Zelig (“Zeck”) Herbert Lieberman, MD: a conversation with the editor

From the Departments of Surgery and Oncology (Lieberman) and the Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute (Roberts), Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

Corresponding author: Zelig H. Lieberman, MD, 3600 Gaston Avenue, Suite 958, Dallas, Texas 75246.

Zeck Lieberman (Figure 1) was born in Floresville, Texas, on June 7, 1928. When he was 8, his family moved to San Antonio, where he graduated from high school at age 16. After 2 years at the University of Texas in Austin, he entered Tulane University School of Medicine, where he graduated second in his class at age 22. His internship and residency in general surgery were at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, associated with the Washington University School of Medicine. His residency was interrupted for 2 years while he served as a surgeon in the US Air Force. After completing his residency training in 1957, he moved to Dallas and joined the staff of Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC) (then called Baylor Hospital), where he has been ever since.

Zeck Lieberman has been one of Baylor's finest leaders during these past 45 years. He has been president of the medical staff of BUMC (1990) and chairman of its medical board (1991). He is one of 3 physician representatives on the board of trustees of BUMC. Dr. Lieberman is also assistant chief of the department of surgery at BUMC and previous chief of surgical oncology at the Sammons Cancer Center of BUMC. In addition to his extremely active surgical practice, Dr. Lieberman has been clinical professor of surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center for many years. He has been president of the Dallas County Unit of the American Cancer Society and the Dallas Society of General Surgeons.

For his many accomplishments, Zeck has received a number of awards, including having a Baylor building named in his honor, the Zelig H. Lieberman Research Building, which was dedicated in 1998. He received the 50-year lifetime achievement award in 2000 from his alma mater, Tulane University School of Medicine, and he was the “Father of the Year” in Dallas–Fort Worth in 2000. Zeck Lieberman and his lovely wife, Marilyn Ely, have been married for 47 years, and they have 3 very successful offspring. Zeck Lieberman is simply a wonderful human being and a splendid surgeon and physician, and he brings much honor to his beloved BUMC.