In Memoriam
2021; Radiological Society of North America; Volume: 299; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Indonésio
10.1148/radiol.2021210124
ISSN1527-1315
AutoresStephen A. Kieffer, Stuart A. Groskin, Ernest M. Scalzetti,
Tópico(s)Radiology practices and education
ResumoHomeRadiologyVol. 299, No. 2 Previous CommunicationsFree AccessIn MemoriamIn MemoriamStephen A. Kieffer, Stuart A. Groskin, Ernest M. ScalzettiStephen A. Kieffer, Stuart A. Groskin, Ernest M. ScalzettiStephen A. KiefferStuart A. GroskinErnest M. ScalzettiPublished Online:Mar 30 2021https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2021210124MoreSectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesCiteTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookXLinked In E. Robert Heitzman, Jr, MD 1927–2020Download as PowerPointDr E. Robert Heitzman, Jr, affectionately known as Bob, died on November 4, 2020, at the age of 93 years in his hometown of Syracuse, NY. He was born on February 8, 1927.Bob received his MD degree from the New York State College of Medicine at Syracuse in 1951. After internship, he served a residency in radiology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals (Minneapolis, Minn) under the leadership of Leo Rigler. Bob was among the most outstanding of his residents. He was awarded an American Cancer Society fellowship for his final year in the Minnesota program. In 1955, he was certified as a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology.Bob returned to Syracuse and accepted an appointment as assistant professor of radiology at the State University of New York (SUNY) Medical College at Syracuse (now known as Upstate Medical University). He advanced through a number of positions in the local hospitals and rose to the rank of associate professor in 1963. In 1965, SUNY opened the Upstate University Hospital as the main teaching hospital of the Medical College. Dr John McAfee, who was then chair of the Department of Radiology, recruited Bob to become the chief of the Division of Diagnostic Radiology and director of the department's residency program. From that point on, the department held a special place in his heart. In 1968, he was promoted to the rank of professor. Bob directed the Diagnostic Division for the next 18 years, after which he served as vice chair of radiology until 1997. On four occasions he stepped into an acting chair role. In 1990 the trustees of the State University of New York recognized him as a distinguished service professor; in 2000 he became distinguished service professor emeritus.When one of us (S.A.K.) became chair of the department in 1974, Bob was warmly welcoming. Over the next 24 years, they maintained the most friendly, close, and mutually supportive relationship. During this era of expansion, they shared together the responsibilities of growing the faculty, managing the new technologies, and dealing with interdepartmental relationships and economic pressures. In 1975, the department created the E. Robert Heitzman Award for Teaching Excellence, which has been presented annually ever since. In 1998, the department created the E. Robert Heitzman Endowed Professorship in Radiological Research, which is held by one of us (E.M.S). This endowment remains one of the most widely supported in the history of Upstate Medical University, a testament to the esteem in which students, staff, and colleagues held him.Beyond the Department of Radiology at Upstate Medical University, Bob contributed to the success of many organizations in radiology, among them the American Board of Radiology; the American College of Radiology; and the Fleischner Society, of which he was President in 1978.He had a particular fondness for the Radiological Society of North America. Bob presented the Annual Oration at its 1981 annual meeting. He served the RSNA as the co-chair of its Categorical Course in Chest Radiology, chair of its Scientific Exhibits Committee, chair of its Publications Council, and chair of the Search Committee for the Editor of Radiology. For years he was a member of the Board of Directors, and its chair in 1988. He became president of the RSNA in 1990. Subsequently he served as a trustee of the RSNA Research and Education Fund and chaired the Diamond Jubilee of Radiology committee. He received the Gold Medal, RSNA's highest honor, in 1994.Simply recounting numerous accomplishments does not give the full measure of the man. Bob had personal characteristics of devotion, wisdom, generosity, and selflessness. His devotion was directed toward his faith and family as well as his career. A steadfast Roman Catholic, he served as a eucharistic minister for his parish. He and his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Brookins Heitzman raised four children. He was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. When Betty descended into dementia Bob refused to consign her to a nursing home; he became her primary caregiver until her death.Of course, it is his devotion