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V O L . 8 2 N O . 2
BU L L E T I NV O L . 8 4 N O . 1
o f t h e A L B A N Y M E D I C A L C O L L E G E A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O NW I N T E R 2 0 1 9
THE ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS
CELEBRATING 145 YEARS SINCE ITS
FOUNDING ON JANUARY 4, 1874.
PICTURED IS HENRY DARWIN DIDAMA, M.D.,
CLASS OF 1846,
THE ASSOCIATION’S FIRST PRESIDENT. 145
IN THIS ISSUE:
Reunion 2019 | Alumni Leaders at Fox Chase | 2018 Alden March Distinguished Surgeon Award
ALBANY
Learn more, contact Laura O’Brien Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning and Principal Gifts (518) 262-6835 | [email protected]
A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N
B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S
O F F I C E R S
President Kevin W. Roberts, M.D. ’77
President-Elect Evan Vosburgh, M.D. ’82
Immediate Past President Anthony C. Campagna, M.D. ’85
Secretary
Nancy C. Sapio, M.D. ’85
Treasurer David M. Jones, M.D. ’97
Historian
Jeffrey D. Hubbard, M.D. ’68
A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N D I R E C T O R S
Mitchell H. Bamberger, M.D. ’82
Christopher L. Campese, M.D. ’90, M.S. ’15
Jodi Della Rocca, C.R.N.A., M.S. ’02, Ph.D.
Clifford A. Erickson, M.D. ’99
Janet E. Gargiulo, M.D. ’79
Robert J. Hedderman, M.D. ’82
Kathryn A. Hogan, M.D. ’04
R. Peter Manes, M.D. ’04
Ursula A. Matulonis, M.D. ’87
Dennis P. McKenna, M.D. ’92
Fassil B. Mesfin, M.S. ’00, Ph.D. ’01, M.D. ’05
Michael T. Mulligan, M.D. ’03
Phillip S. Paty, M.D. ’86
Donna M. Pietrocola, M.D. ’75
Mary E. Rappazzo, M.D. ’76
Gary L. Sutter, M.D. ’76
Gurvinder S. Uppal, M.D. ’86
Peter A. Vincent, Ph.D. ’89
Ferdinand J. Venditti, Jr., M.D., Honorary ’15
Ex-OfficioVincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84
Ex-Officio
A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N S TA F F
Sandy DiNoto, Executive Director Christine Horigan, Associate DirectorAlison Lester, Program ManagerJessica Watson, Archivist
Design: Tessa Cochetti Design
www.tessacochettidesign.com
12
16
8
[email protected] or (518) 262-5033
B U L L E T I No f t h e A L B A N Y M E D I C A L C O L L E G E A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N
W I N T E R 2 0 1 9
4 Reunion Weekend 2019
5 President’s Message
6 Alumni Events
7 Dean’s Message
8 ALUMNI PROFILE:
Alumni Leaders at Fox Chase
11 Reunion 2019 Giving Program
12 PILLARS PROFILE:
Elle and Edward Alexson, M.D. ’70
14 Archives Corner
16 College News & Events
22 Alumni News
23 Class Notes
27 In Memoriam
On the cover: HENRY DARWIN DIDAMA, M.D. (1823-1905)
Dr. Didama graduated from Albany Medical College in 1846 at the age of 23.
In 1874, he became the first president of the Albany Medical College Alumni
Association. Dr. Didama was a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Syracuse
University College of Medicine and in 1888 was named Dean of the institution.
He was active in his profession and served as a leader with regional and state
medical societies and as vice president of the American Medical Association.
4 | alumni.amc.edu4 | alumni.amc.edu
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:
Hilton Garden Inn
Albany Medical Center
62 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, New York 12208
518.396.3500
GROUP NAME:
AMC Reunion Weekend 2019
GROUP CODE:
AMC19
ROOM RATE:
$119.00 (single or double)
per night/per room
(Special reunion rate)
Parking included
alumni.amc.edu/[email protected]
’54, ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04, ’09, ’14 and THE GOLD SOCIETY*
H O N O R I N G T H E C L A S S E S O F :
Friday, April 12 Saturday, April 13
*Celebrates all classes prior to 1969
REUNION SCHEDULEFriday, April 12
Pillars Luncheon Hilton Garden Inn
Albany Medical Center
Distinguished Alumnus LectureHuyck Auditorium, Campus
ReceptionImmediately following
the lecture, Campus
Individual Class DinnersAt various Albany locations
Saturday, April 13
Alumni Breakfast/ State of the College Address Awards PresentationDean Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84
and Kevin W. Roberts, M.D. ’77
Hilton Garden Inn
Albany Medical Center
MORNING CAMPUS EVENTS
Academic Sessions
AFTERNOON AND
EVENING EVENTS
College Tours
Military Affinity Group Reception-
AMC Base Hospital No. 33 Society
Hilton Garden Inn Atrium
Dinner/DanceNew York State Museum
Albany, New York
REUNION
2 19WEEKEND
Dear Fellow Alumni,
AS WE WELCOME 2019, I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF A MILESTONE FOR THE ALUMNI
ASSOCIATION. ONE HUNDRED AND FORT Y-FIVE YEARS AGO ON JANUARY 20, 1874, THE FIRST
MEETING OF THE ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WAS HELD. A PAMPHLET
SENT TO GRADUATES STATED THE NEED FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF COLLEGE ALUMNI.
“In the twelve hundred graduates scattered throughout the United States, the Albany Medical College possesses elements of strength and unity of purpose and action in promoting the best interest and advancement of the College…Her children should make some return for the benefits received from her nurturing care, in striving to strengthen her interests, enlarge her usefulness and advance the social and professional intercourse of the alumni by combining and concentrating their powers, talents, acquirements and resources for the extension and promotion of the cause of a liberal medical education in connection with the institution.”
Times have changed, but we remain dedicated to our mission to support and connect alumni and advance the College.
In a few months, we will celebrate Reunion Weekend (April 12 and 13) with alumni from class years ending in nine and four, but all are welcome on campus for this event.
I congratulate this year’s Alumni award recipients and look forward to welcoming them during Reunion.
Please accept my very best wishes for the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Kevin W. Roberts, M.D. ’77
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E
D I S T I N G U I S H ED A LU M N U S AWA RD
Anthony L. Ritaccio, M.D. ’84, F.A.A.N., F.A.N.A., F.A.E.S.
EX EM P LA RY A LU M N U S AWA RD
John R. Warkentin, M.D. ’74
H ONORARY MEMBERS OF T H E ALUMNI ASSO CIAT I ON
Richard J. Blinkhorn, Jr., M.D.
Alan Miller, M.D.
H U M A N I TA RI A N AWA RD
Harold “Hal” R. Goldberg, M.D. ’77Stephanie J. Van Dyke, M.D. ’09, posthumously
WINTER 2019 | 5
Stay ConnectedWould you like an easy way to get back in touch with your classmates?Check out our online directory at alumni.amc.edu/directory
This resource enables you to connect
with fellow alumni and update your
current contact information.
6 | alumni.amc.edu
2018 REGIONALEVENTS
During the second half of
2018, the Alumni Association
hosted gatherings in
Rochester, N.Y., the
Capital Region, and Boston.
In addition to alumni, we
were joined by students,
faculty and parents of current
students at some events.
Regional gatherings provide
the alumni community with
opportunities to network,
renew old friendships and
learn more about advances
at the College.
