WALTHAM – The late Dr. Bernard S. Levy has been honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society as the 2022 recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a member of the Society who has made lasting contributions to the practice of medicine over a lifetime in health care delivery, patient care, education, and administration and who has made significant contributions to the goals of the Society.
Levy, a longtime Newton resident who passed away last December at the age of 85, practiced psychiatry for more than 50 years and was a devoted member of the Medical Society. He served on and chaired the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Committee on Physician Health and for more than 22 years, he was a trustee of the Massachusetts Medical Benevolent Society (MMBS).
“In his career, (Levy) he was drawn to patients suffering from mental illness and addiction, a group who have been largely stigmatized, and he was especially interested in caring for physicians suffering these problems,” said Dr. Charles Welch, past president of the MMS. “He was also a pillar of the medical community and throughout his career gave generously of his time and leadership, especially as an essential member of the Massachusetts Medical Benevolent Society.”
“Over the years, (Levy) was the first person I, along with so many others, would call upon when seeking assistance for a physician with behavioral health issues or substance use disorder and he was always willing to help,” said Dr. Mark Rockoff, president of MMBS.
Levy is a graduate of MIT and Duke University School of Medicine.
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) is the statewide professional association for physicians and medical students, supporting 25,000 members. We are dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians of Massachusetts and patients locally and nationally. A leadership voice in health care, the MMS contributes physician and patient perspectives to influence health-related legislation at the state and federal levels, works in support of public health, provides expert advice on physician practice management, and addresses issues of physician well-being. Under the auspices of the NEJM Group, the MMS extends our mission globally by advancing medical knowledge from research to patient care through the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM Catalyst, and the NEJM Journal Watch family of specialty publications, and through our education products for health care professionals: NEJM Knowledge+, NEJM Resident 360, and our accredited and comprehensive continuing medical education programs.
