Four U. professors win radiology honors

Amid much pomp and circumstance, four University radiologists were honored at the annual meeting of the American College of Radiologists in Minneapolis earlier this month. Each year, ACR nominates several of its members to be designated as fellows for making significant contributions to the field of radiology. Approximately five percent of the 28,000-member national society has received this special membership status. The four University radiologists honored this year were Professors Herbert Kressel, Morrie Kricun, Igor Laufer and Assistant Professor Elizabeth Patterson. Laufer said that he "greatly enjoyed" the ceremony. He said the presentation was "very much like a college graduation," complete with a processional and cap and gown. "It was really touching to be so honored," he said. Laufer has had a distinguished career in gastrointestinal radiology. He developed the "double-contrast" barium test which helps radiologists diagnose ulcers and bowel cancers. In 1989, Laufer was named "Physician of the Year" by the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis. Laufer has been at the University for 15 years and he is chief of gastrointestinal radiology and co-director of the Gallbladder Lithotripsy Unit at the Medical Center. Laufer said that he is pleased that so many people from his department have been designated as fellows. "The success of this department is telling in the fact that four fellows would be named in this department in any one year," he said. According to Assistant to the Chairman Pat Paetow, there are now 17 members of the Radiology Department who have been named fellows at some point in their career. "This is a pretty big percentage of the physicians in our department," she said. Kricun said he was proud to be honored by the ACR for his accomplishments. "It was nice to share the moment with friends and family," he said. Kricun specializes in bone disorders and has written five books on radiology. He has been at the University since 1980. Kricun also has applied his knowledge of imaging to the field of anthropology by using radiological techniques to study prehistoric humans. Assistant Professor Elizabeth Patterson came to the University after 15 years of private practice in West Philadelphia. She is the president of the Mammography Society of Philadelphia and she chairs the Radiology Section of the National Medical Association. Professor Herbert Kressel is the director of the David Devon Medical Imaging Center at the Medical Center and is the president of the Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. He is also the editor of the journal "Magnetic Resonance Quarterly."

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