Bulletin
of the Albany Medical College Alumni Association Inside
Reunion 2016 Faculty Profile: Richard J. Blinkhorn, Jr., M.D. Medical Simulation Training
Friday, April 29– Sunday, May 1
Volume 81 Number 1
Winter 2016
Please consider a bequest in support of Albany Medical College “Peggy and I care deeply about giving back. Our legacy to Albany Medical College is a living trust. It was easy to make the arrangements and we found a way to celebrate our longstanding connection to our roots in Albany.” Peggy and Leonard Kirschner, MD, ’61
Litchfield Park, Arizona
The Kirschners share an enduring commitment to Albany Medical College through volunteering and philanthropic support. Their bequest will help grow the Class of 1961 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund … and motivate others to do the same. Thank you! Members of the ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE PILLARS SOCIET Y have created lasting legacies using
their bequests, life income gifts and retirement plans. They provide inspiration to others to do the same.
Learn more, contact Laura O’Brien Assistant Vice President, Gift Planning and Principal Gifts (518) 262-6835 | obrienL@mail.amc.edu www.amc.edu/foundation/giftplanning
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS President Anthony C. Campagna, M.D. ’85 President-elect Kevin W. Roberts, M.D. ’77 Immediate Past President Janet E. Gargiulo, M.D. ’79 Secretary Nancy C. Sapio, M.D. ’85
Bulletin
Winter 2016
of the Albany Medical College Alumni Association
Treasurer David M. Jones, M.D. ’97
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Historian Jeffrey D. Hubbard, M.D. ’68 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DIRECTORS Mitchell H. Bamberger, M.D. ’82 Stephanie Bull, M.S., P.A. ’09 Christopher L. Campese, M.D. ’90, M.S. ’15 Jodi M. Della Rocca, C.R.N.A., M.S. ’02, Ph.D. Clifford A. Erickson, M.D. ’99 Robert J. Hedderman, M.D. ’82 Kathryn A. Hogan, M.D. ’04 Siobhan M. Kuhar, Ph.D. ’90, M.D. ’99 R. Peter Manes, M.D. ’04 Dennis P. McKenna, M.D. ’92 Kathryn T. O’Keeffe, M.D. ’78 Phillip S.K. 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 Evan Vosburgh, M.D. ’82 Charles L. Poskanzer, M.D. ’45, Emeritus Steven M. Frisch, M.D. ’79, Ex-Officio Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84, Ex-Officio
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5 6 7 8 10 11 12
President’s Message
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Featured Alumnus: Mark P. Callery, M.D. ’85
15 18 20 21 23
College News and Events
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF Maura Mack Hisgen, Executive Director Christine Horigan, Associate Director Alison Lester, Program Manager Jessica Watson, Archivist
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Design: Panarama Design www.panaramadesign.com
AMCalumni@mail.amc.edu or (518) 262-5033
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Alumni Events Dean’s Message Medical Simulation Training Pillars Profile Reunion Giving Program Faculty Profile: Richard J. Blinkhorn, Jr., M.D.
My Experience at Stanford MedX Reunion Highlights/Schedule Class Notes In Memoriam
PLEASE JOIN US FOR
194019411942194319441945 194619471948194919501951 195219531954195519561957 195819591960196119621963 Friday, April 29– Sunday, May 1 196419651966196719681969 197019711972197319741975 ’41,’ 46, ’51, ’56, ’61, ’66, ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, 197619771978197919801981 ’91, ’96, ’01, ’06, ’11 198219831984198519861987 the gold society 198819891990199119921993 199419951996199719981999 alumni.amc.edu/reunion 200020012002200320042005 200620072008200920102011 HONORING THE CLASSES OF:
and
*
*Celebrates all classes prior to 1966
AMCalumni@mail.amc.edu
518.262.5033
HOTEL INFORMATION Hilton Garden Inn, Albany Medical Center 62 New Scotland Avenue Albany, New York 12208 518.396.3500
Group Name: AMC Reunion Weekend 2016 Group Code: AMC16 Room Rate: $119 (single or double) per night/per room (Special reunion rate) Parking included
President’s Message Dear Fellow Alumni,
I do hope you each of you have had some time to step away from your work and responsibilities during the holiday season to be with your family and friends and to celebrate the New Year. Since our last issue of the Bulletin, the staff of the Alumni Association has been actively working to maintain connections with our alumni regionally and across the country. Along with Dean Verdile, we have visited Worcester, MA, Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD and Los Angeles, CA. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming regional events in 2016 (see schedule on page 6). The 2016 Alumni Association Nominations and Awards Committee chaired by immediate pastpresident, Dr. Janet Gargiulo ’79, has selected an exceptional group for the 2016 Alumni Association Awards. I would like to thank all of you who submitted nominations and extend my congratulations to this year’s award recipients:
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Exemplary Alumnus Award
L. Nelson Hopkins III, M.D. ’69
Gary L. Sutter, M.D. ’76
Honorary Members of the Alumni Association Wilson Crone, M.D., Ph.D., and Mara A. McErlean, M.D.
