director of the Diagnostic and Research Growth Center at Children's Hospital. From 1995 to 2000 he was chief of the hospital's endocrinology division, and for more than 20 years he was a professor of pediatrics at the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania.
He had a knack for reassuring young patients and their families and making them feel safe when he was in the room, said Charles Stanley, current chief of the endocrinology division at Children's Hospital.
Dr. Moshang published more than 130 medical articles, including chapters in 10 textbooks, and was the editor of a pediatric endocrinology textbook. In the 1980s, he was involved in research trials of human growth hormones. His work on growth failure and endocrine complications in long-term survivors of childhood cancer was world-renowned, said Alan R. Cohen, physician in chief at Children's Hospital.
Dr. Moshang developed wonderful relationships with his pediatric endocrinology fellows, Cohen said. Most of his students wrote articles with him, and he was happy to yield first-author positions to them. After establishing successful careers, they continued to seek his counsel.
Dr. Moshang, who had fought lymphoma for 10 years, learned of his pancreatic cancer in September. Though he stopped working last month, he continued to write papers, and was giving advice to students over the phone right to the end, said his wife, Mary Anne Gazdick.
In May, Dr. Moshang was to begin a term as president of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society. At a ceremony Feb. 20, Children's Hospital endowed a chair of endocrinology in his name.
Dr. Moshang was born in New York City to Chinese immigrant parents. He earned a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a medical degree from the University of Maryland. He interned at Pennsylvania Hospital and completed a residency in pediatrics at Children's Hospital.
After serving in the Army Medical Corps in Alaska, he returned to Children's Hospital as a pediatric endocrinologist fellow. He then joined the staff of Hahnemann Medical College, where he met his future wife, a pediatrician.
Dr. Moshang was a public school all-star fencer at Stuyvesant High School in New York. At Columbia, he was on fencing teams that won three Ivy League championships and an Eastern Intercollegiate championship.
He enjoyed skiing; playing tennis; going scuba diving; rooting for the Flyers, Eagles and Phillies; and spending time with his family at his vacation home on Long Beach Island.
In addition to his wife of more than 20 years, Dr. Moshang is survived by sons Thomas III and Peter; daughters Elizabeth Laird and Alexis; a brother; two sisters; five grandchildren; and his former wife, Joan Moshang.
A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Epiphany of Our Lord Church, 3050 Walton Rd., Plymouth Meeting, where friends may call after 9:30 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Endocrine Diabetes Research Fund, Children's Hospital Foundation, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia 19104.
Watch an excerpt from a video tribute to Thomas Moshang Jr. at