Truett Allison, Ph.D. ’62, Ernest I. Kohorn, M.CHIR., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G., Peter Lengyel, Ph.D.

Three senior faculty members who came to Yale School of Medicine in the 1960s attained emeritus status this year: Truett Allison, Ph.D. ’62, professor of neurology and psychology, Ernest I. Kohorn, M.CHIR., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.O.G., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Peter Lengyel, Ph.D., professor of molecular biophysics and biochemistry and senior research scientist.

Allison, an expert on visual neurophysiology and cognitive neuroscience, has conducted research in the localization of function in the human brain, the neurophysiology of the human and monkey somato-sensory system, the evolution of sleep, the location and functional characteristics of the human cortex within the mesial wall, and visual object recognition. Allison joined the faculty in 1963 and has held concurrent appointments at the VA Connecticut HealthCare System in West Haven since 1965. He became a full professor in 1980.

Kohorn, a pioneer in the use of obstetric ultrasound and in gynecologic oncology, first came to Yale as an instructor in 1965. After a year in England, where he developed the first ultrasound unit for obstetrics and gynecology in London, he returned to New Haven to set up the first obstetric ultrasound unit in New England. In 1970 Kohorn established what is now the Yale Center for Trophoblastic disease and was also one of the first gynecologists to use chemotherapy in the management of ovarian cancer. He has been president of the New England Association of Gynecologic Oncologists, the American Urogynecologic Society and the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons.

Lengyel has studied the control of protein synthesis with a focus on the genetics and biochemistry of the action of interferons, the secreted proteins of vertebrates that have antiviral, cell growth regulatory and immunomodulatory activities. Lengyel joined the faculty in 1965 as an associate professor and was appointed full professor in 1969. He also served as director of graduate studies of molecular biophysics and acting director of the division of biological sciences.