TAMPA, Fla. (March 16, 2010)—Three Society of Interventional Radiology members—John D. Fulco, M.D., FSIR; Irvin F. Hawkins Jr., M.D., FSIR; and David C. Levin, M.D., FSIR, were awarded the society's Gold Medal, an honor that is given to those who have helped ensure the future of interventional radiology by advancing the quality of medicine and patient care.
John D. Fulco, M.D., FSIR, is the past chief of staff of the Ellis Health System in Schenectady, N.Y., and past president of the Medical Society of the County of Schenectady. He was honored for showing true commitment to furthering society goals from the time he first became an SIR member. Fulco has consistently demonstrated unwavering attention to SIR's needs and the interests of the profession in an ever-changing political environment by being active in health policy and by advocating tirelessly on behalf of patients and the need for interventional radiology treatments. Fulco served as SIR's first representative on the American Medical Association's House of Delegates, beginning in 1991—a position he still holds today. Combining this role with his position as chair of the AMA section council of radiology, Fulco has ensured that the issues faced by interventional radiology are understood and addressed by AMA and that the society continues to be well-represented in the HOD.
Fulco has served in a range of roles, including sitting on 10 society committees and subcommittees that govern issues from hospital outreach to long-range planning. He has received tremendous recognition for his accomplishments throughout his career, including the Medical Society of the State of New York's President's Citation, in recognition of dedicated community service (November 1990) and the SIR Service Award for his work as SIRPAC chair (2005).
Irvin F. Hawkins Jr., M.D., FSIR, professor of radiology and surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, is internationally recognized as a pioneer in interventional radiology for his groundbreaking work in needle and catheter design. He is one of the first investigators to show that reduction of catheter size can lower complication rates and is probably best known for his development of carbon dioxide angiography. He is responsible for a number of key advances, including the development of the first protective device, which is presently used for carotid stent placement. In 1986, his team also developed the first neuro retrievable (detachable) coil system. He is also responsible for developing the Hawkins blunt needle, needle guide, accordion drainage catheter, fine-needle TIPS system, CO2 bag system and even a specialized needle for breast mass localizations.
Hawkins has received numerous awards for his innovations, including the Silver Medal Award (American Roentgen Ray Society) for his work on CO2 digital subtraction radiology; the Grand Champion of Exhibits (Association of University Radiologists—Western Section) for the Hawkins–Hunter retrograde percutaneous nephrostomy technique; the ISET First Innovators Award; and the SIR Leaders in Innovation Award.
David C. Levin, M.D, FSIR, is professor and chair emeritus of the department of radiology at Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. Prior to Jefferson, he held faculty appointments at the New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center in New York City, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn and Harvard Medical School. He came to Jefferson as radiology chair in 1986 and held that post for 16 years before stepping down at the end of June 2002. Since then, he has served as consultant for several organizations and continues to work in Jefferson's department of radiology doing coronary CT angiography, health services research and teaching.
His research interests in the past have included the morphologic aspects of coronary artery stenosis, results of angioplasty and other percutaneous interventions in the treatment of vascular disease and the diagnosis of cardiac and vascular diseases by angiography. His more recent research has focused on economic issues in radiology. He has been an examiner on the American Board of Radiology oral exams and has been a member of the editorial boards of six radiology journals. He has received gold medals from RSNA, the American Roentgen Ray Society, ACR and the Association of University Radiologists. In 2008, an endowed chair—the David C. Levin Professorship and Chair—was established in his honor at Thomas Jefferson University.
For more information about these awards or to learn more about the Society of Interventional Radiology, visit online at www.SIRweb.org.
About the Society of Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-ray, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine. Today, interventional oncology is a growing specialty area of interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to the tumor without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue.
Many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. Visit www.SIRweb.org.
The Society of Interventional Radiology is holding its 35th Annual Scientific Meeting March 13 in Tampa, Fla. The theme of the meeting is "IR Innovation," celebrating the remarkable inventiveness of SIR members and highlighting the contribution made to both creating the field of interventional radiology and to improving patient care.