Humanitarian Alumnus Award
Meritorious Alumnus Award
John Booss, M.D. ’65
David M. Jones, M.D. ’97
Planning for the 2016 Reunion Weekend, Friday, April 29 – Sunday, May 1, is well under way. We’ve been fortunate to have the support of many alumni volunteers, and I encourage those of you who graduated in a year ending in 1 or 6 to attend, and of course all alumni are welcome to attend. (See reunion highlights on page 20) I continue to be proud of the Alumni Association’s commitment to our students through support of panel discussions, social events, travel stipends for conference presentations, financial scholarships and in-Training—the online e-magazine founded by Alena Paul and Ajay Major, members of the Class of 2016. The publication contains articles written by medical students worldwide. It can never be said enough that our alma mater is a very special institution. The history of our College is apparent when we are on campus, but the work it takes to maintain the lifeblood of the Alumni Association is not always visible and is not present at every medical school in the country. Please join me in thanking Dean Vince Verdile, Maura Mack Hisgen, the group of dedicated staff in the Association and Foundation, Board Members, class representatives and students who keep the energy of this vibrant and active Alumni Association moving forward. I hope you and your families have an enjoyable winter as we here in the northeast await the warmer weather of spring time. Please send us any news for our Class Notes section of this Alumni Bulletin. If you need anything, please know that you can reach out to me at any time by emailing me at AMCAlumni@mail.amc.edu.
Stay connected
ALUMNI NETCOMMUNITY Would 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.
Anthony “Tony” Campagna, M.D. ’85
Winter 2016
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2016
CALENDER
Upcoming College and Alumni Events alumni.amc.edu/events FRIDAY, MARCH 18
Match Day
FRIDAY, APRIL 29 –
Albany Law School, Albany, N.Y.
SUNDAY, MAY 1
SATURDAY, MARCH 19
An Evening with the Albany Symphony Orchestra Dinner: Fort Orange Club Concert: Palace Theatre Albany, N.Y.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
Medical Student Awards Day/ Commencement Eve Reception New York State Museum, Albany, N.Y
MARCH
West Coast Florida Reception
THURSDAY, MAY 26
APRIL
Commencement
Seattle Reception
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
2015 Regional Events
The Alumni Association hosts a variety of events throughout the year. These gatherings provide a wonderful opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff and students to make new connections, renew old friendships and be a part of the vibrant Albany Medical College community. In addition to Reunion Weekend, alumni receptions were held in Worcester, MA, Boston, MA, Baltimore, MD, and Los Angeles, CA. Our deepest appreciation and gratitude to: Adrian S. Dobs, M.D. ’79 and Martin Auster, M.D., and Vera and Gary L. Sutter, M.D. ’76 for graciously hosting regional events. Dean Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84 visited David Falk, M.D. ’43 at his home in California in November.
Dean Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84, Lou-Ann Verdile, Adrian Dobs, M.D. ’78 and Martin Auster, M.D. at the 2015 Baltimore Regional Reception. 6 alumni.amc.edu
Alumni and guests at the 2015 Los Angeles Regional Reception.
