Martin J. Lipton, MD, Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Department of Radiology at the University of Chicago, died on April 25, 2025. He was 89 years old.
Lipton was a distinguished radiologist and educator renowned for his contributions to cardiac imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Originally from Liverpool, England, he received his medical training at the University of Liverpool, followed by post-graduate training at several London hospitals, including Royal PGMS and Hammersmith Hospital, Westminster Hospital, the National Heart/Brompton Hospital, and St. George’s Hospital.
He moved to the United States in 1969 to join the faculty at Stanford University, where he spent eight years before moving to the University of California, San Franscisco (UCSF) in 1977. At UCSF, he served as a tenured professor in radiology and medicine, as well as Section Chief for Cardiovascular Imaging.
Lipton came to UChicago in 1988 to serve as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology for 12 years. During his tenure, he recruited several key faculty members; expanded the residency program; developed fellowships in neuroradiology, interventional radiology, and body imaging; and built an active international fellowship program. Following his tenure at the UChicago, he also served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School (Brigham and Women’s Hospital) for three years.
Lipton was instrumental in advancing the field of diagnostic imaging. His research focused on areas such as myocardial ischemia quantification and the development of non-invasive imaging techniques for cardiovascular conditions. He received funding from the National Institutes of Health for several projects, including magnetic resonance imaging in animal models and quantifying myocardial ischemia with high-speed CT imaging. Over the course of his career, he was invited to lecture worldwide, amassed almost 250 peer-reviewed publications, and edited or wrote chapters for some 70 books.
“Marty was a name brand in his field. He left a strong legacy which we have since built upon,” said Steven Montner, MD, Professor and current Acting Chair of Radiology at UChicago. “For those of us who remember him, we will miss his leadership and tremendous sense of humor.”
Following his long and storied career, Lipton retired and returned to Marin County, California, where he lived with his wife Jacquie.
