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Norman Silverman
I feel I too have to write a few words about Solly.
I acknowledge that he was a gret teacher, a gentleman and a gentle man.
I had the pleasure to be is registrar. Besides his being a consummate pediatrician he was a great pediatric cardiologist.
My own interest in pediatric cardiology and a great deal of who I am I owe to Solly, who was beyond generous as a teacher and colleague.
1. He used to do all the pediatric autopsies at the TMH and had a great collection of congenital heart disease specimens. It is from his collection that I learned a lot about cardiac pathology, spawning my lifetime interest in these conditions.
2. He trained me in the art of phonocardiography - always a strength of the Wits adult cardiology division, and this became my life's calling.
3. Solly allowed me to help him with the cardiac catheterizations at the JHB General hospital, solidifying my desire to go into pediatric cardiology.
4. Solly was a critical reader of the literature. Once he had read an article he committed the salient points to memory, although he also made reference cards that he filed away. Following his system helped me create my own data base. Solly’s handwriting was highly legible; it was always a pleasure to read his notes on the patients he was following.
On a lighter note, I want to add other anecdotes of a non-academic nature.
I was present at Solly's second Barmitzvah at the Cyrildene Synagogue. He was well versed in Jewish studies and read and chanted the entire Biblical portion very impressively.
I also played tennis with Solly who was a cunning player and, although some 15 years my senior, was an astute shot-maker, making it very difficult to return his shots.
All those who were trained by him have a little of Solly in them and I, for one, am very grateful for his presence in my life.
Norman Silverman
In addition I am enclosing a dedicaton to Solly from Dr Peter Thompson that Dr Bernard Kaplan another Solly Alum sent me
I have attached Pete’s wonderful tribute to Sol (2007).
SOLOMON(SOLLY) ELIAS LEVIN
It is an honour for me to present this short tribute to Solly, this complete paediatrician, teacher, clinician, researcher, doyen of South African paediatric cardiologists, tennis player, mentor and friend.
He was born in Johannesburg on the 2nd of April 1929, was an East Rand boytjie, matriculating from Boksburg High School at the age of 15 years with a 1st class pass and 2 distinctions. When he graduated as a doctor at the University of the Witwatersrand in June 1951, it was after a 7 month wait, because in the previous November he was deemed to be too young to graduate. Further qualifications were a D.C.H.(London) in 1955 and M.R.C.P. 1956/ F.R.C.P. 1972(Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh).
Solly has been happily married to Cynthia for 54 years, and they have three accomplished children, many grandchildren and one great-grandchild so far. He is an active and respected member of his local synagogue.
His post-graduate association with Wits started in 1951 as a full-time assistant in the Dept. of Physiology, Medical School for one year, then he did internships at Baragwanath Hospital in medicine, surgery and paediatrics(senior). From 1953 to 1956 he furthered his training in England: this included working in paediatrics at Guys and Hammersmith, as well as posts in pathology and infectious diseases in other London hospitals. In 1960 he completed his registrar time in paediatrics at Baragwanath, then as a consultant in the same department, and when he moved across to the Transvaal Memorial Hospital for Children in 1965, he had already reached the grade of Senior Paediatrician. From 1970 to 1992 he was a Principal Paediatrician, at the latter and then the Johannesburg Hospital from 1978. He then went into private paediatric cardiology practice, but maintained a 5/8ths specialist cardiology post in the Dept of Paediatrics, finally retiring from Provincial paediatric practice in 1998 after 41 years.
His major work in developing paediatric cardiology, had initially been honed in 1968 when he was awarded the Cecil John Adams Memorial
Trust Travelling Fellowship, and he spent a year at the Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University, Chicago as a Fellow in
Paediatric Cardiology. His clinical acumen and teaching in paediatric cardiology has become legend; his enthusiasm was not cramped by any time constraint, and his knowledge, interest and logical approach benefited many patients and students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. He has also launched the careers of numerous sub-specialists in this field. In 1974 he was appointed Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics, then in 1978 ad Hominem Professor of Paediatric Cardiology and he registered with the South African Medical and Dental Council as a Sub-specialist in Paediatric Cardiology.
He has at least 120 published articles in South African and overseas journals as well as 7 chapters in books, and has been on the editorial board of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiology in the Young.
Professor Levin has attended and presented at numerous congresses, is a member of many societies and has had a long association with the College of Medicine of South Africa. This started in 1972 as an Associate Founder, has been a member of the Examination & Credentials Committee as well as an examiner for the Diploma of Child Health and the FCP(Paeds), and more recently an examiner for the Cert Cardiology(SA) for Paediatricians; and in 2002 became a Life Member of the CMSA.
Solly has received 4 special awards: in 1995, the Paediatric Cardiology Unit of Wits Medical School mounted a photographic portrait of him above the door of the Paediatric Cardiac Laboratory in the Johannesburg Hospital “ in honour and recognition of a lifetime dedication to the establishment of paediatric cardiology in Johannesburg”. In 1998, the JHB Branch of the SA Heart Association gave him a portrait painted by Dr Gordon Hersman and a certificate in recognition for service in the advancement of paediatric cardiology, and
in the same year, the University conferred on him the title of Emeritus
Professor of Paediatric Cardiology; and finally in 2002 he received an Exceptional Service Medal from the Wits Faculty of Health Sciences.
Thank you Solly for your outstanding example and for your meticulous care of so many children. I close with a quote from Willis Potts that you used in your inaugural lecture, the Heart of a Child: “ I am convinced that the heart of a child sunned by love, security and understanding will be able to withstand the storms of illness and pain.”
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