A vase of flowers rests outside the office of Dr. Edward B. Singleton with the note, “we’ll miss you.” It’s a feeling shared by all who knew Singleton, Chief Emeritus of the Edward B. Singleton Department of Pediatric Radiology at Texas Children’s Hospital. Singleton passed away on January 10 at the age of 94.
In 1952, Texas Children’s Hospital was still in its infancy, just being built, when Singleton was hired on as the organization’s very first physician, also taking on the role of chief of radiology at St. Luke’s Hospital and the Texas Heart Institute. Singleton, having just complete his residency at the University of Michigan, was interested in the field of pediatric radiology, an unchartered territory at the time. He was a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received his medical degree from UTMB in Galveston where his father was chair of the Department of Surgery. Singleton considered his father to be his icon and was determined to follow in his footsteps just like his older brother did.
He had deep roots in Texas and was glad to return home to become chief of the Department of Pediatric Radiology at Texas Children’s Hospital, a position he held until 1994. After a short retirement of about two months, Singleton returned to work and where he worked full-time until his passing. When asked about his favorite thing about coming in every day, Singleton couldn’t pick just one. He insisted there were two. The first was the joy of contributing to a field he had dedicated himself to for more than 60 years, and second was his passion for teaching residents and helping them become better radiologists. Singleton often said he learned more from them than they did from him.
Among the many highlights in his enduring career was co-authoring an article published in the journal Pediatric Radiology describing a rare and newly recognized condition coined the Singleton-Merton syndrome, a growth disorder characterized by decreased bone density, an enlarged heart and dental abnormalities. Singleton was later awarded the Radiological Society of North America’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, given for long and outstanding service and his pioneering work in pediatric radiology. In addition, he received several other gold medals from other top radiological societies, the most for any radiologist.
Among his countless friendships was a lifelong one with famed heart surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley. The two met as pledge brothers at UT, attended medical school together and continued their close ties throughout the decades. Decades after meeting, Cooley performed heart surgery on Singleton. Singleton joked it was his repayment for the years of notes he shared with his friend during their college years.
Those who knew Singleton knew his love for his late wife, his four children, many grandchildren and several great grandchildren as well as his sincere dedication to the field of pediatric radiology. Asked when he would retire, Singleton always answered, “When they carry me out.” He joked that this was his motto.
To the many who worked with him or knew him at Texas Children’s, he was a friend, a mentor, a legend. To love him was to love his stories. Here is Dr. Edward B. Singleton, in his own words.
On teaching
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On his highest honors
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On his friendship with Dr. Denton A. Cooley
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On the evolution of radiology
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