<strong>Ward</strong> <strong>Rounds</strong> NewsThree esteemed medical school leaders pass onNathaniel BerlinNathaniel I. Berlin,MD, of Aventura,Florida, anoted cancerresearcher and formerdirector of theRobert H. LurieComprehensiveCancer Center of<strong>Northwestern</strong> <strong>University</strong>, died at age 87on March 5. Dr. Berlin headed the centerfrom its founding in 1974 until he retiredfrom <strong>Northwestern</strong> in 1987 as the GenevieveE. Teuton Professor Emeritus ofMedicine.Steven T. Rosen, MD ’76, GME ’81,succeeded Dr. Berlin as Genevieve E. TeutonProfessor and director of the LurieCancer Center. “Dr. Berlin provided mewith significant support and guidance,”he recalls. “His wisdom was alwaysappreciated, and his joy for the success ofthe Lurie Cancer Center was gratifying.He was part of our family and will betruly missed.”Dr. Berlin earned a bachelor’s degreein chemistry from Case Western Reserve<strong>University</strong> in 1942 and an MD degree in1945 and a PhD degree in medical physicsin 1949 from the <strong>University</strong> of Californiaat Berkeley. He joined the U.C. Berkeleyfaculty in 1949 and served four years.After two years as a medical officer withthe Armed Forces Special Weapons Project,Dr. Berlin joined the National CancerInstitute (NCI) where he held severalpositions from 1956 to 1975, includingchief of the metabolism service; scientificdirector of general laboratories and clinics;and director of the Division of CancerBiology and Diagnosis.After retiring from <strong>Northwestern</strong>, Dr.Berlin served five years as deputy directorof the Sylvester Comprehensive CancerCenter at the <strong>University</strong> of Miami andretired as professor emeritus of medicinein 1992.Dr. Berlin was preceded in death byhis wife, Barbara, in 1990. He is survivedby a son, Marc, of Aventura, and a daughter,Deborah Ligenza, of Chicago.Michael LeschHis name will beforever linked to arare hereditarydisorder that hehelped identifyand he will beremembered bythe many residentshe trained, butthose who knew Michael Lesch, MD,also knew of his passion for trout fishing.Former chief of cardiology at <strong>Northwestern</strong>from 1976–89, Dr. Lesch diedMarch 27 in his sleep while on a fishingtrip in Argentina. He lived in Englewood,New Jersey.Lawrence L. Michaelis, MD, professorof surgery, first met Dr. Lesch in 1975when they both were new faculty members.In a tribute, Dr. Michaelis wrote,“We started our lunch discussing the newprofessional obligations awaiting us . . .then we discovered our passion for fishingand spent the rest of the afternoontalking about wet flies and our love of therivers and lakes of the high North.”Born in Queens, New York, Dr. Leschreceived his bachelor’s degree fromColumbia <strong>University</strong> and MD degreefrom Johns Hopkins <strong>University</strong> where healso completed a residency in internalmedicine. He went on to a research fellowshipat the National Institute of MentalHealth in Bethesda, Maryland, and acardiology fellowship at Peter BentBrigham Hospital (now Brigham andWomen’s Hospital) in Boston.While a medical student, he conductedresearch with William L. Nyhan, MD,discovering a disorder (called the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome) in which individualsfrequently bite their lips and fingers, oftenleading to amputations.After leaving <strong>Northwestern</strong> in 1989,he served as chair of medicine at HenryFord Hospital and Health System inDetroit. In 1998 Dr. Lesch joined St.Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan as chairof internal medicine and Columbia asprofessor of medicine.Survivors include wife Bella, daughterLeah, son Ian, and six grandchildren.Philip PatersonA <strong>Northwestern</strong>faculty memberfor nearly 43 years,Philip Y. Paterson,MD, died May 20of cancer in Evanston,Illinois. Hewas 83.Not only wasDr. Paterson a renowned scientist andinspiring teacher, but he was also a dedicatedfamily man, an accomplished violinist,and a published creative writer.Those who knew him will remember hiswarm smile, keen wit, and bow ties.Born in Minneapolis, he earned hisbachelor’s and medical degrees from the<strong>University</strong> of Minnesota. He served hisinternship at Minneapolis General Hospitaland completed research fellowships atTulane <strong>University</strong>, Walter Reed MedicalCenter, and the <strong>University</strong> of Virginia.Author of more than 250 scientificpublications on infectious diseases, microbiology,and neuroimmunology, he alsoserved as associate editor of the Journal ofInfectious Diseases from 1979–85. Amonghis many honors, he received a JavitsNeuroscience Investigator Award fromthe National Institutes of Health in 1986.Dr. Paterson joined <strong>Northwestern</strong> in1965 to build an infectious diseases program.In 1975 he stepped into a new roleas chair of microbiology—immunology.On his first day on the job, he ran intothen-Dean James E. Eckenhoff, who said,“I’m counting on you to set an example ofwhat can be done.” Build the departmenthe did, recruiting talented junior facultymembers who developed their own stellarreputations. In 1987 Dr. Paterson steppeddown as chair and moved with wife Virginia,“Ginny,” to Eagle River, Wisconsin,where he took up creative writing andplayed the violin in a community orchestra.Following his wife’s death in 1998, hewas remarried to Doris O’Briant andreturned to Evanston.Survivors include wife Doris, sonsPeter and Benjamin, daughter AnneMaillette, sister Margaret Becker, andfive grandchildren.36 ward rounds summer 2008
President’s MessageAs we enjoy a much overdue summer, we are able toreflect on the changing climate of medicine as well as theseason. Our profession continues to face challenges,among them: cost containment, availability of care for allAmericans, and a shortage of primary care physicians.These issues, particularly providing care to the uninsuredand underinsured, have changed how physicians viewnational health insurance.Recent data from physician surveys in 2007 compared with 2002 data revealsthat increasing numbers of practitioners support government-financednational health insurance. In fact 59 percent—an increase of 10 percent since2002—of those polled were in favor of this concept, as reported in the Annalsof Internal Medicine. The specialties most in favor included psychiatry, pediatrics,and emergency medicine. Whether we will see such reforms in theprovision of health care to all after the November election is anybody’s guess,but the nation as well as the medical community seems ready for change.Our current medical student population appears quite committed to servingneedy families, here and abroad. These individuals will lead their generationof physicians in new directions as the world becomes a smaller, more globallyunited place. The decisions made in this country will serve as a model for thefuture on a worldwide basis. I wish we had the insight to see into the futureand thus make the best choices for today.Sincerely,Bonnie L. Typlin, MD ’74President, Alumni Associationward rounds summer 2008 37
Change language