ALUMNI EVENTS
A L U M N I . A M C . E D U / E V E N T S
LEFT TO RIGHT: Annette Grajny,
M.D. ’04, Jillian Kazley, M.D. ’16,
Alumni Association Board
member Kate Hogan, M.D. ’04,
Kim Donahue. M.D. ’15,
Shellie Asher, M.D. ’98, M.S. ’10.,
and Marissa Potenza, M.D. ’16
at the 2018 Capital Region
Alumni reception.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Hiroko Kishikawa,
M.S. ’95, Ph.D. ’96, Shawn Gliklich,
M.D. ’96, James Lin, M.D. ’96,
and Mark Douglass, Pharm.D.
at the 2018 Boston Regional
Alumni brunch.
UPCOMING 2019 REGIONAL RECEPTIONS
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
DELRAY BEACH, FLA.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30
LEFT TO RIGHT: Jason Mouzakes,
M.D. ’95, and Alumni Association
Board members Cliff Erickson,
M.D. ’99 and Dennis McKenna,
M.D. ’92 at the 2018 Capital
Region Alumni reception.
WINTER 2019 | 7
D E A N ’ S M E S S A G E
UPCOMING 2019 REGIONAL RECEPTIONS
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
DELRAY BEACH, FLA.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30
THE CLASS OF 2022 INCLUDES 142 M.D. STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW F ULLY IMMERSED IN
THEIR STUDIES. AN ADDITIONAL 250 GRADUATE STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE
NA, PA, BASIC SCIENCE AND BIOETHICS PROGRAMS.
We are experiencing a trend occurring nationwide with women outnumbering men in medical school enrollment. Women make up more than half, 58 percent, of our incoming class. Our newest students originate from 24 states, the largest representation from New York (36) and California (28).
Students and the entire community had the unique opportunity to hear from three visionary scientists who were on campus in September to receive the 2019 Albany Medical Center prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research.
James P. Allison, Ph.D., The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Carl June, M.D., Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, were recognized for their groundbreaking research in immunology, the translation of their ideas into clinically meaningful therapies for diseases, and their leadership in moving the field of immunotherapy forward. The following week we were thrilled to hear that Dr. Allison had been selected to receive the Nobel Prize in medicine. He shares the award with Japanese immunologist Tasuku Honjo, M.D., Ph.D.
This past year we set a goal to increase alumni engagement, and I am happy to report that participation in philanthropy is increasing thanks to many of you. Gifts from alumni inspire other donors. I experienced this recently when a grateful alumnus established a scholarship gift, after reading in this Bulletin about a fellow alumnus who had set up an endowed scholarship. You all have your own meaningful and very personal reasons for giving back, and we thrive as a result of alumni support.
Thank you for your continued interest in the College, and I extend my very best wishes in the year ahead.
Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84
The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ’67 Distinguished Dean
8 | alumni.amc.edu
A LU M N I P RO F I LE :
A L U M N I LE A D E R S AT F OX C H A S E
ERIC HORWITZ, M.D. ’92, RECENTLY SHARED THAT THE PROFESSIONAL PATHS OF THREE ALBANY
MEDICAL COLLEGE ALUMNI ARE INTERSECTING IN PHILADELPHIA AS CLINICIAN LEADERS AT FOX
CHASE CANCER CENTER. JOINING DR. HORWITZ AT FOX CHASE ARE MARTIN EDELMAN, M.D. ’82 AND
MARGARET VON MEHREN, M.D. ’89. FOX CHASE WAS THE COUNTRY ’S FIRST HOSPITAL DEDICATED
SOLELY TO CANCER CARE AND ONE OF THE FIRST NCI-DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER
CENTERS. IN 2012, FOX CHASE BECAME PART OF THE TEMPLE UNIVERSIT Y HEALTH SYSTEM.
Dr. Horwitz is the chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and holds the Gerald E. Hanks Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology. Dr. Edelman is the chair of the Department of Hematology/Oncology and holds the G. Morris Dorrance Jr. Chair in Medical Oncology, and Dr. von Mehren is chief, Division of Sarcoma Medical Oncology and physician director, Clinical Trials Office, and associate director, Clinical Research.
Dr. Horwitz, a radiation oncologist, specializes in treating patients with prostrate and bladder cancer. He entered Albany Medical College with no specialty in mind. “I was exposed to the field of oncology through a clinician mentor assigned to me through an ethics course my first year on campus,” said Dr. Horwitz. The mentor was radiation oncologist Henry Wagner Jr., M.D., now at Penn State Cancer Institute.
“Dr. Wagner’s connections were invaluable to the direction of my professional career and integral to my residency in Michigan.”
When asked if he had advice for medical students, Dr. Horwitz would encourage them to be confident, make good connections and pursue areas that interest them. He admits that parts of medical school were challenging but recalls the more senior med students being supportive. He adds that he did find time to enjoy himself and is still in contact with good friends made at Albany Med.
“I enjoyed academic medicine in residency but was unsure if this would be a long-term career when I first joined Fox Chase in 1997. I never imagined that I would be here more than 20 years later in a leadership position at the cancer center, and that I would have the opportunity to be directly
involved in the development of advanced techniques for prostate cancer treatment.”
His long tenure has provided him the opportunity to develop programs that include intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and one of the largest prostate brachytherapy programs in the Northeastern U.S., including both permanent seed implants and temporary high-dose-rate (HDR) implants for prostate cancer. Fox Chase was the first center in the Northeast to offer HDR implants to men with prostate cancer.
Dr. Horwitz notes that there has been a true evolution in cancer care during the last 20 years. New trends in radiation oncology include the use of much more imaging during treatment which has allowed the shortening of the overall treatment time (hypofractionation) and more integration of radiation with surgery and systemic therapy. “Oncology has to be multi-disciplinary to be successful, and I tell my students and residents that we all need to continue learning and have an understanding of how these other disciplines work.”
Dr. Horwitz collaborates his fellow alumni peers in weekly leadership meetings and during other conferences. “I have the privilege of working with very smart people in a collegial place.”
Dr. Edelman is a medical oncologist with a focus on thoracic oncology and is a nationally recognized expert in the treatment and research of lung cancer. He was a student in the six-year RPI program with Albany Medical College. “I made the alumni connection with Dr. Horwitz when I was interviewing for my role at Fox Chase and saw the Albany Medical College diploma on his office wall.” says Dr. Edelman.
Oncology has to
be multi-disciplinary
to be successful,
and I tell my students
and residents that
we all need to
continue learning
and have an
understanding of
how these other
disciplines work.”
—ERIC HORWITZ, M.D. ’92
“
WINTER 2019 | 9
When asked about his professional path he explains that he always liked academic medicine.
“I feel fortunate I am accomplishing what I set out to do which is working as a clinical investigator and medical scientist.”
After 10 years of active duty in the Navy and 10 years in the reserves, Dr. Edelman is retired with the rank of Captain. “At the time that I entered medical school, I applied for and received the Health Professions Scholarship from the Navy. The scholarship allowed me to attend medical school without worrying about finances or burdening my family,” says Dr. Edelman. “I did all my training, internship, residency and fellowship in the Navy. The training was excellent and very demanding.” Between his internship and residency, he served aboard the USS Duluth (LPD-6) as senior medical officer, traveling to Somalia and Lebanon and caring for 1,000 Navy and Marine personnel. After completing residency and beginning fellowship, he was head of internal medicine at the Marine Corps base in 29 Palms, California. He completed his active duty commitment at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, and was then recruited to the faculty at the University of California, Davis for his first academic position.
