Dr. William Lipshutz

Dr. William H. Lipshutz, MD, passed away at his home on Rittenhouse Square peacefully on November 4, 2024. He was 82 years old. A lifelong resident of Philadelphia, Billy or Bill, as he was known to friends and family, was an academic star and star human being from his earliest days at Central High School, Swarthmore College and University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Bill was a star athlete at Central High school in Philadelphia and continued playing football at Swarthmore

Education and caring for others were always very important to Billy and central to his life. After graduating from medical school, he began his over fifty year association with Pennsylvania Hospital in 1967 as an intern. After his first year of residency, he was a fellow in Gastroenterology at Penn and then returned to Pennsylvania Hospital to serve as chief resident. 

He served two years in the United States Navy for two years. He then returned to Pennsylvania Hospital to establish and lead the division of Gastroenterology—a position he subsequently held for over 30 years. In addition to a long career treating patients, he spent more than forty five years teaching the next generation of doctors and nothing would make him happier than interacting with young inquisitive minds. 

Board certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, he was a Fellow of both the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American College of Gastroenterology and was regularly named to local and national "top doctors" and "best doctors" listings. Bill was awarded essentially every major teaching award at Pennsylvania Hospital over the years.

The titles and awards only tell part of the story. They don’t tell the stories of how beloved he was by colleagues, his patients and the countless young doctors he taught and mentored throughout his career. 

Bill was very generous and always led by example. He did not utter derogatory words about a colleague, nurse, staff or individual he was caring for. He had a strong desire to do the right thing. As one of his colleagues wrote recently, “He served as a role model for generations of physicians. He was the person and doctor we aspire to be. “

Bill was recognized wherever he went in Philadelphia or down the shore. In addition to his many life-long friends and colleagues, countless patients and their families would stop him and express their gratitude for his caring approach. He was a kind, generous man who treated everyone he met with respect. He will be sorely missed. 

He is survived by his wife Ilene; children Amy Nelms (Joseph) and Jonathan Lipshutz (Chris); stepsons Derek Liss (Samantha) and Jonathan Liss (Elizabeth), grandchildren (Zoe, Pacey, Jack, Robyn and Ethan), and sister Judith Gewitz (Dr. Michael). He is predeceased by his first wife Andrea Lipshutz and brother Dr. Gilbert Lipshutz. 

The funeral will be at Goldstein’s Rosenberg’s Funeral Directors Inc., located at 6410 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19126 on November 10, 2024 at 11:30 am.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce St., Phila., PA 19107.