to radiology for which he is best known. He developed an intense interest in the relationships between imaging findings and anatomy and pathologic processes of the chest. His two monographs, The Lung and The Mediastinum, are pioneering works in radiologic-pathologic correlation. This research led to international recognition and invitations to lecture around the world. One of us (S.A.G.) had the following first-hand experience: “Prior to becoming a radiologist, I was a pulmonologist. During that time, I had a dim view of radiologists and an even dimmer view of the radiologic literature. In 1979 I found a copy of the first edition of The Lung and my view of the radiologic literature shifted 180°. This groundbreaking text demonstrated in clear, unequivocal terms the pulmonary pathology underlying the abnormalities I saw every day on chest radiographs. Suddenly, looking at chest x-rays was no longer a mystical undertaking. My patients’ chest radiographs were now a window through which I could see their pathology.”Bob's wisdom showed up mostly in his interpersonal relationships. He had a well-deserved reputation for honesty in his dealings with others. He enjoyed the deep respect and admiration of the residents and the staff at Upstate. As an administrator, he did his best to protect the interests of the department's residents and faculty. Among colleagues and staff in the department he avoided a heavy-handed approach, always preferring instead to develop a consensus. Bob never asked for special treatment in spite of his national and international standing. As a member of the thoracic radiology section, he took his turn in the reading room, teaching residents and medical students both the basic and the finer points of thoracic radiology while providing an example of how a medical professional should behave.A candidate for the radiology faculty once expressed to him a concern that doing the same thing day after day might become boring. Bob smiled and replied that in his long career he had never been bored. Every day, he said, he saw something he had never seen before and every day he saw something that he did not understand. He added that if anyone was bored by chest radiology, they were just not paying attention. Approximately 30 years into the practice of thoracic radiology, two of use (S.A.G., E.M.S.) can testify to the durability of his observation: Every day we, too, see things on chest radiographs and CT scans that we have never seen before and every day we encounter findings that we do not understand.His relationships were also characterized by generosity and selflessness. Bob was one of the kindest and most intellectually generous people we have ever known. He encouraged young faculty in their academic pursuits, providing guidance and advice when appropriate. He never in return demanded formal recognition for his help but took genuine satisfaction in watching his fledgling faculty succeed. He had a remarkable ability to encourage and instruct the residents and junior faculty; many of them, having learned from the master, successfully followed his example as an educator, researcher, and scholar. He engaged many colleagues and residents in producing scientific exhibits for display at national meetings, which garnered numerous awards. The results became evident as the certificates of recognition earned at national society meetings increasingly decorated the walls of the department's offices.In his advanced age, Bob was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Two months before his death he was having lunch with one of the parish priests. In his offhanded way, he remarked, “I have 2 months to live.” The priest, taken aback, asked, “How do you know?” Bob answered “Oh, I know. I figured it out.” His companion then inquired, “And how do you feel about that?” “I’m okay with it,” was his reply (1).We will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to know, work with, and learn from one of the truly great men of medicine, Dr E. Robert Heitzman. May he rest in peace.Dr Heitzman was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Brookins Heitzman. He is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Donahue, Ann Rowley, and Carol Mastey; and a son, E. Robert Heitzman III. He also is survived by 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.Reference1. From the remarks given by Fr. Carmola at the funeral mass, St. Ann's Church, Syracuse NY, 9, 2020. Google ScholarArticle HistoryPublished online: Mar 30 2021Published in print: May 2021 FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsRecommended Articles 2017 RSNA Outstanding ResearcherRadiology2017Volume: 285Issue: 3pp. 712Bruce G. Haffty, MD, President, Radiological Society of North America, 2022Radiology2022Volume: 302Issue: 3pp. 492-493F. Graham Sommer, MDRadiology2017Volume: 283Issue: 3pp. 924Prostate Cancer: Improving the Flow of ResearchRadiology2018Volume: 287Issue: 1pp. 5-9Seymour H. 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