He enjoyed his third and fourth years at Albany Med and shares that he gained a lot during rotations. “The one thing I wish I had in medical school was a better understanding of pathways to career options,” reflects Dr. Edelman. He was focusing on internal medicine while a student at Albany Med, but residency led him to medical oncology. “I liked the fact that oncology was both at the forefront of medicine in terms of science and also required an extensive knowledge of general medicine.”
Today, Dr. Edelman expresses a concern about the proliferation of subspecialties and the pressure current medical students put on themselves about deciding early on about a specialty. He urges medical students to be enthusiastic about each learning opportunity and to enter clinical rotations with the idea that they might be practicing in that particular area. “Students should consider how much they can learn from these valuable experiences and understand how the exposure to different areas of medicine will help them as they interact with other clinicians or patients in the future.”
Dr. Edelman is a prolific writer, publishing more than 325 scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters. He has served on the editorial boards or as an ad-hoc reviewer of numerous academic journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and currently serves as deputy editor of the journal Lung Cancer.
Dr. Edelman notes that there has been striking progress in lung cancer treatment in the past 10 years. He developed one of the most commonly used regimens for treating advanced lung cancer and has focused on the development of new agents and biomarkers to personalize lung cancer therapy. “Lung cancer is still a difficult disease. Sometimes you make great leaps, but it is very important to just keep taking small steps in the right direction.”
Dr. Edelman works closely with Dr. von Mehren in her role as associate director of Clinical Research. Dr. von Mehren joined the faculty at Fox Chase in 1996. During her fellowship training at Fox Chase and Temple University, she had the opportunity to learn about caring for sarcoma patients and found that their treatment proved to be a challenge due to the varied types of tumors and their rarity. She now
ABOVE: Left to right:
Eric Horwitz, M.D. ’92,
Margaret von
Mehren, M.D. ’89,
and Martin Edelman,
M.D. ’82 of Fox Chase
Cancer Center.
A LU M N I P RO F I LE :
A L U M N I LE A D E R S AT F OX C H A S E
cares for patients with sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Dr. von Mehren knew she wanted to care for patients with cancer prior to entering medical school. While at Albany Med, she was supported for two summers doing research, one summer at a laboratory at NYU studying lymphomas and the second at Memorial Sloan Kettering working with a pediatric oncologist.
“Those two opportunities made me understand the importance of research for the advancement of care in oncology,” says Dr. von Mehren. “I left Albany with intentions of becoming a medical oncologist, but those formative experiences underscored the role of research in oncology and led me to where I am today.”
She remembers evaluating a patient on several occasions while in medical school with diffuse Kaposi’s sarcoma. Interaction with the patient and the physical exam findings stand out in her memory. “The oncologist subsequently relocated to the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania and we have had the pleasure of reconnecting and sharing several patients.”
She recalls surprising her Albany Med classmates with her choice for her senior year clerkship. “We had a lottery system for the acting internships and I was undecided about choosing either surgery or medicine. I had an early pick and opted for an early surgery rotation.”
When asked about medical school regrets she explains that as a medical student she didn’t appre-ciate the business end of medicine. “Increasingly, medicine has become more business focused and this was not part of our training, understandably.”
Early on in her career at Fox Chase, Dr. von Mehren and Dr. Horwitz realized they were both Albany Medical College graduates. “We would talk intermittently about our experiences, and when Marty came to interview for chairman of Medical Oncology, I met with him and saw our mutual medical school on his CV,” she said.
Dr. von Mehren works closely with Dr. Edelman through their administrative responsibilities in the clinical research office. “We manage issues regarding budget, compensation and provide physician leadership for the office, although I have a bit more of the daily hands-on piece with managers and directors for the office,” she said. She explains that as leaders with the sarcoma program, she works closely with Dr. Edelman to ensure they have the needs of the group covered.
“With Marty being new to Fox Chase, I have had the opportunity to share our processes with him as a clinical investigator as I have been here for the entirety of my oncology career,” says Dr. von Mehren. “I also have gained insights from him as he has shared other ways of doing things.”
When discussing Fox Chase, Dr. von Mehren expresses her enthusiasm for the collaborative culture.
“This is a free-standing, comprehensive cancer center, and the institution is totally focused on cancer research and care. There are many of us, like Eric and me, who have spent our entire careers at Fox Chase because of this unique environment. We are working together as a team here. I work closely with Fox Chase pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists and social workers to develop the best treatment option for each patient. You can’t treat a person all by yourself.”
Dr. von Mehren’s passion for clinical research is evident and she has been able to participate in the development of several drugs for the treatment of advanced sarcomas. She feels fortunate that she has seen some treatments become standard of care.
It is a testament to their alma mater that three Albany Medical College alumni serve in leadership positions at an internationally-known cancer center. Their collaborative commitment to innovation, research and clinical care is making a difference for patients facing difficult diagnoses.
10 | alumni.amc.edu
I left Albany with
intentions of
becoming a medical
oncologist, but
those formative
experiences
underscored the
role of research
and oncology and
led me to where
I am today.”
— MARGARET VON MEHREN, M.D. ’89
“
How to Make Your Reunion GiftTo make a gift to your class project now, simply visit:
alumni.amc.edu/reunion_giving and click on your class year.
If you prefer to make your gift by check, please make your check payable
to Albany Medical College (memo: Reunion Class Gift) and mail to:
Albany Medical Center Foundation
43 New Scotland Avenue
MC-119
Albany, NY 12208-3478
Reunion 2019Class CommitteeMembers
David Beck, M.D. ’54
C. Wendell Wickersham, M.D. ’64
G. Timothy Johnson, M.D. ’69
Thomas L. Snyder, M.D. ’69
John C. Wheeler, D.M.D., M.D. ’69
Edwarda M. Buda-Okreglak, M.D. ’74
John R. Warkentin, M.D. ’74
Steven M. Frisch, M.D. ’79
Janet E. Gargiulo, M.D. ’79
Margaret Grogan, M.D. ’79
Zachary Gerbarg, M.D. ’79
James F. Horn, M.D. ’79
David Semenoff, M.D. ’79
Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84
Duncan Winter, M.D. ’84
Thomas F. Burke, M.D. ’89
Amy Damiani, M.D. ’89
Sharon Tietgens, M.D. ’89
Catherine Chiu Tan, M.D. ’94
Raymond Tan, M.D. ’94
Clifford A. Erickson, M.D. ’99
Kathryn A. Hogan, M.D. ’04
Peter Manes, M.D. ’04
Melissa D. Leber, M.D. ’09
REUNION
2 19Giving Program
1954 Class of 1954 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund
1959 Alumni Annual Fund
1964 Alumni Annual Fund
1969 Alumni Annual Fund
1974 Alumni Annual Fund
1979 Class of 1979 Alumni Endowed Scholarship
1984 Alumni Annual Fund
1989 Alumni Annual Fund
1994 Alumni Annual Fund
1999 Alumni Annual Fund
2004 Alumni Annual Fund
2009 Alumni Annual Fund
2014 Alumni Annual Fund
CLASS FUNDRAISING YEAR PROJECT
CLASS FUNDRAISING YEAR PROJECT
Get Involved:To learn more about planning your reunion
weekend and/or assisting with fundraising efforts,
please contact: [email protected].
