Cook County Hospital was regarded as one of the world's great teaching hospitals. The "Old Cook County Hospital" opened in 1866. It was open to all patients especially the poor and destitute most commonly immigrants and did not charge for the care it provided. It was known as the city's "Ellis Island".
From its beginning CCH was a center for education and was affiliated with Rush Medical School. Neither the interns, nor the attending physicians were paid, but they gained wide experience with all sort of diseases. The hospital was rebuilt in 1914 and it used open wards and solaria for the care of patients with tuberculosis.
In the 1960s, voluntary attending physicians and residents were largely replaced with full time paid, young and socially conscious doctors. Cook County was famous for its Trauma Unit and also had the first Blood Bank in Chicago. After more than a century it ceased functioning and was replaced by a new hospital that is called John Stroger, Jr which was built in close proximity with the old "Couny" as it was affectionately called.
Radiology from 1986 to 1992 when I was the Chairman of the department was provided in the Main Hospital, the Pediatric Hospital, in Fantus Clinic and the MRI unit.
In the diagnostic division Dr. John Fitzpatrick who was the interim chairman after Dr. Harris stepped down togeter with Dr. Alagratam an experienced radiologist and for a short time Dr. Tan interpreted chest, skeletal and other conventional studies. Dr. Talwar a Sheikh from Burma interpreted intravenous pyelograms.
Dr. Parachuru Rao a very nice man was also the best in the city in the performance and interpretation of sonograms.
In charge of Computed Tomography was Dr. Susan Gilkey who studied at Loyola Med Center.
Drs. Naseem and Rodriguez covered neuroradiology. Dr. Naseem brought me a "Bukhara carpet" when he returned from a trip in his native Pakistan. I still have and cherished this unique gift.
Dr. Brad Langer a native Chicagoan did his residency at UIC and came with me to CCH when I became Radiology's Chairman. He was in charge of the residency
Dr. Patrick Dunne, a native Chicagoan, was the angiographer and did most of the diagnostic and interventional studies. Dr. Langer and I assisted him when he was on vacation, needed a rest, and we also shared calls.
Dr. Marvin Petry a nice and easy going man covered MRI which was attached in front of the hospital on Harrison Street. Brad Langer was also involved and helped Marvin especially because MRIs became very popular.
Outpatient studies were done in Fantus Clinic. Dr. Stan Stankevich who was a graduate from the Medical College of Warsaw, Poland was in charge of the division. He was a hard-working man who in addition to the studies in his division also helped the breast imaging specialists as needed. His associate was Dr. Whitehouse an easy going and experienced radiologist.
Drs. Gianfranco Fizzotti and Pamela Sobti interpreted mammograms and ultrasound studies of the breast in Fantus Clinic. Dr. Fizzotti was a graduate of the University of Pavia in Italy and did his residency at CCH. He was an expert in breast imaging which was his passion. At some point followed the dictum "go west young man" and together with his wife Pia moved to Montana first then to Idaho. When he retired they moved to Santa Fe, NM. Dr. Sobti a pleasant and easy-going lady put patients and referring physicians at ease. She was a graduate of All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India.
Radiation therapy was also in Fantus. Dr. Marion Magalotti a wonderful man was the Chief of the division. They were using a Cobalt-60 unit to treat patients. Cook County Hospital was one of three hospitals in the United States to install a Cobalt-beam therapy for the treatment of cancers.
Dr. Francisco Lopez, a native of Spain, was the chief and an expert in Nuclear Medicine. Among his other talents was drawing. He made a sketch of me which unfortunately I have lost. Dr. Sansi was an experienced nuclear medicine physician and did the interpretation of most of the studies.
Dr. Vivian Harris, a New Yorker, was the chief of Pediatric Radiology. Her Associate was Dr. Peter Theofer who got his MD degree from the University of Athens and did his radiology residency at UIC. He also did a Pediatric fellowship at George Washington in DC. They both reviewed complex cases with Dr. Rosita Pildes, the Chief of Pediatrics, and her staff daily. They also reviewed cases with Dr. Hernan Reyes, Chief of Pediatric Surgery
Radiology also covered the needs of Cook County Department of Corrections on California Avenue. Dr. Eugene Lidow was the single radiologist interpreting all inmates' studies. Dr. Lidow got his medical degree in Moscow, USSR. He did his residency at UIC and joined the department at CCH when I became Chairman. Upon retirement he moved to Naples, Florida.
Mr. George Dixon was the Chief Technologist and Mrs Reamer was his Assistant Chief. Mr. George Talge was the Chief of school of Rad technologists.
Clara Vasilovic was the departmental secretary and when she retired Cory Nicovic a very nice lady became my new secretary. Their assistant was Genie who was sitting in the front office and make sure that all physicians and visitors had easy access to my secretaries and I.
The following story made me feel how caring Cook County staff was to the poor; every winter a homeless lady was spending the nights in the long hospital corridor wrapped in a blanket. No security guard or any of the staff asked her to leave the premises; she left on her own when the Chicago winter was over to move to a park close to the hospital tucked among the flowers.
The post was authored by D G Spigos, MD PhD, CCH Radiology's Department Chairman between 1986 and 1992 and Dr. Ghassan Hammami a native of Syria who was my resident in those years. Ghassan and I correlated clinical with angiographic findings of victims of gunshot wounds. Our work drew international attention and was presented in several national and international conferences. Ghassan is currently practicing in the great State of Texas.
The post is dedicated to Dr. Bradley Langer who was born in 1955 in Chicago. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago and did his Radiology Residency at the University of Illinois. Brad joined me when I became Chairman of Radiology at Cook County Hospital in 1986. During my tenure he held many positions and was the most talented amongst the staff having as his main focus the patients' good. When I left in 1992 Brad became Chairman of the Department and Acting Medical Director. Brad unfortunately died young in 2020 leaving behind his beloved wifey Julie and his daughter Sylvie. He is missed by his family and friends. I am fortunate that I got to know and work with him when he was a resident at UIC and later attending at CCH. The memories are many. I will mention only two. Brad used to sail with me on the lake Michigan. He was with me and my brother on the return trip from the Mackinac island to Monroe harbor in Chicago. Also we both attended a meeting in Evian France where digital imaging was presented. It was practiced by the American Navy and was made public after the end of the cold war. Digital radiology has transformed our specialty. Brad was more than a friend and colleague he was a son to me.
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