Sylvan B. Green M.D.

Sylvan B. Green, M.D. 62, Director of Biometry and the inaugural Linda McCartney Breast Cancer Endowed Chair in Biometry at the Arizona Cancer Center, and Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the College of Public Health at The University of Arizona, died Saturday, December 13, 2008, in Tucson, Ariz., of pancreatic cancer. He was acknowledged by his research colleagues both nationally and internationally to be one of the most outstanding cancer clinical biostatisticians worldwide. Dr. Green was born May 15, 1946, in Philadelphia. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Natural Science and his Medical Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania, from which he also held a certificate in Molecular Biology. He served his medical internship at the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse in 1972-1973. Dr. Green had a 24-year career at the National Cancer Institute at Bethesda, MD., where he was involved in methodological and applied research. He was the Lead Research Investigator in the Clinical and Diagnostic Trials Section, Biometry Branch. In 1997, Dr. Green joined the faculty of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland as Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Professor of Biomedical Ethics; Professor of Oncology and Cancer Center Associate Director (Biostatistics and Informatics). Dr. Green joined the Arizona Cancer Center in 2002, where he led the center's methodological and applied research activities. He played a major role in the Cancer Center's translational research efforts through participating in several major grants in study design, project development and biostatistical analyses. His research interests were in design and analysis of clinical trials, prevention trials, and epidemiologic studies, and applying biostatistical and computer methodologies to medical and public health problems. Dr. Green was elected a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology in 1983. He served as the President of the Society for Clinical Trials in 1994-1995 and was elected a Fellow in 2007. He was also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Statistical Association and the American Association for Cancer Research. Dr. Green was a retired officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Dr. Green is survived by his wife, Angela Lyn Redlingshafer Green, of Tucson. He was buried at Roosevelt Cemetery in Philadelphia following graveside services December 17, 2008. A memorial service for Dr. Green will be held in Tucson at the Arizona Cancer Center Kiewit Auditorium in January. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arizona Cancer Center patient and nurse assistance fund, payable to AZCC/UAF, and mailed to PO Box 245013, Tucson, AZ 85724.