Albany Medical College alumni are invited to return to campus every five years to celebrate their class reunion
(this year we are honoring classes with graduating years ending in 4 or 9). Our reunion class volunteers are
working with great enthusiasm to encourage participation during Reunion Weekend (Friday, April 12-Saturday,
April 13) and to support the Reunion Giving Program. The Reunion Giving Program promotes class connections
and alumni involvement and provides much needed unrestricted and scholarship support for the College.
Reunion giving is one of the best ways for alumni to ensure current and
future Albany Medical College students can continue changing the world.
Please consider extending this legacy to the next generation by making a
gift. Find your class year below to contribute to your class project today.
WINTER 2019 | 11
FR
IDA
Y, A
PR
IL 12
– S
AT
UR
DA
Y, A
PR
IL 13
12 | alumni.amc.edu
Elle and Edward Alexson, M.D.’70 love to travel. Their adventures have included an African safari, museums in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, the Taj Mahal in India, and a recent trip to relax on the beaches of the Caribbean. No matter what, there is one trip the Alexsons never miss; every five years they travel to Albany and gather with medical school friends to celebrate Ed’s Albany Medical College Reunion.
“I stay in close contact with my medical school classmates and Reunion is a highlight for me. I wouldn’t miss it. I am so proud of that Albany Medical College diploma hanging on my wall,” said the Southern California hematologist/oncologist.
Dr. Alexson’s 45th reunion in 2015 was especially poignant; it was the last time he saw the friend and mentor who inspired him to become a hematologist/oncologist, Anthony Tartaglia, M.D., former dean and chair of Hematology/Oncology at Albany Medical College, before Dr. Tartaglia passed away in 2016.
“Back in 2000 for my 30th reunion I started a scholarship fund in Dr. Tartaglia’s name. By the time our 45th reunion came along, others had joined in with their own gifts. I along with other classmates were able to let Dr. Tartaglia know the endowment had reached more than $1 million! I think it really tickled him to be recognized in the warmth and glow of his former students who thought he was a wonderful person.”
Dr. Alexson first encountered Dr. Tartaglia when he took his hematology course as a second-year student and opened his eyes to caring for patients facing a cancer diagnosis.
“Dr. Tartaglia’s enthusiasm for his job piqued my interest and impacted my choice to devote myself to treating cancer patients. Those were great days at Albany Medical College that I remember fondly. I am happy to be able to help students with the scholarship fund and hopefully influence some to enter hematology,” he said.
Dr. Alexson and Elle have always been loyal Alumni Annual Fund donors. Once they reached a point in life where they were able to look at their estate and invested assets, they decided it was time to look into ways to celebrate Dr. Tartaglia and his impact on others.
GENEROUS REUNION GIFTS CELEBRATE LIFE
P I LLA RS P ROF I LE
ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE PILLARS SOCIETY
Members of the Albany Medical College Pillars Society have created lasting legacies using their bequests, life income gifts and retirement plans. They provide inspiration to others
to do the same.
To learn more, contact Laura O’Brien
Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning and Principal Gifts
518.262.6835 [email protected] amc.PlanMyGift.org
Donor Spotlight:
Elle and Edward Alexson, M.D. ’70
With the help of their advisors, the Alexsons paired gifts of appreciated securities with a significant bequest to support the Anthony P. Tartaglia, M.D. Endowed Scholarship Fund. This gift made in anticipation of Dr. Alexson’s 45th reunion was included in the class gift total and helped inspire others to participate with their own gifts.
After leaving Albany in 1970, Dr. Alexson completed an internship and residency training at University Hospital in Boston. He then set up private practice in Santa Ana where he cares for patients with a combination of high-end medical treatment and a compassionate touch.
“I’ve had a holistic approach to patient care. While I use all available tools for treatment, I also need to know how my patients are feeling, how they are coping, and I help in all ways that I can. Fortunately, newer and better cancer therapies have meant that so many more patients live cancer-free lives, and I have enjoyed long relationships with them,” he said.
In his 43rd year of private practice Dr. Alexson has decided that despite his love of medicine, it will soon be time to retire.
“I feel I’ve done my part. It’s time to let others take over,” he said. His physician partner over the last several years, the daughter of a physician who did his Internship at Albany Medical Center, will take over the practice.
A career built around caring for others emphasized for Dr. Alexson the importance of making time to enjoy a balanced life, celebrating the joys which surround us. After retirement, the Alexsons plan to travel even more. Including, of course, a trip to Albany in 2020 for Dr. Alexson’s 50th reunion.
According to Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84 Albany Medical College Dean, “Alumni giving inspired by Reunion celebrations has grown significantly over the last several years. This is a wonderful time for alumni to reach back and make an impact on medical students.”
Ed adds “I would love to see all of my classmates and fellow alumni support our College as I have over the years. It’s a great legacy.”
GENEROUS REUNION GIFTS CELEBRATE LIFE
WINTER 2019 | 13
“ Dr. Tartaglia’s
enthusiasm for
his job piqued
my interest and
impacted my
choice to devote
myself to treating
cancer patients.
Those were great
days at Albany
Medical College
that I remember
fondly.”
AR
CH
IVE
SC
OR
NE
RCLASSFACTS
A L O O K B A C K :
14 | alumni.amc.edu
C L A S S O F 1954Albany Medical College students petitioned the college library for an extension of evening library hours.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Robert A. Moore, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for the Schools of the Health Professions University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
C L A S S O F 1959A joint medical-law school dormitory was proposed, and a committee representing both interests was appointed to pursue the proposal. The process of securing land and building the project was not swift with living quarters for 98 medical students and 98 law students opening in 1968.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Arthur S. Flemming, L.L.D., the United States Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
C L A S S O F 1964The College celebrated its 125th anniversary and classes were suspended for a two-day celebration. The incoming class was limited to 60 students, all who were required to appear for an X-ray in the Admission X-ray office.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Lowell T. Coggeshall, M.A., M.D., LLD, ScD, Vice President, Frederick H. Rawson Professor of Medicine, The University of Chicago
C L A S S O F 1969Ten students received prizes at commencement, two graduates re-ceived awards in more than one category, six students graduated with honors, and twelve members of the class were elected to membership in Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor medical society.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Robert Q. Marston, M.D., Sc.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health, Education and Welfare
CLASSFACTS
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C L A S S O F 1974In 1974, Albany Medical College admitted 31 females in the class of first-year students. Up until that point, the Class of 1974 had the second largest number of female students in its class with 11. Just five years earlier, in 1969, there were a total of 35 females study-ing medicine at the College.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Elisabeth Kubler Ross, M.D., Medical Director, Family Service and Mental Health Center of South Cook County, Chicago Heights, Illinois
C L A S S O F 1979Smoking was banned on the first floor of the Schaffer Library and a red and white sign at the entrance informed patrons that smoking was only permitted on the library’s second floor.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Robert G. Petersdorf, M.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine University of Washington School of Medicine
C L A S S O F 1984The College creates a Minority Affairs office to address “the under-representation of minority students and faculty” and explore additional sources of financial aid for students.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Richard A. Selzer, M.D., Albany Medical College Class of 1953 and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine
C L A S S O F 1989An article about reproductive rights was featured on the cover of the March 8 student newspaper promoting the April 1989 “March for Women’s Lives,” organized by National Organization for Women (NOW), to protect women’s access to birth control and abortion.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Harold P. Freeman, M.D., Professor of Clinical Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, Director of Surgery, Harlem Hospital Center, National President, American Cancer Society
C L A S S O F 1994Three new computers were installed for student use in the Student Activities Room, a “consolidated work area.” The new devices were two Apple systems and an IBM clone system. Both had laser and dot matrix printers. The room also offered a fax machine, high speed copiers and a work space for students.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D., United States Surgeon General
C L A S S O F 1999Jonathan Rosen, M.D., associate dean for medical education, conceived the Learning to Teach, Teaching to Learn course at Albany Medical College, the only medical school in the country to require the four-week course for fourth-year students. The course distinguished Albany Medical College students from other medical school graduates and residency candidates.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., President, Association of American Medical Colleges
C L A S S O F 2004The Sosa Academy of Medical Sciences was established to promote advocacy and support for faculty educators, stimulate curriculum development and reform across the continuum of medical education and offer a variety of faculty development activities. Henry S. Pohl, M.D. was named the inaugural Julio M. Sosa, M.D., Chair of Medical Education.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Joseph L. Goldstein, M.D., Professor and Chairman in the Department of Molecular Genetics, Paul J. Thomas Professor of Medicine and Genetics, Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
C L A S S O F 2009The Class of 2009 achieved great accomplishments in medical school including groundbreaking research, advocating for health coverage for the uninsured, promoting the medical profession, and delivering health care in economically depressed regions of the United States and abroad.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Ronald M. Evans, Ph.D., Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies
C L A S S O F 2014The College celebrated its 175th anniversary of steadfast dedication to teaching, research and training of future generations of medical professionals. Students, alumni, faculty and staff contributed remembrances to the Albany Med Archives.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: Solomon H. Snyder, M.D., Distinguished Service Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
16 | alumni.amc.edu
COLLEGE NEWS & EVENTS
Dr. Davis Receives Alden March Distinguished Surgeon Award
On Oct. 22, 2018, Albany Medical College’s Department of Surgery presented the Alden March Distinguished Surgeon Award to Kimberly A. Davis, M.D. ’91, M.B.A., F.A.C.S., F.C.C.M. at a reception held in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Conference in Boston.
