Illinois Medicine

in memoriam FACULTY Gary Kruh, MD, PhD, director of the University of Illinois at Chicago Cancer Center, died Jan. 5 from a traumatic brain injury sustained in a fall. He was 59. Kruh came to UIC in 2007 from Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, where he was an attending physician, associate professor of medical oncology and acting head of the pharmacology department. "Dr. Kruh was a physician deeply committed to both cancer biology and cure, and to building a high quality and statewide cancer program," said Joseph Flaherty, MD, dean of the College of Medicine. "He worked tirelessly to bring all parts of the University of Illinois community together on this project and moved our goal forward considerably. He will be deeply missed personally and professionally." As a clinician, Kruh specialized in the treatment of lung cancer patients. His research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that enable cancer cells to resist chemotherapy agents. His personal interests included sailing, football and baseball. An avid New York Yankees fan, Kruh often was seen on campus sporting a Yankees cap while wearing a suit and tie. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kruh earned his PhD in biochemistry and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine and subspecialty training in medical oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He later completed postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute. Kruh became interested in cancer "because the biology of it is so rich, there are so many questions to be answered, and there is so much opportunity for helping patients," he said in an interview discussing his efforts. Kruh worked to bring together researchers, educators and clinicians from all six of U of I's health sciences colleges—Medicine, Applied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy and the School of Public Health—as well as the colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences, in the fight against cancer. Kruh worked to unite the efforts of 180 laboratory, clinical science and population science researchers who annually receive a total of $49 million for cancer-related research at UIC. He reconfigured the cancer center's research programs to focus on cancer control and population science, carcinogenesis and chemoprevention, experimental therapeutics and imaging, and tumor cell biology. "Running a cancer center is a Herculean task," observed Howard Ozer, MD, PhD, chief of the section of hematology and oncology, who is serving as interim director of the cancer center. "Gary created an infrastructure that was exactly on target. He was very smart in terms of his external advisors and how he put together the programs. All of that has put us in a position to do extremely well going forward." "Gary will be remembered for his leadership, vision, energy, sense of humor and integrity. He made great strides in creating a strong cancer center and identity, and unifying a very diverse group of cancer clinicians and researchers," said JoAnne Sylvester, associate director for administration at the cancer center. "His ability to work with others was outstanding," remembered Thomas Layden, MD, Edmund F. Foley professor and chair of the department of medicine. "He was able to recognize the value of having six colleges on campus and parlay their expertise to the advantage of the institution. He included people of different backgrounds to ensure there was an integrated multidisciplinary approach to cancer care and cancer research." "Gary saw the good in people," added Jay Goldstein '74, MD '78, Res '84, professor of medicine and vice head for clinical affairs. "He was able to take the best qualities and link them across disciplines. He was able to see themes at UIC that otherwise were not seen before. He never lost focus on why we want to do this, because we want to help patients, not only to treat and detect cancer but to prevent cancer." He is survived by his mother, Helen Kruh; his uncle, Ted Friedrich; and his sister, Tina Kruh. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Gary Kruh UIC Cancer Center Tribute, c/o Heather Steinberg (hsteinbe@uic. edu), UIC Office of Medical Advancement, 1747 W. Roosevelt Road (MC 792), Chicago, IL 60608. Lester L. Lansky, MD, of Min- neapolis, died May 10, 2010. He was chief of pediatric neurology at Kansas University Medical Center, professor of neurology at the University of Illinois Medical Center and a consultant at the Brainerd Regional Health Center. The youngest child of two immigrants, Lansky grew up in Monticello, N.Y. He attended the University of Roches- ter, majoring in chemistry, math and Latin, and earned a master's degree in biochemistry from the University of Minnesota. Lansky graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School and served in the U.S. Navy. Joyce A. Schild '51, MD '56, Res '60, of Albuquerque, N.M., and Chicago, died April 26, 2010. Schild was among the first women to practice otolaryngology— a true pioneer both as a researcher and clinician. After 20 years of private practice with both Presbyterian and Children's Memorial Hospital, she returned to the University of Illinois as a faculty member of the depart- ment of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery in 1958, serving until her retirement in 1996. She was widely recognized for her work in radiology in the field of otolaryngology, publishing dozens of papers and articles. Schild and her husband, John Hegber, moved to New Mexico after she retired. Goodwin W. Toraason, MD, of Peru, Ill., died Aug. 9, 2010. A deco- rated veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, Toraason received his bachelor's and medical degrees from Northwestern University. He was a physician for 50 years and served as an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine as well as Northwestern University medical school. Toraason was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Deer Park Country Club, American Legion, Peru Elks, Loyal Order of Moose, Knights of Columbus and the La Salle I L L INOI S MEDICINE | 37

• Cover