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LOUIS L. LEVINE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW YORK COLLEGE OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE, DIES at 95

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Louis L. Levine, 95, President and CEO of the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM), died on December 23rd in New York.

Louis L. Levine had been President and Chief Executive Officer of NYCPM since 1991, and effected major changes at the school that vastly improved students' education. Prior to his selection by NYCPM's Board of Trustees, he was Corporate Vice-President for Governmental and Public Affairs at Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield, from 1980 to 1991. In March 1976, he became Chairman of the Executive Committee and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Group Health, Inc., serving until 1979.

From 1966 to 1976, Mr. Levine served as Commissioner of Labor Affairs and as Industrial Commissioner of New York State under Governors Nelson Rockefeller, Malcolm Wilson and Hugh Carey. Mr. Levine served in the U.S. armed forces for more than four decades, first in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and then in the U.S. Army Reserve, from which he retired in 1987 as a Lt. Colonel.

Achievements at NYCPM

As President and CEO of NYCPM, he made changes as soon as he arrived in 1991.

  • He made physical and internal and external changes to the College, creating new labs, lecture halls, conference center, student lounge and a true cafeteria, all aimed at improving students' experience and education.
  • He made changes that increased the quality of the education at NYCPM, and continually upgraded the in-house IT Department, staying on top of students' digital needs.
  • For 1st years: Inaugurated the highly motivational annual White Coat ceremony, in which first-year students don their white coats and recite the Hippocratic Oath for the first time.
  • For 3rd years: Changed the nature of clinical rotations for faculty and third-year students. Students obtain hands-on experience. NYCPM now offers more rotations in hospitals than any other podiatric college. Faculty and students staff the podiatric departments in several NYC HHC hospitals in Harlem and South Bronx, greatly improving those departments.
  • For 4th years: Initiated the practice of sending senior students out on externships, whereby students receive further training at external institutions.
  • He had the federal law changed, so that podiatric residency positions are funded at the hospitals on equal footing with allopathic and osteopathic schools.
  • Formed relationships with schools internationally, fostering student and faculty exchanges.
  • Put NYCPM on a firmer financial footing.

In 2021, President Levine was inducted into the Podiatry Management Hall of Fame and received its Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2016, the Legislature of the State of New York officially commended Mr. Levine “on his 25 years of distinguished service as President/CEO of New York College of Podiatric Medicine.” Citing his dedication to public service, including serving as Commissioner of Labor Affairs and as Industrial Commissioner under Governors Rockefeller, Wilson and Carey, the Legislative Resolution noted his “compassionate blending of strength, leadership, and commitment … over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others.” Mr. Levine received many awards and much recognition during his career.

Mr. Levine held a PhD (a.b.d.) in Sociology, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Industrial Sociology from NYU, and a BA degree in Sociology and Psychology from CUNY City College. He holds several honorary doctoral degrees, from Marist College and NYCPM, among others.

Louis L. Levine is survived by his wife of 72 years, Marilyn. They had three children – Steven, Ronald and Linda – nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

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