Dean’s Message I begin 2016 with exciting news about growth and development at Albany Medical Center, and I trust you will share in my enthusiasm. In response to the rapidly evolving health care environment and a growing demand for our services, Albany Med is undergoing its first management reorganization in 20 years. To put it most succinctly, we have become a “health system” more than a health “center;” as we transform through affiliations with two significant area hospitals (Saratoga and Columbia Memorial), community physician affiliations and 34 off-site locations in nine counties, including several well-trafficked urgent care centers. While I will continue in all my duties as Dean, including my visits with alumni, I will expand my reach as the Senior Executive Vice President for System Care Delivery. As such, in addition to the College, I will oversee the hospital, the Albany Medical College physician practice, nursing and our new community physicians, those who have joined with Albany Med but continue to provide care at their original locations. This is the first time that all patient care delivery will be aligned and integrated under one leader, and I am honored to hold this role. Meanwhile, another Albany Medical College alumnus, Steven Frisch, M.D., Class of 1979, has been named Senior Executive Vice President for the Integrated Delivery System. He will establish the partnerships that will allow us to grow and completely expand and integrate our delivery system throughout the region. He will oversee our partnerships with the Visiting Nurse Association, as well as Saratoga Hospital and Columbia Memorial, and he will serve on the board of directors of both of these organizations. Together with other management team members, Dr. Frisch and I will work to enhance our ability as an organization to meet the growing demand for our health care and educational services. I fully expect that my new role will strengthen the educational component of the system. The possibilities for our students and residents are exciting with new opportunities for real-life experiences and an ever-increasing pool of teachers and mentors. The specifics will become clear as time progresses, and I will certainly keep you updated. Albany Medical Center and Albany Medical College have a proud history as leaders in integration. Many of you recall that in the mid-1980s we successfully merged the two institutions entirely, including creating a single-mindedness for budgeting, governance, fund raising and the management of the missions. Today, with the announcement of this management reorganization, we are once again remaining ahead of the trends to ensure a continued vital and vibrant organization. As always, I appreciate your support in providing the best health care education and experiences for our future health care providers and research scientists. Best wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling new year, Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84 The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ’67 Distinguished Dean
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Demand for Medical Simulation Training Continues to Grow A small group of students take turns inserting IVs on a set of training arms and hands in the College’s Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center (PSCCC), pausing to think about how they’re tying the tourniquets, and clapping in support as each completes the task with success.
W
to the emergency department, hile they normally along with dozens of your would not have peers, to listen to a patient’s this experience in heart anomaly. Sometimes their second year, the group you’d wait months for another, requested extra time to visit and you’d wonder if you’d the Center during their lunch recall what you heard if you break before third year, when heard it again,” she said. they will try IVs on each other. Harvey, at 40 years old, “This is a safe, positive in fact, is one of the oldest environment where we can medical simulators available really take the time to learn in medical education. The and connect with our mentor,” Center’s newer, full-size said Shilpa Darivemula, who Laerdal SimMan has the also has spent extra time ability to sweat, cry, bleed, learning lumbar punctures and even speak, and can be intubation. “The extra time programmed to have real-time I’ve spent in the Center has responses to drug treatment been the most special part of and procedures. They can my second year.” have irregular heart rates and Safe and deliberate breathing sounds, can be given practice has been the basis OB/GYN residents use a low-tech model (peppers) to learn hysteroscopy skills. intravenous medication, and of the PSCCC since it was can die. And they’re expensive established in 2011, and to maintain and replace. requests to use the facility McErlean estimates that each mannequin can last anywhere from and its equipment continue to increase substantially every year. five to eight years, and can cost upwards of $75,000. The state-of-the-art simulation center is one of the largest and While the PSCCC is packed with state-of-the-art technology, most sophisticated in the nation. And its role in the Medical at its heart is its Standardized Patient Program, which utilizes College and Medical Center as well as in our community is more trained individuals to play the role of patients. Students can important than ever. conduct exams in realistic exam rooms, and receive feedback from “Health care delivery is more complex today than it ever both the patient and faculty, who watch from a monitoring room. has been. To keep up with this ever-changing environment, For many students, these interactions remind them why they the way we educate medical students also must change,” said chose medicine. Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84, The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ’67 “Our hands-on experiences in the PSCCC are the bridge Distinguished Dean at Albany Medical College. “Patient safety between science and human interaction,” said third-year student must be at the forefront of our pedagogy.” Misty Shah. “There’s so much you can’t prepare for when you first Mara McErlean, M.D., director of the PSCCC, says alumni who experience the privilege of seeing a patient, but the PSCCC is a tour the facility often remark about the challenges involved in safe and well-equipped place in which to practice for these most their own training. intimate experiences. All of the staff at the PSCCC are student “When they see Harvey, our cardiopulmonary patient simulator, advocates in the truest sense.” they tell tales of how it used to be: You would get a call to report 8 alumni.amc.edu
Ophthalmology review a video of complications during cataract surgery as part of a communication exercise. They must now explain to the patient what went wrong during the procedure.
