Lichter becomes 2005 recipient of the ASTRO Gold Medal

Dean Allen Lichter, M.D., is a recipient of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 2005 Gold Medal.

The Gold Medal is ASTRO's highest honor. It has been presented annually since 1977 to remarkable physicians and scientists in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of radiation oncology, including research, clinical care, teaching and service. Recipients are drawn from any of the scientific disciplines represented by members of the Society.

Dean Lichter was recognized for his dedication to teaching the next generation of radiation oncologists and for his development, along with other colleagues, of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. He also helped to perfect the technique of field matching for breast cancer patients who require regional irradiation, introduced the concept of lung correction in breast cancer treatment planning, and was the principal investigator on the NCI randomized trail comparing breast-conserving surgery and radiation to mastectomy for patients with early stage disease.

Dean Lichter received the award from Theodore Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., ASTRO chair, and chair of the U-M Department of Radiation Oncology, on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2005, during ASTRO’s 47th Annual Meeting in Denver.

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 7,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society’s mission is to advance the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.