Ronald Steven Litman, a leader in pediatric anesthesiology and a former professor in anesthesiology and pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, died on April 21 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was 62.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Yonkers, Dr. Litman had a lifetime love of Broadway shows and pizza. In 1980, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Five years later, he obtained a DO (doctor of osteopathic medicine) from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York. In addition, Dr. Litman received an ML from Penn Law in 2018. Dr. Litman first worked at the University of Rochester Medical Center, then came to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (as a pediatric anesthesiologist) and PSOM (as a professor of pediatrics and anesthesiology) in 2001.

Professionally, Dr. Litman was heavily involved throughout the field of anesthesiology. He was a longtime member of the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. “For his entire career, Ron was a guiding light of clinical excellence, a dedicated mentor of all from undergraduate students to anesthesia trainees and faculty colleagues,” said SPA in a written tribute. “His unending inquisitiveness and challenging of established dogma led him to innovative clinical research investigations, in which he collaborated with those from many fields outside pediatric anesthesiology. His innovative findings have educated us all about everything from airway anatomy under anesthesia to pathophysiology of mediastinal masses and malignant hyperthermia.”

Outside Penn, Dr. Litman served as the chair of the FDA Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee and as the medical director at the Institute for Safe Medication Practice. Dr. Litman served on many hospital and national committees and participated in medical missions to Mexico and Central America. He was also medical director and vice chair of the Malignant Hypothermia Association. In early 2021, Dr. Litman launched a new journal, Pediatric Anesthesia Article of the Day, which his colleagues intend to continue. To subscribe, visit https://ronlitman.substack.com/.

“Ron will be remembered as a giant in the field of pediatric anesthesia,” wrote Charles Dean Kurth, professor of anesthesiology and critical care at HUP and CHOP. “He was passionate about medication safety and teaching pediatric anesthesia.” “He trained and inspired a generation of pediatric anesthesiologists,” said SPA.

Dr. Litman is survived by his wife, Daphne Klausner; his children, Alan and Cory; his parents, Arthur and Barbara; and his stepchildren, Ethan and Becca Genyk. A private service was held on April 23. Donations in Dr. Litman’s memory can be made to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, P. O. Box 7512, Philadelphia, PA, 19101, or The Museum of Jewish Heritage, Development Office, 36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280.

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