It is safe to say that generations of radiologists have enjoyed and learned from the late Ben Felson’s Chest Roentogenology and Lucy Squire’s Fundamentals of Radiology. These classic textbooks influenced the course of our specialty beyond the authors’ imaginations and ultimately became their legacy. We are indebted to them for their insights and for facilitating our appreciation of the art of evaluating an x-ray film.
2. Joseph Sanger, M.D.
3. Ramesh Chandra, Ph.D.
4. Vivian Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
5. David Naidich, M.D.
6. Ajax George, M.D.
7. Bernard Birnbaum, M.D.
8. Morton Bosniak, M.D.
9. Alec Megibow, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.R.
10. Marilyn Noz, Ph.D.
11. Robert Grossman, M.D.
12. Mark Schweitzer, M.D.
13. Christopher Marshall, Ph.D.
14. Zehava Sadka Rosenberg, M.D.
15. Elissa Kramer, M.D.
Writing or editing a medical textbook is a major accomplishment, but has also been described paradoxically as a labor of love or an enormous burden. Attributes needed for this task include (1) expertise, (2) the ability to express knowledge clearly, (3) organizational skill, (4) diligence, and (5) focus. NYU radiologists possess these qualities but are also fully occupied by clinical service responsibilities, research, presentations, publications, lectures, and educating residents and fellows. Somehow, some way, many faculty members have risen to the challenge and found the time and energy to compose texts, establishing themselves as principals in their field. The appeal of inspiring students and future leaders by one’s words is seductive and may be the narcotic that enables authors to endure the pain associated with the task. The spectrum of works authored by NYU radiologists, covering topics from clinical applications, to physics, to image processing, and the popularity of such texts, are remarkable, placing NYU in the vanguard of academic radiology departments. We toast our departmental authors and their achievements!