Dr Michael V. Sivak, Jr, (Author photo 1, Author photo 2, Author photo 3, Author photo 4, Author photo 5, Author photo 6, Author photo 7, Author photo 8, Author photo 9, Author photo 10, Author photo 11, Author photo 12, Author photo 13; Video 1, available online at www.VideoGIE.org) is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr Sivak served as Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and the Case School of Medicine from 1993 until the end of 2005. Before his appointment at Case, he was Chairman of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1988-1993). Dr Sivak joined the Clinic as a staff physician in 1976, where he also served as head of the Section of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (1980-1990).
Author photo 1.
Me at about 6 or 7 years old. Note the cowboy shirt.
Author photo 2.
I wanted to be a musician starting in high school. Me (standing) at about 16 years old with my band.
Author photo 3.
At 16 or 17 years old, outfitted as the drum major for my high school marching band.
Author photo 4.
With my band again. At this point I am in college, about 19 years old. The band dissolved when I went to medical school.
Author photo 5.
Me as a GI Fellow at Cleveland Clinic in 1974. I didn’t really have my own office or desk. That’s Ben Sullivan’s desk. Ben took the picture; this was sort of an inside joke at the time because any other fellow who tried this pose at his desk would never see graduation.
Author photo 6.
With Ben again, before 1980, using fiberscopes. Note the lack of gloves and other protective gear.
Author photo 7.
This is me with an early-model video colonoscope from Welch Allen. Some of the observers were engineers and marketing types from the company.
Author photo 8.
With my teacher, mentor, and great friend, B. H. Sullivan, Jr, at Cleveland Clinic, circa early 1980s. We are doing pancreatoscopy, which explains the strange setup. Ben was a career army officer and retired with the rank of full colonel, so to friends he was known as The Colonel. As you may have noticed from the video, I am evidently remembered for some of the sayings or quotes I used; I got a lot of these from Ben. He was an expert at sarcasm. To the fellows: “Anything that isn’t required is forbidden.”
Author photo 9.
Me as the Chairman of Gastroenterology at Cleveland Clinic, circa 1988. Put on some weight.
Author photo 10.
Me (seated, middle) as ASGE President with the members of the Governing Board during my tenure and the executive director of the society at that time, William Maloney (seated at far left), circa 1990.
Author photo 11.
Me again, this time as Chief, at the Division of Gastroenterology at University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, with a patient, circa 1992.
Author photo 12.
Graduates of my advanced training program formed a sort-of club called the Sivak Endoscopy Club. Before I retired, we used to get together once a year, generally at Digestive Disease Week, for dinner. Some of the get-togethers were pretty formal affairs. I think this one was taken in San Francisco at the Top of the Mark restaurant. My wife, Donna, is to my right.
Author photo 13.
With friends from the ASGE days. That’s me with a hat on in the Jeep; Jim Borland in the red jacket; John Bond next to him; my wife, Donna, looking at the camera; and Mrs Borland next to her. If I remember correctly, we were off-roading in the Colorado Rockies after an ASGE meeting. That’s bottled water we’re drinking.
After obtaining his medical degree from the Hahnemann Medical College (now part of Drexel University) in Philadelphia in 1969, Dr Sivak was an intern at the Hamot Medical Center in his home city of Erie, Pennsylvania. Fellowship training in Gastroenterology (1972-1974) and Internal Medicine (1970-1972) at Cleveland Clinic was followed by 2 years of active duty as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy.
Dr Sivak devoted his entire professional career to GI endoscopy. He is renowned worldwide for his many unique contributions to the advancement of his chosen field. He was involved in endoscopic research and teaching for more than 30 years. Dr Sivak authored or coauthored almost 200 peer-reviewed publications, as well as 56 chapters on endoscopic topics in books, numerous editorials, review articles, letters, a slide atlas, videotapes, and miscellaneous commentaries. He has published 5 books on endoscopy, including 2 editions of his standard textbook, Gastroenterologic Endoscopy. His research interests in endoscopy were wide ranging, with notable contributions in the areas of EUS and optical coherence tomography.
A dedicated teacher throughout his professional career, Dr Sivak was among the first in the world to offer a special training program in advanced endoscopy and endoscopic research. This intense, year-long period of study was designed by Dr Sivak not only to develop the highest level of endoscopic expertise but also to foster a dedication to the training of others in endoscopy and an enduring commitment to endoscopic research. Restricted to fully trained gastroenterologists, this program, now ongoing for over 30 years, continues to produce experts in GI endoscopy. Graduates hold academic positions in some of the foremost institutions throughout the world, and they continue to make substantial contributions to GI endoscopy through research and education. Many are now distinguished by positions of responsibility in national affairs.
Throughout his professional career, Dr Sivak was closely associated with the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), having served the Society in numerous capacities including president (1989-1990). The ASGE awarded Dr Sivak its highest distinction, the Rudolf Schindler Award, in 1997. At the end of 2004, Dr Sivak concluded an 8-year term as Editor-in-Chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the foremost journal in the field.
Dr Sivak retired from practice in 2006 and lives with his wife, Donna, in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Disclosure
The author disclosed no financial relationships relevant to this publication.
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Dr Michael V. Sivak.