Jefferson Names First Endowed Chair in Radiology Department’s History
Vijay
M. Rao, M.D., F.A.C.R., professor and chair of the Department of
Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University,
has been named to the first endowed chair in the department’s history.
This endowment honors the former chair of the department, David C.
Levin, M.D., who led the department for 16 years. New York
businessman, Arthur S. Penn, bestowed a generous gift to Jefferson to
create the chair honoring Dr. Levin.
“It
is my honor to be the first radiologist to hold this endowed chair in
Dr. Levin’s name,” said Dr. Rao. “Dr. Levin has had an illustrious
career and been a national leader in the field. He was a friend and
mentor to me and I am delighted to be able to follow in his footsteps.”
“Dr.
Levin is world-renowned for his research in radiology, his academic
track record, and dedication to patient care. He was instrumental in
growing Jefferson’s radiology department into what it is today, so this
honor befits his considerable talents and accomplishments here,” said
Michael Vergare, M.D., interim dean, Jefferson Medical College. “Dr.
Rao is recognized around the world as one of the leading experts in
head and neck imaging. She has provided outstanding leadership since
she assumed the radiology chair six years ago. She tirelessly works to
keep Jefferson a leading institution in radiological research, so it is
fitting that she been named as the holder of the first chair in the
department’s history honoring a physician she can so closely identify
with in research pursuits and diagnostic ability,” added Dr. Vergare.
Vijay M. Rao, M.D.,F.A.C.R.
Vijay
M. Rao, M.D., F.A.C.R.,is professor and chair of the Department of
Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University.
She is a graduate of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
India’s premier medical school. She did her radiology residency at
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and has remained on the department
faculty ever since. She was appointed associate chair for Education in
1989 and then vice chair for Education in 2000. Upon her appointment as
Department Chair in 2002, she became the first woman chair of a
clinical department in Jefferson’s history.
Dr.
Rao is recognized around the world as one of the leading experts on
imaging of the head and neck. She has published 156 papers and 163
abstracts in the medical literature and has edited a major textbook on
head and neck radiology. She has given 176 presentations at other
academic institutions and radiology meetings. In addition to her
research on head and neck imaging, she is also very active and widely
recognized in health services research in radiology.
Dr.
Rao has held many leadership roles, including president of both the
American Society of Head and Neck Radiology and the Association of
Program Directors in Radiology. In 2006, she received the Distinguished
Achievement Award of the latter organization for her outstanding
contributions to radiology education nationally. She is a member of the
editorial board of several leading radiology journals. In 2005, she was
honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as one of 25 Women of
Distinction throughout the region. For many years, she has been chosen
by her peers to be included in Philadelphiamagazine’s annual list of “Top Doctors.”
David C. Levin, M.D.
David
C. Levin, M.D.,professor and chairman emeritus of the Department of
Radiology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University,
became interested in medicine while serving as a fighter pilot in the
U.S. Air Force. He subsequently attended medical school at Johns
Hopkins University and did his radiology residency at the UCLA Medical
Center. He then held successive faculty positions at the New York
Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Downstate Medical Center, and Harvard
Medical School. At Harvard, he was Head of Cardiovascular and
Interventional Radiology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, before
being appointed acting chairman of that department. In 1986, he came to
Jefferson as professor and chairman of its Department of Radiology, a
post he held until his semi-retirement in 2002.
Dr.
Levin served as president of the Society of Chairmen of Academic
Radiology Departments, Chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular
Radiology of the American Heart Association, and on the editorial
boards of six leading radiology journals. In research, he has published
233 papers and 267 abstracts and given 511 presentations at national
meetings or as an invited lecturer at other institutions. Among these
are 18 named or special lectures around the country and abroad. His
research interests have included cardiac and vascular imaging and
interventions, and more recently economic issues in radiology.
Dr.
Levin has received the Gold Medals (the highest honors) of the American
College of Radiology, the Association of University Radiologists, the
American Roentgen Ray Society and the Pennsylvania Radiological
Society. He is still active in Jefferson’s Department of Radiology
performing cardiac CTs, doing health services research, and teaching
classes.
Arthur S. Penn
Arthur
S. Penn is a New York businessman and financier long associated with
charitable endeavors in the arts and education. He began his career as
an attorney in 1961 eventually gravitating to the financing and
development of real estate and related businesses.
These
undertakings led to his participation in the establishment of various
structured financial entities for U.S. Fortune 500 companies. He has
served as a member of the board of directors of several companies in
the energy and power industries and was an early participant in the
growth of the commercial paper affiliates of a major financial
institution. In 1992, he led the acquisition of the Capital Markets
Assurance Corporation from Citicorp and served as its vice chair until
its merger with MBIA, Inc. He has served as the president of two
affiliated investment firms, Elmrock Capital Inc. and Stillrock
Management, for the last 25 years. He is a former chair of Cornell
University’s Institute for Digital Collections and the University
Library Council. He served on the board of the Herbert F. Johnson
Museum of Art at Cornell for many years and has been a Presidential
Councilor at Cornell for nearly a decade.
Over
the years, The Arthur and Marilyn Penn Charitable Foundation has
sponsored an annual symposium on photography at the Johnson Museum, and
he and his wife, Marilyn, have published four books on the history of
photography. The Penns have been contributors from their extensive
photography and art collection to America’s leading museums, including
the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Sterling
and Francine Clark Institute and the Herbert F. Johnson Museum.
Dr. Rao resides in Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; and Dr. Levin resides in Bryn Mawr, Montgomery County,
Pennsylvania.
Media Only Contact:
Ed Federico
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 7/21/2008