Log In
Bookmark This Page | Make This Your Homepage | Enlarge Text Size

E-mail this article to a friend  Download this article in PDF format

Educator, editor: Alan M. Levine, MD

By Mark W. Wieting

Alan M. Levine, MD, died suddenly on Oct. 25, 2009, while exercising near his home. At the time of his death, he was finishing a 5-year term as chair of the AAOS Council on Education. In this position, he moved the Academy forward into new areas of educational research and evaluating the effectiveness of our continuing medical education programs. He encouraged research in surgical simulation in education, created the educational needs assessment committee, and supported expanded patient education activities. He also served as a member of the AAOS Now editorial board.

Alan M. Levine, MD, and his father, Leon Levine, MD, review the Annual Meeting daily edition of AAOS Now at the 2007 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Dr. Levine was an active volunteer in several orthopaedic societies. At the AAOS, he led the Publications Committee for 6 years and served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the AAOS for 8 years. A member of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) since 1986, he served on both the Education and Instrumentation Committees. He was a past president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association, served on the board of directors of the Cervical Spine Research Society, and was active in the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. As an author, coauthor, and editor, Dr. Levine had a major impact on orthopaedic literature.

He was director of Baltimore’s Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute at Sinai Hospital, and medical director of cancer services for Lifebridge Health. His research interests included innovations in spine treatment, such as stereotactic radiosurgery, reconstruction methods for tumors of the spine, and local chemotherapy delivery methods for treatment of metastatic bone tumors.

He brought his amazing intellect and passion to every task—but also compassion. For the Academy’s eMotion Pictures art exhibit in 2008, he submitted his handmade “Scolibear,” which he used to reassure young patients before surgery.

Mark W. Wieting is the AAOS chief education officer. He can be reached at wieting@aaos.org

AAOS Now
December 2009 Issue
http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/dec09/youraaos10.asp

Patient Information