In Memoriam (George Sisson Sr.)
George A. Sisson Sr., MD, emeritus professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery, died August 6 after a long illness. Dr. Sisson grew up in Jamestown, New York, and earned his MD degree from Syracuse University, where he served as a residency program director before joining Northwestern as professor and chair of his department in 1967.
Dr. Sisson was committed to elevating the regard with which his specialty was held. He was among the cofounders of the American Society of Head and Neck Surgery and pushed for an expanded role for otolaryngologists in such areas as surgical treatment of head and neck cancers. His accomplishments include pioneering new surgical procedures for these cancers. Dr. Sisson stepped down as chair in 1989 and retired in 1990.
Survivors include wife Mary Alice; son George A. Sisson Jr., MD ’75, GME ’80, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at Northwestern; daughters Kathryn DuChene and Marjorie Swelstad; sister Virginia Schumacher; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
