George Wortzman – Medical Heritage Manitoba

Education: University of Manitoba, M.D.

Specialty: Radiology

Contributions to medicine: World renowned leader in neuroradiology, past president of the American Society of Neuroradiology, see excerpt from U of T Department of Radiology archives: “Dr. George Wortzman honoured at Mount Sinai Hospital… Family, friends and colleagues gathered on September 17, 2009 at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) to honour Dr. George Wortzman, with the dedication of the Dr. George Wortzman Medical Imaging Seminar Room. Dr. Wortzman was Radiologist-in-Chief at MSH from 1981-1991 and this event honoured not only Dr. Wortzman’s years of dedicated service to MSH, but also his many contributions to the eld of Radiology. Dr. Wortzman came to Toronto as a Senior Staff Radiologist at Toronto General Hospital in 1959, moving to MSH in 1981. Speakers at the dedication paid tribute to his impressive record of achievements as a world renowned neuroradiologist, and his leadership at MSH as well as U of T. Dr. Wortzman is a Past President of the Toronto Radiological Society and the American Society of Neuroradiology. Dr. Wortzman taught extensively throughout his career and many of his former students were on hand for this event. Dr. Wortzman was obviously touched by the honour and the words of praise by speakers and colleagues. He praised his wife, Glory, who was behind him throughout his career and she was at his side as he took centre stage to be honoured.

Names of post graduates this person trained: Edward Kassel.

Observations, personal reflections and commentary: George had a dry sense of humour and a quiet reserved style that complemented the gregarious and delightful nature of his wife, he raised at least 2 physician children, the others are lawyers! He had a mighty mental reserve of cases that he could call up mentally and then back up with an enormous collection of high quality slides of amazing CT scans and MRI’s in the early days of neuroradiology when nobody had a collection like that! He was always willing to stopand be interrupted whiling viewing his daily load of lms to discuss dicult cases. He was a real gentleman but of course he didn’t suffer fools or lazy types gladly!

Submitted by Dr. Kelly S. MacDonald, colleague, relative and second cousin of Dr. George Wortzman. Dr. MacDonald mentions Dr. Wortzman was head of neuroradiology when she became a staff MD in 1995.