Ronald Steven Litman, pediatric anesthesiologist and medical educator, dies at 62

Ronald Steven Litman, 62, of Philadelphia, a leader in pediatric anesthesiology who inspired many to follow in his footsteps, died April 21 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

An internationally known and respected medical educator, author, and clinician, Dr. Litman was most recently an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and a professor of anesthesiology and pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Ron will be remembered as a giant in the field of pediatric anesthesia,” wrote Charles Dean Kurth, CHOP anesthesiologist-in-chief in a message to colleagues. “He was passionate about medication safety and teaching pediatric anesthesia.”

In addition to the countless patients Dr. Litman served, his lectures, articles, and books have influenced generations of anesthesiologists, according to colleagues.

“He loved to teach and mentor. That was his favorite thing to do,” said his wife, Daphne Klausner. “I’ve gotten calls and emails and texts from people all over the world about him being the reason they went into pediatric anesthesia.”

Just a couple months ago, buoyed by promising results of a stem cell transplant, Dr. Litman started a new newsletter, Pediatric Anesthesia Article of the Day. His wife said it is still attracting new subscribers, and some of her husband’s colleagues have told her they plan to continue it.

That he stayed positive and productive even as he fought cancer was true to his nature. He was diagnosed last July, and his wife said she believes he knew a good outcome was unlikely but kept that to himself.

When Dr. Litman first started to experience fatigue and low-grade fever shortly before he was diagnosed, his wife said he thought he might have COVID-19 since he was still working in the operating room, but his results came back negative. The day he learned he had cancer, she said, he went directly from the operating room to his doctor’s office and got the diagnosis.

“He cared for so many people in his lifetime, children and others, his colleagues,” she said. “It was truly my honor to take care of him for the last nine months.”

Dr. Litman lived a full life well beyond his professional accomplishments.

Born in Manhattan and raised in Yonkers by his parents, Arthur and Barbara Litman, Dr. Litman kept true to his New York roots in some significant ways. A lover of theater, his wife said he had been to over 300 Broadway shows. And the man knew his pizza.

“He literally could eat pizza every day,” his wife said. “And nothing was better than a New York slice.”

He was a world traveler, too.

In February 2020, Dr. Litman and his wife took a three-week journey to India, a lifelong dream for both for them.

Closer to home, Dr. Litman was a longtime member of the Germantown Cricket Club and loved to play tennis and squash.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. But he also took pride in the fact that he was a 2018 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

In addition to his academic work, mentorship, and medical practice, Dr. Litman served on many hospital and national committees and participated in medical missions to Mexico and Central America. He was medical director and vice chair for the Malignant Hypothermia Association. He also served on professional bodies that sought to ensure safe opioid use and regulation.

In addition to his wife and parents, Dr. Litman is survived by his children, Alan and Cory Litman, and his stepchildren, Ethan and Becca Genyk. His sister died earlier.

A private service was held Friday, April 23.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, P. O. Box 7512, Philadelphia, Pa., 19101, or The Museum of Jewish Heritage, Development Office, 36 Battery Place, New York, N.Y. 10280.