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MORTON M. Dr. Morton M. Kligerman, pioneer in radiation oncology, died on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of complications of esophageal cancer. He was 88. Morton M. Kligerman was born on December 26, 1917 in south Philadelphia to Russian immigrants Samuel and Dora Kligerman, owners of a small grocery store. His early interest in medicine was sparked by family physician, Dr. Neff. Dr. Kligerman graduated from Northeast High School and received his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctor of Medicine Degrees from Temple University. He completed his diagnostic residency at Temple. He then served in the U.S. Army aboard hospital ships in both the European and Pacific Theaters as one of the only 11 board certified diagnostic radiologists in the army. He was discharged in 1947 and first accepted a position at Temple University as instructor in radiology before moving to Columbia University in New York City, New York. Between 1948 and 1958, Dr. Kligerman rose from instructor to associate professor at Columbia. It was at this institution that he developed his life-long love of radiation oncology shortly after being asked to serve only temporarily in that division. During his decade at Columbia, Dr. Kligerman developed an international reputation as a master clinician, researcher, and scientist. He also developed a strong residency program and began the training of many individuals who were to become the leaders in the field. In 1958, the Klig, as he was called, became professor of radiology and department chair at Yale University and in 1960 received the first of two endowed chairs he was to hold, the Robert E. Hunter Professorship. In 1972, Dr. Kligerman accepted the challenge to found and build the Cancer Research and Treatment Center at the University of New Mexico. It was one of the first outpatient cancer hospitals. He was director there for eight years. Additionally, he was the medical director of the Pion Project at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratories were he conducted many ground breaking experiments. In 1980, he was attracted to the University of Pennsylvania. He quickly became the first Henry K. Pancoast Professor, his second endowed chair. He became emeritus in 1988. Dr. Kligerman received numerous honors and awards including the Janeway Medal of the Radium Society, the ASTRO Gold Medal and the Grubbe Gold Medal of the Chicago Medical and Radiological Society. In 2003, the University of Pennsylvania established the Morton M. Kligerman, MD Endowed Professorship. A lover and patron of the arts, he was a friend of many of the Abstract Expressionist artists and collected their art. He was a member of the Santa Fe Opera Board from 1974 - 1990, and member of the Board of Advisors of the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania as well as several other cultural institutions. For the last twelve years he was a member of the Board of Advisors to the Philadelphia Scholars Fund. Dr. Kligerman is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara Coleman; son, Thomas of Maplewood, New Jersey; daughters, Hilary Scroeder of Palo Alto, California and Valli Budestschu of Paris, France; step-son, Roger Wilcox of Albuquerque, New Mexico; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister; and a brother. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Philadelphia Scholars Foundation in memory of Morton M. Kligerman.
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