Howard S. Traisman, MD
Howard S. Traisman, MD, professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, died in October of last year at the age of 87. A renowned pediatrician, Dr. Traisman has a long family history of service at Northwestern. His father, Alfred S. Traisman, MD, served at the medical school as associate professor of pediatrics and attending physician at Children's Memorial Hospital. His son, Edward S. Traisman, MD, now serves as associate professor of clinical pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Feinberg.
Dr. Traisman earned his MD and baccalaureate degrees at Northwestern. He served as president of the medical school's faculty senate and twice as president of the Northwestern University Medical Alumni Association. He was active as an emeritus faculty member and, up to the time of his death, he continued to participate as a member of the interview and scholarship committees of the Office of Admissions. He also taught a problem-based learning course for medical students twice weekly throughout the year, and continued to serve as a tutor for medical students and residents in pediatric endocrine disease and general pediatrics.
Highly regarded for his leadership in the treatment of juvenile diabetes, Dr. Traisman authored the seminal textbook, The Management of Juvenile Diabetes. He headed the diabetes clinic at Children's Memorial Hospital (CMH) for over 25 years, and was the first recipient of the CMH Distinguished Service Award. He was a founding member of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and former president of the Chicago Pediatric Society. Among many honors, he received the Chicago Pediatric Society's Archibald Hoyne Award for his contributions to pediatric medicine.
Over the course of his tenure at Northwestern, Dr. Traisman received numerous awards in recognition of his contributions to the school. He was honored with the Northwestern Alumni Association Service Award in 1976, a Merit Award in 1995, and an Alumni Medal in 2005-the University's highest alumni honor. He also received numerous teaching and service awards, and, in 2002, the Northwestern University Medical Alumni Association honored him with an outstanding lifetime service award.
A member of the Nathan Smith Davis Club, the medical school's donor recognition society, Dr. Traisman was a generous supporter of the school. In 1997, his philanthropy established the Howard S. and Regina G. Traisman Medical Student Center. The Center is located in the Tarry Building on campus and serves as the medical school's first permanent student lounge.