yale medicine Meet the new Building bridges Education dean autumn 2006 public health dean to Uganda bids farewell 4 6 18 From the battlefield to the laboratory 24 yale medicine autumn 2006 CONTENTS on the cover and this page 2 Letters Joseph Schlessinger’s life has taken 4 Chronicle him from the war-torn Yugoslavia 8 Rounds of his birth, to Israel where he grew up to defend his new home, and 10 Findings finally to Yale, where, with his stud- 12 Books & Ideas ies of cells and drugs, he fights 16 Capsule against disease. Collage by Janis Melone 18 The Chase years Six years ago, Herbert Chase came to Yale to improve medical education. As his tenure ended this summer, he left behind a reinvigorated curriculum and a generation of medical students who had learned to look for the “edge” of scientific knowledge. By Jennifer Kaylin 24 The long war Born in a war-torn mountain village in the former Yugoslavia, Yossi Schlessinger went on to fight other battles, including one against disease. By Marc Wortman 30 Preserving fertility Where once physicians’ only concern was saving lives, new techniques under study at Yale can also preserve fertility in women undergoing treatment for cancer. By Jennifer Kaylin 36 Faculty 38 Students 44 Alumni 62 In Memoriam 64 Follow-Up 64 Archives 65 End Note On the Web yalemedicine.yale.edu On our website, readers can submit class notes or a change of address, check the alumni events calendar, arrange for a lifelong Yale e-mail alias through the virtual Yale Station and search our electronic archive. 2 letters Ecoepidemiology an Duran-Reynals and the New deans at the yale medicine important area of study viral etiology of cancer medical school Alumni Bulletin of the Yale University School of Medicine I found the article on EcoEpi- Jennifer Kaylin’s article,“The This spring Richard Belitsky, m.d., Autumn 2006, Volume 41, No. 1 associate professor of psychiatry, demiology [“When Animals Virus Behind the Cancer” Editor in Chief was named deputy dean for edu- Sound a Warning,” Spring 2006] [Spring 2006], unfortunately Michael Kashgarian, m.d. ’58, hs ’63 very interesting. I am a d.v.m. omits mention of Francisco cation, effective July 1. Belitsky, Professor of Pathology and Molecular, and received an m.p.h. in the Duran-Reynals, whose pioneer- the deputy chair for education in Cellular and Developmental Biology his department, has had a major section of epidemiology of infec- ing work on viruses as a cause Editor tious diseases. My field study of cancer was undertaken for impact on the teaching of both Michael Fitzsousa on arboviral zoonosis was sub- the most part in the Depart- medical students and residents. Director of Communications He succeeds Herbert S. Chase Jr., mitted under the late Professor ment of Microbiology at the Managing Editor m.d., who stepped down at the Robert Shope in 1976. I have School of Medicine for a period John Curtis end of the academic year. since worked in the Cameroon of 20 years until his untimely Contributing Editors Belitsky has received three civil service as a specialist in death in 1958. In those years Janet Emanuel, ph.d. top teaching awards from Yale the eradication of tse-tse flies, there were very few scientists Peter Farley since 1998, as well as several from Jennifer Kaylin the trypanosomiasis vector, and who worked on viruses as a his colleagues in psychiatry at Karen Peart as the director of veterinary cause of cancer—Oberling in the national level. He was inducted Cathy Shufro research. I wish you success in France and Duran-Reynals, into the School of Medicine’s Jacqueline Weaver your undertakings in this field, Shope, Bittner, Lucké, Burmeister Society of Distinguished Teachers Marc Wortman, ph.d. which is of great importance: and Nigrelli in the United States. in 2002. He has a reputation for Contributors especially to the developing A classmate, David J. Nelligan, a high level of skill in resolving Christie Aschwanden world, where there is very m.d. ’55, and I had the great complex clinical problems and is Lori Ann Brass close habitation between man privilege of spending some time one of the persons most fre- Terry Dagradi John Dillon and animal. in Duran-Reynal’s laboratory quently consulted by colleagues Marcie Foley when making a referral. He is also John Tanlaka Banser, d.v.m., during our third and fourth years Jill Max m.p.h. ’76 of medical school. We were a highly effective administrator, Carol Milano Yaounde, Cameroon witness to his many extraordi- adept at framing and working Colleen Shaddox through issues with colleagues in nary personal qualities and Copy Editors his passionate efforts, despite many departments, conceiving Rebecca Frey material difficulties, to persuade and launching new programs and Michelle Komie a