Featured Image: Lehigh Valley Health Network’s 21st endowed chair was dedicated on May 3. Attending the ceremony for the announcement of the Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis in honor of Lawrence P. Levitt, MD were: Bottom row (left to right) Arnold Kaplan, Deanne Kaplan, Howard Weiner, MD, and Lawrence P. Levitt, MD Top row (left to right) Dmitry Khaitov, MD, Maris Ryba (Kaplans’ granddaughter), Pamela Ryba (Kaplans’ daughter), and Steven Lewis, MD

 

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (May 15, 2023) – Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) dedicated its newest endowed chair–this one in multiple sclerosis (MS)–on May 3 during a ceremony at Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest. The generosity of Arnold and Deanne Kaplan supported the creation of the Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Endowed Chair in Multiple Sclerosis in honor of Lawrence P. Levitt, MD.

The holder of the newest endowed chair is Dmitry Khaitov, MD, LVHN Neurology, for his commitment to patients faced with MS. The endowed chair will provide funds to expand MS educational programs, health and wellness programs for MS patients and expand clinical research for the Multiple Sclerosis Program at Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute.

Dr. Khaitov co-directs the LVHN MS Center with Gary Clauser, MD, where they and their team of devoted clinicians provide cutting-edge care and support to patients with multiple sclerosis from throughout the region and beyond.

“The MS Program at LVHN is recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a Center for Comprehensive MS care,” said Brian A. Nester, DO, LVHN President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “Over the last three years, an average of 1,458 individual patients with MS are seen annually at LVHN Neurology. Every week, approximately 3-4 new patients with MS seek care at LVHN either as a new diagnosis or as a transfer from another institution.”

Arnold Kaplan, a former member of LVHN’s Board of Trustees, spoke at the dedication ceremony about how his wife, Deanne, has multiple sclerosis and by 1972 needed a wheelchair to get around. At that time, Kaplan worked at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and had been hired by its founder, Leonard Parker Pool. The visionary behind what is now LVH–Cedar Crest, Pool connected the couple to Dr. Levitt, a neurologist, at LVHN, who would “do whatever it took to help Deanne,” said Kaplan.

“Little did we know then the impact Dr. Levitt and Lehigh Valley Health Network would have on our family,” Kaplan said. “It is a great honor to present this endowed chair today and to complete the circle that began 50 years ago.”

Dr. Levitt points to his relationship with the Kaplans, and their gift to recognize him, as a clear highlight in his career.

Dr. Nester said endowed chairs are critical to the mission of LVHN, helping to recruit and retain the best national talent. He said it has become increasingly difficult in the post-COVID world to recruit physicians – primary care, specialists and surgeons.

“The endowed chair holders are among the health network’s best physicians who are engaged and focused on patient care, education, and research and lead the way in health care not only here at home but nationally,” Dr. Nester said.

This latest endowed chair is LVHN’s 21st.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) includes 13 hospital campuses, four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, one in Lehighton and one in Dickson City, Pa.; 28 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations including the area’s only Children’s ExpressCARE; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred. Specialty care includes: trauma care for adults and children, burn care at the Regional Burn Center; kidney and pancreas transplants; perinatal/neonatal, cardiac, cancer, orthopedics, neurology, complex neurosurgery capabilities including national certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, and robotic surgery in 10

specialties. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute, Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute and Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute physicians provide the most advanced treatments. Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute is a member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance, an initiative that helps community providers improve the quality of cancer care and offers access to MSK clinical trials. Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, the community’s only children’s hospital, provides care in more than 30 specialties and general pediatrics. Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest is ranked as the region’s No. 1 hospital for nine straight years and has been recognized among Pennsylvania’s top 10 hospitals for nine consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest, LVH–17th Street and LVH–Muhlenberg are the Lehigh Valley region’s only Magnet® hospitals for nursing excellence. Additional information is available by visiting LVHN.org or following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Information and image provided to TVL by:
Brian Downs
Public Information Officer
Marketing and Public Affairs
Lehigh Valley Health Network
LVHN.org

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