Gladwyn Leiman: An appreciation

Abstract

It is with mixed emotions that I say goodbye to our Associate Editor, Gladwyn Leiman, MBBCh, FIAC, FRCPath, professor and director of cytopathology and the Cytopathology Fellowship Program at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, who is retiring from practice this year. We will miss her very much at Cancer Cytopathology. Gladwyn joined Cancer Cytopathology as an editorial board member in 2001 and was appointed Associate Editor in 2011. She has been a wellspring of ideas and vision and an amazing colleague. Those of us fortunate enough to have worked with her during her tenure as a cytopathologist have experienced firsthand her enthusiasm and dedication to our specialty. Gladwyn's distinguished career began in Johannesburg, South Africa. After her medical and postgraduate training at the University of Witwatersrand Medical School, she was appointed medical officer and subsequently an associate professor in the Cytology Unit in the Department of Anatomical Pathology in the School of Pathology of the South African Institute for Medical Research. A large part of her academic life was spent as an educator both at home and internationally, bringing cytology workshops, tutorials, and seminars to 5 continents. She was quickly recognized as a leader in this evolving field, and over the next 30 years she brought her knowledge, insight, and collegiality to numerous international committees such as the International Academy of Cytology, the American Society of Cytopathology, the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology, the International Academy of Pathology, the British Society for Clinical Cytology, and the International Congress of Cytology. Within cytopathology, Gladwyn was actively involved as an Associate Editor for Acta Cytologica and served on several editorial boards, including those for Diagnostic Cytopathology and Advances in Anatomic Pathology. Notably, in 1996, she was named as a Light Source Personality of Cytopathology in South Africa by the International Academy of Cytology “CYTOPATHS” newsletter. And in 1999, the refurbished laboratory at the South African Institute for Medical Research was renamed the Gladwyn Leiman Cytopathology Centre. At the beginning of the new millennium, Gladwyn traveled to the United States as a professor of pathology to assume the directorships of the Laboratory and Fellowship Program at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington. She continued to expand her affiliations to include the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, the International Society of Breast Pathology, and the Australian Society of Cytology, all the while retaining her dedication to cytopathology in South Africa. During the International Congress of Cytology in Paris in 2013, Gladwyn received the 2012 Maurice Goldblatt Award. An excerpt from this recognition epitomizes Gladwyn: “For her lifelong love and dedication to clinical cytology; for her very special relationship to underserved areas of the world and her willingness to bring knowledge and expertise to people deserving improved medical care; for her academic rigor and achievements in publishing and teaching; to her loyal support of Acta Cytologica and the International Academy of Cytology for many years.” Gladwyn's accomplishments cannot be summarized in this short editorial. It suffices to say that she has had a measurable impact on the evolution of our discipline. In this issue, Gladwyn authors one of Cancer Cytopathology's 20th anniversary editorials reflecting on the seminal articles and changes in the field of pulmonary cytopathology. One reason for the success of Cancer Cytopathology is the effort exhibited by our Associate Editors in the selection and critical review of articles received for publication. Undoubtedly, we have benefited immensely from Gladwyn's wisdom and expertise in this regard. On behalf of myself, the Associate Editors, and the American Cancer Society, I would like to thank Dr. Gladwyn Leiman for her remarkable contribution to the journal. It is with deep personal gratitude that I say she has been a reliable source of inspiration and wisdom that I have tapped regularly. I am highly appreciative of her service and partnership. Thank you, Gladwyn. As a postscript, Gladwyn will be relocating to North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham area. When asked what comes next, Gladwyn replied, “My future plans are to resurrect my right brain, and reenter the worlds of literature, music, and history, which were my major interests before I deviated to medical school. In particular, I want to reengage in Holocaust studies and genealogy, which have been constant unofficial pursuits throughout my life.” For those who would like to extend their congratulations to Gladwyn on her amazing career and send best wishes for her retirement, you can contact her through Cancer Cytopathology at [email protected]. All correspondence will be forwarded to her.