disbelieving scientific com- sorting and extracting the data Anne Sommer required for good decision making. munity of the importance of Communications Coordinator Also this spring, Laura R. Ment, viruses in the genesis of some Claire M. Bessinger m.d., professor of pediatrics cancers. Unfortunately he Senior Administrative Assistant / and neurology, was appointed did not live to see the general Website Coordinator associate dean for admissions and Cheryl R. Violante acceptance of many of his chair of the admissions commit- theories. Design tee, effective July 1. Ment succeeds Daphne Geismar Ion Gresser, m.d. ’55 Thomas L. Lentz, m.d. ’64, who Printing Paris, France retired on June 30 after 38 years in The Lane Press admissions at the School of Medi- Yale Medicine is distributed to alumni, cine. She has received numerous In the Spring 2006 issue there faculty, students and friends of the awards for excellence in teaching is a lovely article by Jennifer School of Medicine, as well as leaders Kaylin called “The Virus Behind since 1979. in Yale University alumni activities. Ment is a leading authority on the Cancer.” It is not the aim Abbreviations commonly used in Yale how to reach us injury and recovery in the develop- of the article to be complete, Medicine include hs to denote the final ing brain of preterm infants and Yale Medicine welcomes news however, and for future endeav- year of residency for house staff, fw for on stroke in children. She is the and commentary. Please send ors it could be fine to refresh the final year of a fellowship, eph for the author of more than 150 scholarly Department of Epidemiology and Public letters (350 words or less) and the Yale memory about cancer articles and a member of the Health and School of Public Health and news items to Yale Medicine, and viruses. National Advisory Neurological ynhh for Yale-New Haven Hospital. 300 George Street, Suite 775, In fact the “virus theory of New Haven, CT 06511, or via Disorders and Stroke Council, the Postal permit held by Yale University, cancer” came to life at Yale major advisory panel of the 155 Whitney Ave., New Haven, CT 06520 e-mail to [email protected], and with Francisco Duran-Reynals, National Institute of Neurological include a telephone number. Copyright © 2006 (1899–1958), who wrote more Disorders and Stroke. Submissions may be edited for Yale University School of Medicine than 50 original papers on All rights reserved. 2006 length, style and content. the subject. address correspondence to visit us on the web C. Soler-Durall, m.d., m.p.h. ’56, Editor, Yale Medicine autumn yalemedicine.yale.edu dr.p.h. ’57 300 George Street, Suite 775 Barcelona, Spain New Haven, CT 06511 Telephone: 203-785-5824 edicine Facsimile: 203-785-4327 m Electronic mail: [email protected] ale y Website: http://yalemedicine.yale.edu starting point 3 Fertility, drug discovery and a good-bye In our cover story for this issue, Contributing Editor Jennifer had been awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in History for Kaylin examines new methods of preserving fertility in “a distinguished book upon the history of the United women undergoing cancer treatment. These new techniques States” on April 17. Polio: An American Story was featured are offering hope to women who might otherwise be unable by Time magazine in June as one of five recent books to have children. that readers should not miss. Oshinsky wrote “Breaking Also in this issue, Contributing Editor Marc Wortman the Back of Polio” for the Autumn 2005 issue of Yale reports on the time he spent with pharmacology Chair Medicine about the late Dorothy Millicent Horstmann, m.d., Joseph Schlessinger, offering a profile of the pioneer in drug fw ’43. Horstmann, the first female professor of medi- development who was born under siege in the former cine at Yale, conducted research that led to a breakthrough Yugoslavia during World War II. in the development of polio vaccines. Oshinsky repeated Finally in this issue we say farewell to Herbert S. his tribute to Horstmann in a talk that he gave to the Chase Jr., m.d., deputy dean for education. We first met New York Academy of Medicine in January. Herb in 1999, between the announcement of his appoint- Then we learned that Yale Medicine had received two ment and the date of his assuming his new job at Yale. Circle of Excellence Awards from the Council for Advance- Earlier this year he announced his return to Columbia ment and Support of Education (case). We won a silver University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. Over the medal in the category of Special Interest Magazines. And years we’ve been struck by Herb’s eloquence in advocating Contributing Editor Cathy Shufro won a bronze medal improvements in medical education.