Jeffrey A. Norton and the Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Jeffrey A. Norton could have been a professional football player but instead he chose to pursue a career in medicine and in the process became an outstanding academic surgeon. This story recounts his ascent from a small town in Massachusetts to the pinnacle of academic surgery.

METHODS: After graduating from high school in Albany, New York, Jeff continued his education at Dartmouth University, the State University of New York Upstate Medical University at Syracuse (SUNY Upstate Medical University), and the Department of Surgery at the Duke University School of Medicine. When he completed the surgical residency, he spent 10 years at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where he and his colleagues made significant contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with endocrine tumors. After leaving the NCI, he had highly productive years as a Professor in Departments of Surgery at Washington University, the University of California at San Francisco, and Stanford University. He became a member of every major academic surgical society and won numerous awards for his accomplishments in research. His expertise in educating medical students and surgical residents is legendary.

RESULTS: In addition to his academic accomplishments, Jeff trained legions of young surgeons who subsequently made significant contributions in surgical investigation and clinical surgery.

CONCLUSION: It is most fitting that the Stanford University School of Medicine has assembled a group of Jeffrey Norton's colleagues in academic medicine and surgery to pay tribute to his achievements as a surgical scientist.