Dr. Davis attended Yale University and is a member of the Albany Medical College Class of 1991. She received her surgical training from the Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital program. Following a fellowship in trauma and surgical critical care at the University of Tennessee-Memphis, she spent eight years on the faculty at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois prior to returning to Yale in 2006.
She is professor of surgery and vice chairman for clinical affairs at the Yale School of Medicine
Department of Surgery. She is chief of the Division of General Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Yale, as well as trauma medical director for Yale-New Haven Hospital. She also serves as surgical director of quality and performance improvement for Yale-New Haven Hospital and formerly as the NSQIP surgeon champion.
Dr. Davis is recognized as a nationally preeminent trauma surgeon—known for her expertise and multidisciplinary collaboration in surgical critical care. She holds leadership positions in regional and national organizations and has published extensively in more than 150 peer reviewed publications. Dr. Davis’ research interests include performance improvement and quality, inflammation and sepsis, and trauma resuscitation.
Dr. Davis will return to campus in 2019 to deliver Grand Rounds.
Left to right: Steven C. Stain, M.D., Henry and Sally Schaffer Chair,
Department of Surgery at Albany Med; Sigrid Davis;
Kim Davis, M.D. ’91; Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84, The Lynne and
Mark Groban, M.D. ’67 Distinguished Dean, Albany Medical College.
The Albany Medical College Department of Surgery Alden March Distinguished Surgeon Award, established in 2015, is named for Alden March, a surgeon and founder of Albany Medical College. The award honors an alumna/us or previous trainee from Albany Medical College whose contributions and accomplishments in medicine and/or research during their years of clinical service as a surgeon have resulted in national recognition.
James P. Allison, Ph.D.*
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Carl June, M.D.
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D.
Ph.D., National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Three Recognized with Albany Medical Center Prize
Three visionary scientists whose work led to a revolutionary new way to treat cancer and other diseases were presented with the 2018 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research on Sept. 25. Their insights into the immune system and their work on immunotherapy have led to innovative new drugs for cancer, HIV and other diseases, with many already saving and extending the lives of tens of thousands of patients. The awardees are:
The $500,000 award has been given annually since 2001 to those who have altered the course of medical research. It is one of the largest prizes in medicine and science in the United States.
*Editor’s Note: On October 1, 2018, Dr. Allison was awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
WINTER 2019 | 17
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) Report
In July 2018, the College was granted full accreditation from the LCME through the 2025-26 academic year. The Dean extends his gratitude to students, faculty and staff who worked diligently to make the accreditation visit a success.
Northeast Regional Academic Medical Career Development Conference Hosted by College
In Sept. 2018, Albany Medical College hosted the first Northeast Regional Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) Conference. The focus of the conference was to help medical trainees from diverse backgrounds (e.g. women, LGBTQ and members of ethnic minority groups underrepresented in medicine) deepen their awareness of academic medicine as a career option and provide resources to enhance their ability to embark on an academic medicine career. Trainees and distinguished faculty from Dartmouth, Yale, Harvard, Rutgers, Boston University and Albany Med participated in the academic sessions.
Center for Nurse Anesthesiology Commencement
The Nurse Anesthesiology Class of 2018 held its Commencement at the Albany
Hilton on Nov. 15, with 18 degrees awarded to graduates.
The Center for Nurse Anesthesiology, established in 1951, has been educating
nurse anesthetists for more than 65 years. 18 | alumni.amc.edu
COLLEGE NEWS & EVENTS
Academic Leadership Appointments
Albany Medical College has
appointed seven new deans
to manage different aspects of
the College:
C. Lynn Cabral, M.D.
Assistant dean for
medical education for
Years Three and Four
Mandeep S. Sidhu, M.D.
Assistant dean for
student research
Rubia Khalak, M.D.
Associate dean for
enrollment management and
administration
Tara Lindsley, Ph.D. ’90
Associate dean for
curriculum
Peter A. Vincent, Ph.D. ’89
Associate dean of
graduate studies
Alicia Wiczulis, M.D.
Assistant dean of
academic affairs and
student services
Annette M. Grajny, M.D. ’04
Assistant dean for
simulation education
Scholarship BreakfastThe Alumni Association
held a Scholarship Breakfast
in honor of the 2018-19
student scholarship
recipients on Oct. 4, 2018.
Nadia Aissi (left), a
second-year student in
the Center for Nurse
Anesthesiology, and
Jodi Della Rocca, C.R.N.A.,
M.S. ’02, Ph.D., Alumni
Association board member
and center director,
celebrated at the event.
2018 graduates of the Center for Nurse Anesthesiology.
Text.
WINTER 2019 | 19
Dr. Denis Pauzé Named Chair of Emergency Medicine
Denis Pauzé, M.D. was
appointed chair of the
Department of Emergency
Medicine and professor of
emergency medicine at Albany
Med in December. Dr. Pauzé,
who is fellowship trained in
pediatric emergency medicine,
served as interim chair since
the spring, and oversaw the
recent opening of The Massry
Family Children’s Emergency
Center at Albany Med.
“Dr. Pauzé is an exceptional
academic emergency
clinician and physician leader.
His expertise in pediatric
emergency medicine will
serve our community well,
as Albany Med continues to
grow the region’s only pediatric
emergency department,” said
Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84, the
Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D.
