IN REMEMBRANCE : Ronald Levine , MD April 8 , 1929 - October 15 , 2023
Dr . Ronald Levine passed away at age 94 on Oct . 15 , 2023 . He started his career in medicine graduating from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and began practice as a family practitioner in Pleasure Ridge Park . He then re-entered residency and completed his training in OB-GYN in 1966 . He started in private practice and remained there for 30 years , during which time , following a visit with Dr . Kurt Semm in Germany , he learned about “ pelviscopy ”, or operative laparoscopy . While in private practice , he perfected procedures and techniques , and began giving talks about this new operative technique to gynecologists around the world .
During this time in private practice , he wrote and published numerous articles as he continued the teaching of this new method and expanded teaching of laparoscopic techniques to surgeons of all types . He developed specialized instruments for this new procedure and honed his skills performing these procedures on his patients and developed classes for teaching .
Following private practice , he joined the University of Louisville Department of OB-GYN as a professor , again teaching the technique to established gynecologists and surgeons , and especially to residents and fellows using his experience to aid and assist others in training . He developed the first “ Fresh Cadaver
Course ” at UofL , served as President of the American Association of Gynecology Laparoscopists ( AAGL ) and was also President of the Medical Staff at Jewish Hospital and St . Anthony ’ s Hospital .
In 2022 , he received one of the most distinguished honors from the AAGL , that of “ Honorary Member .”
During his career , he was very active in family planning as Chairman of the Southeast Region of Planned Parenthood and was a member of the National Medical Committee of Planned Parenthood . Dr . Levine is survived by his wife Sonia , his children Stacy Orenstein and Glenn Levine ( Marci ), four grandchildren and his daughter-in-law , Karen Levine . He was predeceased by his parents and parents-in-law , his brother and his beloved son Howard .
Dr . Levine ’ s contributions to our field are enormous . He has influenced and inspired generations of young minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons and in turn has had a vast impact on the health care of women throughout the world .
-Jeffrey Glazer , MD
Dr . Levine was a GLMS member for 63 years .
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