Samuel Z. Levine

Samuel Zachary Levine (1895 – July 14, 1971) was an American pediatrician who was a professor of pediatrics at Cornell University Medical College. His research focused on neonatology, particularly physiology of premature infants. He served as president of both th Society for Pediatric Research and served the American Pediatric Society. In 1924, he returned to New York when he was appointed chairman of Cornell's department of pediatrics, which was then located at New York Nursery and Child's Hospital. At Nursery and Child's, he began to publish extensively on respiratory physiology in infants and children.

He was appointed assistant professor at Cornell University Medical College in 1930. Levine was a founding member and one-time president of the Society for Pediatric Research and served as president of the American Pediatric Society (APS).

Post-retirement career Despite formally retiring in 1961, he remained active in his field. In 1964, he received the highest honor of the APS, the John Howland Award.

In August 1963, the White House arranged for Levine to be flown from New York to Boston by the U.S. Air Force and taken by helicopter to a local hospital to treat Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, the premature infant born to President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy. Levine was summoned because he had previously assisted in the care of a premature baby born to Jacqueline Kennedy's sister, Lee Radziwill.

Personal life and death He married Bella Morell in 1922, with whom he had four children. Levine died from a heart attack on July 14, 1971, at his home in Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Honors

1944: Borden Award (American Academy of Pediatrics); shared with Harry Gordon 1964: John Howland Award (American Pediatric Society)