’67, Distinguished Dean of
Albany Medical College.
STEM Award
Albany Medical College received the 2018 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine for its Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) - funded by the New York State Education Department.
The award recognizes colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from under- represented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Gift to the Archives
Leonard Lehrman visited the College Archives in 2018 and presented an autobiography, papers and a collection of digital articles written by his father, Nathaniel Lehrman, M.D., Class of 1946.
Dr. Lehrman, age 95, resides in Port Washington, N.Y.
New Chair in Pediatrics
In November, Barbara E. Ostrov, M.D. joined Albany Med’s Department of Pediatrics as the director of the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital and the Martha Lepow, M.D., Endowed Chair in Pediatrics.
Dr. Ostrov has more than 20 years of leadership experience. Most recently, she served as associate dean of faculty and professional development at Penn State College of Medicine and vice chair of quality and safety in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State Children’s Hospital in Hershey, Pa.
Albany Med Collaboration
Danielle Stansky, Class of 2019, John Huppertz, Ph.D., Katherine Wagner, M.D. ’94 and Elizabeth Irish, M.L.S., A.H.I.P., co-wrote an article in the Summer 2018 issue of Family Doctor— a Journal of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians titled, “Lessons from Our Patients—Are Physicians Meeting the Needs of Special Needs Patients?”
Danielle Stansky’s student research focuses on autism training for future physicians. Dr. Huppertz is an associate professor and chair of the MBA program in Healthcare Management at Clarkson University. Dr. Wagner is vice chair and director of community outreach for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Albany Medical College and Elizabeth Irish is assistant professor at Schaffer Library of Health Sciences at Albany Med.
2018 graduates of the Center for Nurse Anesthesiology.
20 | alumni.amc.edu
COLLEGE NEWS & EVENTS
A nationwide study in the Journal of American
Medical Association in 2010 revealing medical
students’ high levels of stress prompted medical
schools to boost wellness programs and access
to counseling services.
“Albany Medical College has been proactive,”
says Hyacinth Mason, Ph.D., M.P.H., assistant
dean for student support and inclusion, who,
along with Jeffrey Winseman, M.D. in the
Department of Psychiatry and others, designed
the “Be Well” initiative based on specific needs
and concerns shared by students. “Be Well”
promotes wellness in eight areas: emotional,
intellectual, spiritual, social, nutritional, physical
fitness, health and financial.
Wellness activities offered to students and
residents include yoga classes, meditation
sessions and free access to the fitness center
at Albany Med. Financial support is provided
to clubs focused on running, outdoor adven-
ture, music, art, dance and to local athletic
leagues. Sugar-laden snacks, previously given
out in the Commons area, have been replaced
with healthier options such as nuts and fruit.
Wellness Wednesday dinners allow students to
connect on a personal level to share their class-
room, clinical setting and personal challenges.
According to Monica Minor, director of student
affairs and wellness, “It is common for students
to be reluctant to seek help when they are
struggling. They have confidentiality concerns
and worry that talking about personal issues,
especially their mental health, might jeopardize
their status.”
In an effort to provide students with the tools to
recognize and cope with stress in confidence,
Ms. Minor shares that the office of Student
Affairs is working with Sophia Winter, Ph.D.,
assistant professor of psychiatry and clinical
director of wellness programs at Albany Medical
College, to launch an interactive screening
program (ISP).
Students, residents and fellows are being direct-
ed to a confidential ISP website to complete a
short questionnaire designed to help them find
out how stress and depression may be affecting
them, and how they can get support for these
problems through the College.
The ISP model is being used at more than 70
universities in the U.S., and staff are able to
identify individuals struggling with depression,
anxiety or suicidality. Once identified, those
at risk receive a personalized response and
are offered a face to face assessment with a
counselor.
In addition to recognizing those who may be
in crisis, the platform provides access to data
which allows Albany Medical College to com-
pare its reports with other colleges.
“We hope to help students and residents
recognize their stress levels and take action to
address them in a safe manner,” said Dr. Winter,
who explained that, since residents face many
of the same stressors, collaborative efforts with
graduate medical education administration
have begun to combine resident and student
wellness supports.
STU
DE
NT
NE
WS
“Be Well” Initiative Advances Student Wellness
“ To hear that my peers were having many of the same feelings helped me realize that I was not alone. We discussed coping mechanisms, and it has helped me let go of any negative feelings,” — FOURTH-YEAR
STUDENT
WINTER 2018 | 21
WINTER 2019 | 21
“Be Well” Initiative Advances Student WellnessJulie G. Pilitsis, M.D. ’98, Ph.D., chair of the Department
of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics and
professor of neurosurgery at Albany Medical College, and
Gregory S. Fischer, Ph.D. of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(WPI), are working closely with two corporate partners,
Acoustic MedSystems and GE Global Research, to develop
a robotic system to treat brain tumors.
The academic-industry partnership has received a
five-year, $3.5 million award from the National Institutes
of Health to develop an MRI-compatible robotic
technology for minimally invasive treatment of metastatic
brain tumors.
Alejandro Pablo Adam, Ph.D., assistant professor in
the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology,
has received a $300,000 three-year grant from the
American Heart Association in support of his research
titled, “Endothelial STAT3-dependent transcriptional changes
mediating vascular barrier breakdown during shock.”
Peter Brunner, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology,
has received a $404,000 four-year grant from the National
Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
in support of research titled, BCI2000+: A Software
Platform for Adaptive Neurotechnologies.” Gerwin
Schalk, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology is a
collaborating investigator.
Young-Hwa Goo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the
Department of Department of Molecular and Cellular
Physiology, has received a $300,000 three-year grant
from the American Heart Association in support of
research titled, “Investigation of Guanylate Binding Proteins
as a novel regulator of inflammation in atherosclerosis.”
RESEARCH UPDATE
Alumni Supports Student Travel
Gurleen Kaur CL ASS OF 2021
In November 2018, Gurleen Kaur, Class of 2021, presented at the American Heart Association Clinical Conference Scientific Sessions in Chicago. Her research topic was, “GREM1 Improves the Regenerative Potential of Aging Cardiac Progenitor Cells as a Potential Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease.”
Benjamin SchwartzCL ASS OF 2019
“ I would like to thank the Alumni Association for providing funding for my travel to Boston for the International Academy of Cardiology Conference. Without the Association’s generosity, it would not have been feasible for me to have this valuable academic opportunity.”
Alden March Bioethics Institute faculty, students, alumni
and staff at the American Society for Bioethics and
Humanities meeting in October 2018 in Anaheim, Calif.
Alden March Bioethics Institute
22 | alumni.amc.edu
John M. Martinez, M.D. ’96
In September, Dr. Martinez led a student discussion about Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a family physician working with Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, Calif., and is the team physician with the U.S.A. Triathlon and assistant physician for Hawaii Ironman World Championships.
Steven S. An, M.S. ’98, Ph.D.
The Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology hosted Dr. An as a visiting scientist in October. His lecture was titled “Defining the Mechanical Phenotype of Airway Smooth Muscle in Asthma Through the Lens of Physics at the Single-Cell and Single-Molecule Resolution.” Dr. An is associate professor (joint) in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
Mark N. Hadley, M.D. ’82, F.A.C.S.