In the past few years, the Center has brought technology and human interaction together in hybrid scenarios, combining the use of simulation mannequins with standardized patients who portray family members or loved ones—encouraging students to consider family dynamics, preparing them to communicate difficult news, and helping to shape them into compassionate physicians. “That experience you have on someone’s worst day of his or her life, sticks with you forever. You don’t want to be the nervous physician. You want to have already experienced it, and learned from it, and remember how to do it better,” said McErlean. “Introducing students to these simulated medical scenarios early in their education reinforces what they learn in the classroom and prepares them for clinical practice. They cultivate their communication skills both with patients and with other members of the medical team, and most important, do so in a risk-free environment before they see patients,” said Henry Pohl, M.D., vice dean for academic administration. Pohl is credited with forming the College’s standardized patient programs more than 20 years ago—one of the first in the country. The College now has 85 standardized patients between the ages of 18 and 78. In 2015, nearly 1,000 separate educational sessions were held and more than 35,000 student contact hours were completed, an increase of approximately 20 percent over the prior year. Requests from other departments and the community also have increased. “While the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center plays a critical role in preparing future physicians to provide safe, emphatic, and quality care, it also bolsters Albany Medical Center’s role as a leader in our community through the training and outreach we provide to countless agencies, schools, and other organizations in our region,” said Verdile.
Residents, nurses, and allied health professionals are increasing their use of the Center. Human resources trains new managers in employee relations, and the Center for Donation and Transplant trains staff to make requests for organ donation. Training is provided for sexual assault nurse examiners, and medical college candidates are interviewed. The PSCCC also continues to be active in community education, offering educational sessions for school-aged children in Girls, Inc., MedQuest, and Junior Achievement, and training for law enforcement and emergency medical services providers. McErlean credits her small staff with helping to keep up with the increasing demand. As new requests come in, Cathy Manjunath, coordinator of simulation technology instruction and support, and Heather Frenz, manager of case development and standardized patient education, work closely with McErlean and faculty and residency directors to identify needs, determine resources, and write each case. Some requests can take up to a week’s worth of planning. “Cathy’s clinical experience as a former nurse, and technological experience as a former IT leader, bridges the educational gaps and helps us develop the forms and metrics, and Heather, as an experienced actress who has worked with our standardized patient program for 15 years, knows how to bring each patient to life.” While managing and maintaining such a robust simulation center is challenging, college administrators agree it is critical. “This is morally the right thing to do,” McErlean said. “We owe it to our patients that our students are well-trained with the least risk to them, and we owe it to our students to send them into their medical careers well-prepared.”
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PILLARS
societ y
PILLARS PROFILE
Creating a Class Legacy By good fortune of the alphabet, Leonard Kirschner, M.D. ’61, and Edward Keenan, M.D. ’61, became fast friends while at Albany Medical College—a bond that continues to this day. Having last names that began with a “K,” we were always next to each other in classes, at the registrar, etc., and developed a lifelong friendship,” said Dr. Kirschner. Now, more than 50 years after graduating from medical school, the West Coast Dr. Kirschner (Arizona) and the East Coast Dr. Keenan (Boston) have joined together with classmates James Puleo, Sr., M.D. ’61 and Clyde Turner, M.D. ’61 to make an appeal to their class on behalf of Albany Medical College. As they approach their 55th class reunion in April, they have established the Class of 1961 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund. With a starting goal of $50,000, they plan to provide meaningful financial awards and scholarships for medical students, while creating a lasting class legacy. Peggy Kirschner, Maurice Keenan, M.D. ’61, Cynthia Keenan Drs. Keenan and Kirschner have stepped and Leonard Kirschner, M.D. ’61 at Reunion Weekend 2011. forward to help fund the scholarship endowment by creating trust arrangements using their estate plans. The combination of planned gifts, like Drs. Keenan and Kirschner, and outright gifts will strengthen the scholarship and significantly grow their class fund. The Class of 1961 leaders are thinking big—these innovative gifts, and all types of gifts, count in Reunion giving! “Peggy and I found it was easy to fit the College into our overall estate plan, and we found a way to celebrate our longstanding connection to our roots in Albany,” said Dr. Kirschner. “We all owe our career paths to our four years at Albany Medical College,” he explained. “I am hoping that the members of our class will take on this challenge to benefit current and future students.” Dr. Kirschner’s career has taken him around the world with 22 years of active duty in the Air Force. He retired as a colonel in 1985, and his final assignment was as hospital commander at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. He worked with four Catholic hospitals in Arizona and started a managed care plan to contract with Arizona’s Medicaid program. In 1985, he was appointed by the Governor of Arizona as Director of Arizona’s innovative Medicaid program. After seven years working for the State of Arizona, he joined Electronic Data Systems (EDS) providing consulting services throughout the country. He served six years as president AARP Arizona and is now a member of the Arizona State Medicaid advisory committee. Like Dr. Kirschner, Dr. Keenan continues to work, seeing patients at his pediatric practice in Chestnut Hill, just outside of Boston. His career as a prominent pediatrician has included being on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and serving as president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. As an early sudden infant death syndrome researcher, he was one of the founders of the 1990’s “Babies Back to Sleep” movement which has been credited with saving the lives of more than a thousand babies every year by encouraging parents to put infants to sleep on their backs. He credits his education at Albany Medical College for instilling in him the connection between medicine and serving the needs of the community. “Albany Medical College created the best communitarian agenda in the United States. The college was 50 years ahead of others and saw the needs of the future in 1961.”
