Peter H. Levine

WORCESTER - Peter H. Levine, MD, 71, of Worcester, died on December 15, 2009 at his home.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Catherine, and by his three sons: Thomas Levine and his wife Jihee of Mansfield, Connecticut, William Levine and his wife Karen of Denver, Colorado, and James Levine MD and his wife Maria of Westborough, Massachusetts. He also leaves five grandchildren, Zachary, Nicole, Sarah, Lauren, and Finn. Dr. Levine was the son of the late Louis and Helen Hughes Levine.

A graduate of both Tufts University and the Tufts University School of Medicine, Dr. Levine was a nationally known hematologist whose career in that field included clinical practice, teaching, and research. Following two years as Hematologist at the Regional Referral Hospital at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC, he began his academic career in Boston at the New England Medical Center. In 1975 he moved his practice and his research team to the Worcester Memorial Hospital to become Chairman of the Department of Medicine and Director of the Blood Research Laboratory.

In addition to his care of people with blood diseases, Dr. Levine published more than 160 pieces of original research, and he wrote many chapters on the diagnosis and treatment of various blood diseases in leading American medical textbooks. He was a respected teacher, winning numerous teaching awards. He served as visiting professor in several United States medical schools, and in teaching hospitals and medical schools in England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Germany, Israel, Japan, and China. He was involved in the training of about 200 residents in Internal Medicine, many of whom now practice in the Worcester area.

In 1989 he was appointed President and CEO of Worcester Memorial Hospital and in 1998 he became the first President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, in whose formation he had played a major role. During his 13 years as healthcare CEO he built a new wing on the Memorial Campus with a new emergency room, surgical suites, Obstetrical Service, Newborn Intensive Care Unit and new main entrance, laid the blueprint for a successful set of mergers, recruited more than 300 new physicians to the area, and saw the growth of UMass Memorial into the second largest acute healthcare facility in the state. He was extremely proud of the quality of the staff, and regularly made surprise rounds on patient care units at various times of day and night to interview staff, patients, and family members.

In 2001, the year prior to his planned retirement, the UMass Memorial Board of Trustees named the new Ambulatory Cancer Center at the Memorial Campus the Peter H. Levine Cancer Center in his honor. Dr. Levine had conceived of this facility a decade earlier, and had led a community fund raising drive which fully covered the costs of its construction. Dr. Levine was himself subsequently a patient at the center, whose staff provided him with superb care.

During his career, Dr. Levine provided frequent testimony to House and Senate subcommittees on Capital Hill, advocating for increased research funding for a variety of healthcare reform measures. He served on the Board of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, chairing its board in 1997-98. He was active in Worcester in many causes. He chaired the board of the Worcester County Music Association from 1991 to 1993. He led the United Way Campaign in 1995, and subsequently chaired the Leadership Giving Committee for the United Way. He was a member of the board and Executive Committee of WPI, and served these same roles for Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives. He was a board member of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and served as chair since 2008; he also served as Honorary Chair of the Foundation's GLBT Partnership. In 1997 he was awarded the Visions 2000 Citizen of the Year Award, and in 2001 he was given the Annual Award for Advancement of the General Health of the Citizens of Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Health Council.

After retiring from UMass Memorial Health Care, Dr. Levine worked as a Senior Advisor to BDC Advisors, helping hospital physicians and health plans chart strategic direction in a rapidly changing environment. He most recently worked with St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford.

Dr. Levine and his wife, Catherine, were avid canoeists, lovers of the outdoors, and pursued many hobbies together. Dr. Levine often commented that his greatest life accomplishment was his family, whose members were an enormous source of pride.

Peter was a member of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 11 a.m. in the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Peter H. Levine may be made to the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, 370 Main Street, Suite 650, Worcester, MA 01608, or to the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Memorial arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, (Rte. 122A) Holden.

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