Dr. Hadley, recipient of the 2017 Albany Medical College Alden March Department of Surgery Distinguished Surgeon Award, returned to campus this fall to present the Charles Eckert Lecture. His talk was titled, “Medical Evidence Towards Clinical Guidance and Practice —A Review in Evidence-Based Medicine in Neurosurgery.” He also gave the Neuroscience Grand Rounds presentation, “ Perfusion Pressure Management in the Perioperative Treatment of Spinal Cord Pathology,” and hosted a student round table discussion on “Good things Happen to Those Who Push Their Limits.”
Dr. Hadley is the Charles A. and Patsy W. Collat Professor of Neurological Surgery, and program director, Residency Training Program, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert in the care and surgical treatment of patients with spinal cord tumors and spinal column pathology, including congenital anomalies, disc herniations, spinal stenosis, spinal reconstruction and fusion procedures of the entire spinal column, from the base of the skull through the sacrum.
ALUMNI ON CAMPUSALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE WAS PLEASED TO WELCOME BACK THE FOLLOWING ALUMNI:
Dr. Hadley had an opportunity to speak with a group of
current Albany Med students. Dr. An visited Albany Medical College in October.
WINTER 2019 | 23
Notes are edited to fit available space.
CLASS NOTES
CL ASS OF 1943
David Falk, M.D. ’43
CL ASS OF 1961
George E. Sims, M.D. ’61
Dr. Sims shares, “ I retired from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University in 2005 and was chief of Orthopedic Surgery at the Veterans Admin-istration Medical Center on the campus of Stanford University.”
CL ASS OF 1965
David Nalin, M.D. ’65
ALBANY MED EMERITUS FACULTY
The discovery of oral rehydration therapy by David Nalin, M.D. ’65 is highlighted in Steven Pinker’s 2018 book, “Enlightenment Now, The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.” Dr. Nalin and his breakthrough oral therapy is listed on a chart in the book with other “science heroes,” and his discovery is credited with saving 54 million lives.
Additionally, Oral Rehydration Therapy—50-year perspective viewpoint pieces featuring Dr. Nalin’s discovery were published in JAMA, August 17, 2018, and Lancet, August 20, 2018.
CL ASS OF 1967
A. John Popp, M.D. ’67
ALBANY MED
EMERITUS FACULTY
Dr. Popp, professor emeritus in the Department of Neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center, was elected an honorary member of the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery for his academic contributions to Spanish neurosurgery and for achievements made during his professional career. In May 2018, Dr. Popp delivered the keynote address at the Spanish Neurosurgical Society’s annual congress in Toledo, Spain.
CL ASS OF 1968
Arthur S. Hengerer, M.D. ’68
In August 2018, Dr. Hengerer co-authored an article in the Journal of Medical Regulation titled “Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) Efforts on Physician Wellness and Burnout.”
Dr. Hengerer is chair of the New York Board for Professional Medical Conduct and past chair of FSMB.
CL ASS OF 1971
Thomas Klepetar, M.D. ’71, Peter D. McGann, M.D. ’71 and Philip Saccoccia, Jr., M.D. ’71
Dr. Saccoccia shares that he and classmates, Drs. McGann and Klepetar, enjoyed a visit to Bozeman, Mont., for a few days of fly fishing and hiking.
John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D. ’71
The American Cancer Society (ACS) presented the St. George National Award to Dr. Ruckdeschel during the September 2018 ceremony in Jackson, Miss. The ACS recognized Dr. John Ruckdeschel, director of the University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute, for his lifetime body of work to eradicate cancer and his continuing support of the ACS.
ALUMNI ON CAMPUS
Dr. David Falk ’43 enjoys a recent visit in Palm Springs, Calif. from Dr. Andrew K. Chang, Vincent P. Verdile, M.D.’84 Endowed Chair for Emergency Medicine at Albany Med.
Left to right: Joanne Klepetar, Kris McGann, Marlene Saccoccia, and Drs. Saccoccia, McGann, and Klepetar.
24 | alumni.amc.edu
CL ASS OF 1975
John P. Fogarty, M.D. ’75
Dr. Fogarty, Dean of Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, Fla., was profiled in the Florida State Uni-versity News in December 2018. Dr. Fogarty has served as dean of the medical school since 2008.
Peter J. Koltai, M.D. ’75
Dr. Koltai, along with Dr. Steven Parnes, (professor of Otolaryngology/Surgery at Albany Medical College and former program chairman) received 2018 Presidential Citations at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. The Citations—selected by the president—acknowledge the “personal imprints” the recipients made on the career of the president and the recipient’s overall contributions and dedication to the field of medicine and the Academy.
Dr. Koltai is professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He recently became a senior fellow in Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Global Health and has been working with colleagues at the University of Zimbabwe, establishing a Pediatric Otolaryngology Service at the Harare Children’s Hospital.
CLASS NOTES
CL ASS OF 1979
Nannette F. Santoro, M.D. ’79
In October 2018, Dr. Santoro was elected into the National Academy of Medicine. In its announcement, the Academy said Dr. Santoro is being honored for “research discoveries in health predictors of midlife women, participation in cutting-edge clinical trial design and execution.”
Dr. Santoro’s research projects have included the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS), which has tested the effect of estrogen, when given within three years of menopause, on carotid artery thickness and coronary calcium scores, as well as cognition. She is also a co-Investigator on the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, a seven-center study of 3,000 women of five different ethnicities who have traversed the menopause. SWAN is examining a variety of outcomes and risk factors for health and disease in this representative cohort of U.S. women.
She has also been involved in clinical trials that have examined the role of hormone therapy and alternative treatments in menopausal women’s health. Her research has also considered how obesity in women interferes with fertility and reproductive hormone production.
Dr. Santoro is professor and E. Stewart Taylor Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.
WINTER 2019 | 25
CLASS NOTES
CL ASS OF 1985
Janine Good, M.D. ’85
In August 2018, Dr. Good, associate professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, was appointed chief medical officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus in Baltimore, Md.
CL ASS OF 1986
Robert D. Lerman, M.D. ’86
Dr. Lerman, a cardiac electro-physiologist and healthcare executive, joined LindaCare, as chief medical officer and vice president of clinical operations in July 2018. LindaCare is a Digital Health company specializing in integrated remote monitoring software solutions for chronic disease management— headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and Hartford, Conn.
CL ASS OF 1989
De Lora Cummings, M.D. ’89
Dr. Cummings joined Novant Health Family & Internal Medicine South Brunswick in Calabash, N.C., in September 2018. She recently served as a primary care physician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. Dr. Cum-mings is a U.S. Army veteran.
CL ASS OF 1992
Dennis P. McKenna, M.D. ’92
ALBANY MED FACULTY
In September 2018, Dr. McKenna was appointed Albany Med executive vice president, senior associate dean for clinical affairs and president of the Faculty Practice. He had served since 2008 as chief medical officer and senior vice president at Albany Medical Center.
Dr. McKenna is a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
CL ASS OF 1994
Alan S. Boulos, M.D. ’94
ALBANY MED FACULTY
Dr. Boulos, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Stall Chair of Endovascular Neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center, was the only American neurosurgeon elected to the World Academy of Neurological Surgery in 2018. He is one of seven current U.S. members of the international academy, which promotes camaraderie and the exchange of scientific knowledge among world leaders in neurosurgery.