To contribute to The Class of 1961 Alumni Endowed Scholarship, visit http://alumni.amc.edu/Class1961. For additional gift ideas, including bequests using tax and estate planning tools, call Laura O’Brien at (518) 262-6835.
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GIVING PROGR AM
The Reunion Giving Program inspires alumni to support the College in celebration of important milestones.
The classes celebrating their reunions in 2016 (all with graduating years ending in 1 or 6) are already working with great enthusiasm. Our reunion classes are making gifts to the top priorities of the College such as the Alumni Annual Fund and scholarships.
Class Reunion Milestones The Class of 1966 is celebrating their 50th class reunion. Lead by Class Agents Dennis Brown, M.D., Russell Robertson, M.D., Jeffrey Rudnick, M.D., Paul Schreiber, M.D., Thomas Vest, M.D. and Betty Vohr, M.D. The class chose to honor this milestone anniversary by establishing the Class of 1966 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.
The Class of 1991 is celebrating their 25th reunion. Lead by Class Agents James Puleo, II, M.D. and Richard Rho, M.D., the Class of 1991 is raising funds to establish the Class of 1991 Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Volunteer Recognition Class Agents and Coordinators Class of 1956 Paul Davidson, M.D.
Class of 1961 M. Edward Keenan, M.D. Leonard Kirschner, M.D. James Puleo, Sr., M.D. Clyde Turner, M.D.
Class of 1966 Dennis Brown, M.D. Russell Robertson, M.D. Jeffrey Rudnick, M.D. Paul Schreiber, M.D. Thomas Vest, M.D. Betty Vohr, M.D.
Class of 1971 Alexander Filipp, M.D. Charles Kawada, M.D.
Class of 1976 Catherine Bartlett, M.D. Linda Civerchia Balent, M.D. Ivan Friedrich, M.D. Gregory Harper, M.D. Mary Rappazzo, M.D. Gary Sutter, M.D.
Class of 1981 Richard Alfred, M.D. Sarah Elmendorf, M.D. Duncan Savage, M.D.
Class of 1986
How to Make Your Reunion Gift To 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
Get Involved: To learn more about planning your reunion weekend and/or assisting with fundraising efforts, please contact: AMCalumni@mail.amc.edu
Carin Gordon, M.D. Gregg Meyer, M.D. Philip Paty, M.D. Pasquale Petrera, M.D. Gregory Pinto, M.D. John-Patrick Python, M.D. William O’Connor, M.D. Gurvinder Uppal, M.D.
Class of 1991 James Puleo, II, M.D. Richard Rho, M.D.
Class of 1996 Todd Doyle, M.D. Brian Murray, M.D.
Class of 2006 Joanne Barlin, M.D. Joyce Barlin, M.D.
Class of 2011 Aparajit Naram, M.D.
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FACULTY PROFILE
Richard J. Blinkhorn, Jr., M.D. As the nation is experiencing shortages in primary care/ internal medicine physicians, Albany Medical College is bucking that trend with increasing numbers of students choosing internal medicine and primary care specialties. In 2011, 21 Albany Medical College graduates went on to internal medicine residencies. In 2014, that number more than doubled to a high of 44.
