Mark M. Ravitch: Historian and Innovator

One hundred years after his birth, Mark Ravitch, the son of immigrants, has left a lasting footprint on the field of surgery, through his technical innovations, his foresight, his interest in education, and his humanism, which will continue to be recognized by future historians of surgery. His contributions to surgical stapling, the nonoperative management of intussusception in infants and children, and the operative treatments of congenital chest wall deformities and of sphincter preservation in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, have significantly changed the landscapes of these respective areas of surgery. His advocacy was highly instrumental in the development of the field of pediatric surgery as a subspecialty. All of these impressive accomplishments originated with a man who was initially rejected from medical school and who through intellect, courage, conviction, and ability, was able to accomplish more in a lifetime than others can only dream about. © 2011 Association of Program Directors in Surgery.