Members of the Department of Anesthesiology gathered at the Griffis Faculty Club last week on August 26 to celebrate a milestone birthday of one of the Department’s and Weill Cornell Medical College’s long-serving faculty members, Professor Emerita of Clinical Anesthesiology Marjorie Topkins, M.D. Current faculty and CRNAs joined with several other emeritus faculty members, to wish Dr. Topkins a happy 90th birthday. The occasion provided an opportunity to remember Dr. Topkins’ accomplishments as a physician, researcher, and educator, as well as an opportunity for many old friends to reconnect.
Dr. Marjorie Topkins joined the College and Hospital in 1954, before there was a stand-alone Department of Anesthesiology. The Anesthesia Service within the Department of Surgery became its own department within New York Hospital in 1957, and within Cornell University Medical College in 1967. Dr. Topkins was on faculty for all of these momentous changes and growth. For much of her career she oversaw the CRNA service, and was involved in the Department’s education programs. Additionally, she was a noted researcher in cardiac anesthesiology, and her work helped shape that field during its formative years. Although she retired in 1996, she remains connected to many colleagues and friends from her time on faculty. Dr. Topkins, along with Alan Van Poznak,M.D., are the emeritus faculty for whom The Marjorie J. Topkins, M.D.-Alan Van Poznak, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Anesthesiology is named. Stephen J. Thomas, M.D. holds this professorship. Both Dr. Van Poznak and Dr. Thomas were also in attendance. The event provided an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the work of Dr. Topkins.
Clockwise from top left: The Department of Anesthesiology faculty, 1967-68. Dr. Topkins is in the front row on the left; Dr. Topkins talks to faculty at the birthday reception; veteran and emeritus faculty together again; Dr. Van Poznak talks with Dr. Topkins.