Laurence L. Robbins.

Abstract

The newly installed President of the Radiological Society of North America, Dr. Laurence L. Robbins, is one of the youngest men to hold this distinguished office in recent years, yet he brings to it a wealth of experience and a background of distinguished accomplishments in radiology rarely acquired by men years his senior. Larry Robbins was born in a parsonage in Burlington, Vermont, forty-seven years ago and received his early schooling in his native state. He attended Ohio-Wesleyan College and took his B.S. and M.D. degrees from the University of Vermont. A rotating internship at the Mary Fletcher Hospital preceded his training in radiology, which was begun at that hospital under Dr. A. B. Soule, Jr., and completed in 1941 under Dr. George W. Holmes at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Immediately following completion of his residency he was appointed staff radiologist and in 1946 succeeded to the position of Radiologist-in-Chief at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an associate clinical professor of radiology in the Harvard Medical School. During the years Larry has acquired many honors for himself and radiology. He has held the office of President of the New England Roentgen Ray Society; he is the Vice-President of the American Board of Radiology, a member of the Board of Chancellors of the American College of Radiology, a member of the Editorial Board of RADIOLOGY, and now President of the Radiological Society of North America. He is a member of and holds office in many other societies. He served his Alma Mater (University of Vermont) as a member of the Board of Trustees for a period of six years. Dr. Robbins has contributed many and varied articles to the radiological literature, but his best known work is the textbook Roentgen Interpretation written in conjunction with Dr. George W. Holmes, now in its eighth edition. Perhaps his greatest contribution to radiology lies not in the achievements listed above but in his successful training of future radiologists. Since he became Radiologist-in-Chief at the Massachusetts General Hospital, many young men and women, including some of today's outstanding younger radiologists, have graduated from the Department of Radiology. His other interests are centered around his family and his charming 18th century farm house in New Hampshire, where he spends his summers and spare moments with his wife Ruth and three children—Dick, Carol, and Janice. Tempting fish to take a fly occupies what little time he has left. He brings to the office of President of the Radiological Society of North America catholicity of interest, boundless energy and vigor, fine judgment and ability not given to many. American radiology can well be proud of him, and the Society assured that it has chosen well.