CL ASS OF 1997
Michelle D. Welch, M.D. ’97
Dr. Welch was featured in the July-August 2018 issue of “San Antonio Woman” for establishing her medical practice—Diabetes
and Metabolism Specialists San Antonio, PLLC—in San Antonio, TX. She is also an associate clinical professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
CL ASS OF 2001
Thomas R. Tobin, M.D. ’01
Dr. Tobin was named chief medical officer of Community Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. in August 2018.
CL ASS OF 2002
Marcel Hinds, M.D. ’02
In August 2018, Dr. Hines relocated from Connecticut to the Rhinebeck and Kingston, N.Y. offices of Health Quest Medical Practice of OB-GYN.
CL ASS OF 2004
Daniel K. Pauzé, M.D. ’04
ALBANY MED
Dr. Pauzé—credited for his role in implementing changes at Albany Med to enhance the patient experience and expedite workflow for caregivers and staff—was appointed vice president of Medical Affairs and medical director at Albany Medical Center Hospital in December 2018.
Dr. Pauzé joined Albany Med in 2007 as an attending physician and assistant medical director in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and was later appointed medical director of the department, and associate medical director in the Office of Medical Affairs in 2014.
CL ASS OF 2005
Gina M. Geis, M.D. ’05
ALBANY MED FACULTY
On Jan. 3, Dr. Geis presented a talk, “Optimizing Bioethics Education: MedEd Research Frameworks Put Into Practice.” She is a member of the Department of Pediatrics and Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Med.
CLASS NOTES
26 | alumni.amc.edu
CL ASS OF 2009
Megan Applewhite, M.D. ’09, M.A.
ALBANY MED FACULTY
Dr. Applewhite, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and Center for Medical Ethics Education and Research, is serving as interim director of the Alden March Bioethics Institute. She holds the John A. Balint, M.D., Chair of Medical Ethics at Albany Med, and is a board-certified general surgeon and is fellowship trained in Endocrine surgery.
Shiree Berry, M.D. ’09
In Nov. 2018, Dr. Berry was named Physician of the Year for Surgical Services by Envision Healthcare at the company’s national leadership conference in Las Vegas, Nev. Dr. Berry is a trauma and general surgeon at Envision Physician Services and assistant trauma medical director at Houston Northwest Medical Center in Houston, Texas.
CL ASS OF 2011
Nicole Betancourt, M.D. ’11
ALBANY MED
Dr. Betancourt has joined the Department of Pediatrics at Albany Medical Center. She completed her residency in general pediatrics at Albany Med and concluded her fellowship in pediatric critical care at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia.
Lynn Craft, M.S., P.A.’11
Ms. Craft shares that she relocated to Honolulu in the fall of 2018 and is working at Straub Medical Center as a PA in cardiovascular surgery. She will help to develop and launch an endovascular vein harvesting program for coronary artery bypass surgery for the medical center.
Ms. Craft was a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors from 2016-18.
Vrunda Patel, M.D. ’11 and Vishal R. Patel, M.D. ’11
CL ASS OF 2012
Abigail L. Mantica, M.D. ’12
ALBANY MED
Dr. Mantica has joined Albany Med’s Department of Surgery. She specializes in the treatment of pediatric musculoskeletal injuries and conditions that include trauma, scoliosis, limb deformity, clubfoot and hip dysplasia. Dr. Mantica also treats orthopaedic conditions in patients with cerebral palsy and neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Mantica is the only fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeon in the Capital District.
CL ASS OF 2014
James A. Kelley, M.D. ’14
In October 2018, Dr. Kelley joined Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Primary Care - Sports Medicine, a new practice in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., focusing on active patients and recreational and high-level athletes.
CL ASS OF 2017
Hajat Avdovic, M.D. ’17
Dr. Avdovic was awarded the 2018 Family Medicine Education Consortium Visual Arts Award for his original photograph, “Life on the Batey, Dominican Republic.” The award honors the creative talents of Family Medicine physicians. Dr. Avdovic is a Family Medicine resident at Northwell Health in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Vrunda Patel, M.D. ’11 and Vishal R. Patel, M.D. ’11 and their daughter, Veera, enjoyed a visit to Albany Medical College in September 2018.
SHARE YOUR NEWS!
The Alumni Association is happy to pass along your news and messages to fellow classmates
and community members. If you would like to share an announcement, news or update
regarding your professional and/or personal life, please contact: [email protected].
Elizabeth Veeder, M.D. ’46
David C. Rees, M.D. ’52
John V. Skiff, Jr., M.D. ’54
James A. Durfee, M.D. ’58
Robert M. Blumenberg, M.D. ’59
Samuel A. Cassell, M.D. ’59
Donald W. Edwards, M.D. ’59
Wellington J. Pindar, M.D. ’59
Robert L. Chesanow, M.D. ’60
Robert M. Easley, Jr., M.D. ’61
Sheldon V. Smith, M.D. ’63
James P. O’Brien, M.D. ’64
Anita L. Troja Anderson, M.D. ’64
Jerry L. Clausen, M.D. ’65
David A. Eppard, M.D. ’65
Charles F. Fasce, Ph.D. ’66
William J. Richards, Jr., M.D. ’69
Daniel A. Kramer, M.D. ’71
L. Michael Graver, M.D. ’77
Virginia N. Harvey, M.D. ’77
Charles H. Kite, Sr., M.D. ’78
Steven J. Walerstein, M.D. ’79
David E. Kammerman, M.D. ’86
Debra G. Knee, M.D. ’91
Alice J. Lemieux, Hon. ’93
Nancy Phillips, M.D. ’02
W E M O U R N T H E PA S S I N G O F T H E F O L L O W I N G C L A S S M AT E S :
Samuel A. Cassell, M.D. ’59
“When I was in high school, Dr. Cassell took me to brunch, and over eggs and coffee, he told me what it was like to be a doctor. He also explained why, instead of retiring at the end of his very successful career as an internist, he decided to begin a new practice caring for an underserved, at-risk population. Dr. Cassell founded the Bergen Medical Volunteer Initiative, a free clinic providing medical care to uninsured residents of Bergen County, N.J. Dr. Cassell continued to serve as a mentor for me, and I appreciate how much of his work and character reflect the values instilled in him during his time at Albany Med.”
Courtney Meyer, M.D. Candidate, Class of 2019
Charles H. Kite, Sr., M.D. ’78Since 1995, Dr. Kite taught anatomy to first-year medical students at Albany Medical College. He was a respected faculty member and his students will remember him as a passionate clinician-teacher. During his tenure, Dr. Kite was part of a team of faculty and students that developed the Albany Medical College Virtual Brain Model, a 3D MRI-derived virtual brain atlas for neuroanatomy teaching and learning.
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I N M E M O R I A M
The Alumni Association is happy to pass along your news and messages to fellow classmates
and community members. If you would like to share an announcement, news or update
regarding your professional and/or personal life, please contact: [email protected].
A L U M N I O F F I C E ( M C - 5 ) P 4 8 0 0 A L B A N Y M E D I C A L C O L L E G E
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“As a student at Albany Medical College, I am experiencing the commitment to high-quality patient care with the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center curriculum. I appreciate being able to practice patient skills regularly and receive feedback from both standardized patients and my peers. I firmly believe that it will make a difference in how I connect with my patients, the comfort I am able to give them and the kind of doctor I can be in the future.”
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT TO THE ALUMNI ANNUAL FUND TO HELP STUDENTS LIKE SHARON HSU, M.D. CANDIDATE, CLASS OF 2021:
THE ALUMNI ANNUAL FUND: ACCESS, INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE
