In Memoriam: David Becker, M.D.


The Division of Endocrinology Announces with Great Sadness the Passing of our Dear Colleague Dr. David Becker

Dr. Becker was a revered member of the Division of Endocrinology and a nationally and internationally recognized thyroidologist, with particular expertise in thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer. Dr. Becker was a pioneer in the use of radioactive isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease. During his residency at New York Hospital in 1954, he was recruited by the Chief of Medicine to set up a radioisotope laboratory. In 1955, he became the founding director of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Division of Nuclear Medicine, a position he held until 1995. For over 50 years, Dr. Becker was a beloved member of the NYPH/WCMC family, and rose to the ranks of Professor of Medicine and Radiology.

Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Becker served as President of the American Thyroid Association from 1982 to 1983 and received its Distinguished Service Medal in 1989. In 1990, he was the recipient of the Society of Nuclear Medicine's Berson-Yalow Award. Throughout his career, Dr. Becker served on multiple national committees related to policy development for the treatment of radiation exposure following nuclear accidents. In 1996, he received the White House Citation for Humanitarian Efforts for his studies of childhood thyroid cancer following the Chernobyl accident.