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Fall 1998, Vol.5, No.2
In Memoriam
His early interest in children was recognized and encouraged by Dr. Edward J. Donovan, Chief of the Pediatric Surgical Service at Babies Hospital and one of the first surgeons in New York to be interested in children. In 1955 Dr. Santulli was appointed to succeed Dr. Donovan and he remained in this position as Professor of Surgery until his retirement in 1980. Dr. Santulli was a pioneer in the development of the specialty of Pediatric Surgery initiating one of the first 7 training programs in the United States. He taught at Columbia University for over 40 years and directed the Pediatric Surgery Service at Babies Hospital for 25 years. He trained many young surgeons who became leaders in the specialty. Nine of his former trainees went on to become Directors of Pediatric Surgery at major academic medical centers. Dr. Santulli, with his colleague in Hematology/Oncology, Dr. James Wolfe conceived the idea and established the first combined Pediatric Oncology Clinic bringing surgery, radiology, pathology and oncology together and thereby established a model which has been emulated widely. Tom was a person of great energy and purpose. He lectured and wrote extensively on a wide variety of pediatric surgical problems, in particular, imperforate anus, malformations of the intestinal tract and pediatric solid tumors. He was the author of over 130 scientific publications and with Dr. William A. Blanc he elucidated the cause of small bowel atresia and in 1975 wrote a seminal article on the etiology of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Dr. Santulli was a regional, national and international leader. He served as President of the American Pediatric Surgical Association and was the first President and a founder of the New York Pediatric Surgical Society. He was a member of many prestigious organizations including the American Surgical Association, the New York Surgical Society, the British Association of Pediatric Surgeons and was an honorary member of many foreign surgical societies. He was recipient of the Babies & Children's Hospital Centennial Medal as the "Father of Pediatric Surgery" at Columbia University in the City of New York. The Santulli Society, which convenes at National Meetings, was formed by his trainees and the Santulli Lectureship in Pediatric Surgery was established at Columbia University. Tom Santulli was a gentle and caring physician. He cared about his patients and about their stressed and worried parents. He cared about his residents and fellows and tried to give them the best training he could. He cared about the importance of doctor-parent-patient relationships and the values of compassion, trust and integrity. He cared about scholarship and the importance of striving for the highest levels of excellence. He cared deeply about his family and friends. Tom's first wife, Dorothy, passed away in 1979. He is survived by his wife Patricia Anne, his sons Dr. Thomas V. Santulli Jr. and Dr. Robert B. Santulli, a brother Vincent Santulli and five grandchildren. He is also survived by innumerable grateful parents and patients whose lives he so enhanced. R. Peter Altman, M.D. Rudolph N Schullingert Professor of Surgery
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Dr. Thomas V. Santulli died on June 2, 1997 at age 82. Dr. Santulli was raised in Brooklyn and spent his entire professional life in New York City. He received his B.S. from Columbia University in 1935 and his M.D. from Georgetown University in 1939. He completed his general surgery residency at New York Polyclinic Hospital in 1944. In 1945 he was appointed Instructor in Surgery at Columbia University and Assistant Attending Surgeon at the Presbyterian and Babies Hospitals, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.