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1/15
1999
104 Detroit Jewish News
"Another priority," he said, "will be
to improve the structure of each depart-
ment at the medical school — the vari-
ous disease centers, the geriatric center,
the research areas, etc., to make them
more autonomous as 'centers of excel-
lence.' We need to be more cohesive in
our efforts to make sure our depart-
Dr. Lichter's first position in the
field was in 1976 as an instructor in
oncology, radiology and radiological
science at the Johns Hopkins University
Medical School in Baltimore, later
becoming assistant professor. He moved
in 1978 to the National Cancer
Institute's National Institutes of Health
in Bethesda, Md., as
head of the radiation
therapy section.
While at the
National Cancer
Institute (NCI), he
was an early advo-
cate of lumpectomy
for treating breast.
His work con-
tributed to a revolu-
tion in modern
breast-cancer treat-
ment standards,
emphasizing preven-
tion.
He returned to
U-M after six years
Dr. Allen Lichter now bosses his brother Paul at U-M
at NCI "because I was
impressed by the great
ments are running properly."
renaissance taking place on campus.
The rebuilding program at the universi-
Previously, Dr. Lichter spent half his
time heading the Radiation Oncology
ty and the resurgence at the medical
Th
Department and half in his clinical
school provided great opportunities."
Dr. Lichter's department developed
work. Now, his time to see patients and
new three-dimensional X-ray imaging
do "doctoring" in general will be cut to
about 20 percent.
technology, resulting in cross-sectional
images that recreate the patient's anato-
"A great deal of my attention will be
my on a computer. This allows physi-
devoted to my medical students," he
said, praising the "extremely high cal-
cians to direct radiation more precisely
and reduce damage to healthy tissue.
iber of today's students compared to
The pioneering technology is now used
my days in med school. They're much
at cancer centers across the United
smarter today, and I probably would
have a tough time competing if I were
States.
Dr. Lichter is pleased by the great
going through school now I'm also
pleased to see much more diversity in
increase in cancer awareness that has
taken place nationwide in recent years.
the current student body."
"America now has more of a health
Dr. Lichter sees no conflicts between
agenda," he said, "with more people
his religion and cutting-edge medical
exhibiting a lifestyle of increased exer-
issues. "In regard to organ transplants,
cise, better dietary habits and a reduc-
living wills and other ethical issues,
tion in smoking. The keys are early
there really are no conflicts with Jewish
detection and extensive research, and
law that I have observed in the medical
the latter is very expensive, but we have
field," he said. "I'll be busy with many
to keep at it so we can win this war.
other aspects of the job."
He first became interested in radia-
"There are about 550,000 cancer
deaths annually, and as Vice President
tion oncology while doing a rotation in
Gore pointed out in a recent speech,
that field as a U-M senior in 1971-72.
we would have to build 10 Vietnam
"After only one day, everything seemed
Walls in Washington each year to list
to click and I knew that was the med-
- /
the names of the victims."
ical field for me," he said.
Dr. Lichter is the author of 104
"At that time, it was an under-devel-
peer-reviewed journal articles, 21 other
oped, under-appreciated field that was
articles, and 36 book chapters and pro-
starting to get crowded by many physi-
. ceedings, mainly on breast cancer.
cians from abroad. I realized right away
He is co-author of three books, •
it had great potential as a specialty, and
including a popular, 2,500-page text-
it has been very fascinating and reward-
book called Clinical Oncology. Fl
ing for me."