Irving Olshin, 80, teacher of medicine

Irving J. Olshin, 80, of Washington Square, a beloved professor of pediatrics and an admissions committee member at Thomas Jefferson Medical College, interviewed his last prospective medical student on March 19, the day before he suffered a massive heart attack. He never regained consciousness and died March 28 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

At his portrait presentation ceremony in 1972, Dr. Olshin said: "I started my career in medicine at the age of 9 by packing tinfoil ripped out of old tobacco packages into the cavities of the neighborhood children in West Oak Lane." Dr. Olshin's portrait hangs in Jefferson Medical College.

Dr. Olshin graduated with honors in 1945 from Central High School and was then drafted into the Army. He worked in a medical laboratory at Fort Meade, Md., until he was discharged in 1946.

Dr. Olshin graduated in 1950 with a bachelor's degree and in 1954 with a medical degree, both from the University of Pennsylvania. After his residency and internship in pediatrics, he began teaching at Jefferson in 1961. In 1967 he became professor of pediatrics at the institution where he worked for the next 40 years.

Dr. Olshin never had a private practice, although he treated critically ill children at Jefferson. "He got great joy teaching young doctors how to work with young patients," his son Sam said. "My father believed humor was necessary to be a good doctor."

His students awarded him the coveted Lindback Teaching Award in 1969, as the best teacher of the year.

"Irv Olshin was a model, a gentle teacher and physician. He was a humanist," said John Cohn, a Jefferson pulmonary and asthma specialist and professor at the college. "When I was his student, I caught a bug from a pediatric patient, and Irv called every day to ask how I was feeling. His excitement about being a doctor was infectious."

In 1987, Dr. Olshin retired from teaching at Jefferson and became the physician at George School in Newtown, Bucks County, until 1997.

In retirement, Dr. Olshin traveled widely, read extensively, and took classes at Penn. He also taught English at International House and Old Pine Community Center.

"He offered advice when asked but was not critical," his son said. "He melded scholarship, humor and mentoring in a way that will always be a great inspiration to me."

In addition to his son, Dr. Olshin is survived by another son, Benjamin; three granddaughters; and a sister. His wife of 23 years, Toby A. Olshin, died in 1981.

A memorial reception will be held at 4 p.m. May 12 at Jefferson Medical College in Foerderer Auditorium, 1025 Walnut St.

Donations may be sent to the Jefferson Foundation, 925 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 19107.