Interview with Seymour H. Levitt

Abstract

Levitt begins by describing his childhood and his decision to study medicine. He describes his time in the military. He discusses the choice to do two residencies (radiology and internal medicine) in San Francisco. He describes the changes that have occurred in therapeutic radiology over the course of his career. He discusses his tenure at other universities and the decision to come to the University of Minnesota to build the therapeutic radiology department. He describes using linear accelerators in place of cobalt machines at the University of Minnesota. He discusses the influence of foreign physicians on American radiation therapy and the conflicts among physicians treating people with cancers. He also discusses the culture of the medical school. He describes his involvement with the Bone Marrow Transplant Program and the Masonic Cancer Center. He discusses the implications of the ALG litigation on the Medical School and the University of Minnesota. He also discusses the sale of the University Hospital to Fairview Health Systems. He concludes with the impact of changing imaging technologies on his field.