T
his has occurred, in large part, due to a refocus on the Department of Medicine’s vital role in education. The Department is led by Dr. Richard Blinkhorn, chairman and Richard T. Beebe Professor of Medicine. Dr. Blinkhorn was recruited to Albany Med in 2009 after serving as Robert Craig Chairman and Professor of Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, as well as Clinical Professor of Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine. Prior to this, he was an Associate Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and Director of Infectious Disease at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. We sat down with him to discuss his department’s important role at Albany Med.
What attracted you to Albany Medical College? When I was hired six years ago, Dean (Vincent) Verdile made it clear that his vision was to re-energize the Department of Medicine’s educational and scholarly programs. My academic career has been uniquely devoted to medical education, beginning at Case Western Reserve University, where I was involved in the instruction of all levels of physicians in training, from first- and second-year medical students all the way through the training of fellows in infectious diseases. Prior to coming to Albany, I had been recruited to Phoenix to revitalize the internal medicine residency education programs at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Albany Medical College’s very deep roots attracted me as well as a culture that espouses academic values combined with high-quality clinical care.
How did you work to change the focus in the department? I met with students, residents and fellows, as well as faculty, to better understand what they were seeking -- what resonated with them. I interviewed graduating 12 alumni.amc.edu
students for advice on areas for improvement. I learned they valued a personalized teaching relationship so I began to build programs around that idea. For our medical students, I started coming in, and still do, for 7 a.m. morning report where the students present cases for discussion. For our residents, I introduced a similar exercise at our noon conferences, where I lead the discussion. I recruited highly respected clinician educators who shared our vision, notably Dr. Raymond Smith as Vice Chairman for Education. I initiated an annual State of the Department address at which time I remind the faculty of our commitment to nurturing our learners, especially our students; and share our progress.
How have you been able to accomplish a resurgence of the department as a vital part of the medical curriculum? I would be amiss not to thank the Dean for his unwavering support, but I must credit the entire Department for the resurgence. With more than 100 faculty members, we are the largest clinical department at Albany Medical College. (The Department’s
Richard J. Blinkhorn, Jr., M.D. chairman of the Department of Medicine and Richard T. Beebe Professor of Medicine.
13 sub-specialty divisions include Allergy/Immunology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Internal Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, HIV Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, Nephrology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, and Rheumatology.) I have engaged the existing faculty in the importance of teaching at all levels from medical student through fellowship and even the mentorship of junior faculty members. Since 2009, I have hired dozens of physician faculty, and the litmus test has been a desire to teach; it’s a prerequisite. I have also been fortunate to have highly dedicated and talented faculty already on staff, including Dr. Joseph Wayne who directs the educational experience for our third year students. With our renewed emphasis on education, innovative programs have been created: Dr. Sunil Pokharel took the lead and redesigned our fourthyear acting internship using an apprentice model that focuses on one-on-one mentoring; Dr. James Desemone developed
a medical resident quality, patient safety and process improvement curriculum and conference; and Dr. Gary Schynoll introduced a teambased learning curriculum for our internal medicine residents that culminated in a 100% Board passage rate. And because excellence in teaching goes hand-in-hand with excellence in clinical practice, having notable physicians, such as Dr. Marc Judson, one of the nation’s top sarcoidosis experts, ensures that our students are learning from the best. Our learners benefit from the availability of programs like our Digestive Disease Center, which has received national accreditation for excellence, and we are one of the few designated cardiology programs for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVR), not to mention our nationally ranked kidney transplant program.
You have been the recipient of four Golden Apple awards (see sidebar) from students for excellence in teaching. What is your teaching style? My goal is to direct our learners in “how to think” rather than “what to think” as they approach clinical problem solving. Some might call me demanding or intimidating, and while I accept “demanding,” I never want to intimidate anyone. I continually ask myself if I am effective in my teaching efforts. Perhaps the most rewarding thing for me is when a former student or resident contacts me and shares that they remembered something I said and used it to solve a problem in their medical practice.
We’ve focused on academics, but tell us about your clinical interests. My expertise is in tuberculosis and mycobacterial diseases. When I was in Cleveland and
later in Phoenix, I did a fair amount of public health work, serving as the TB control officer for the Cuyahoga County and Maricopa County Health Departments. I also served as TB medical advisor for the Ohio and Arizona Departments of Health Services. Although I have consulted for the New York State Department of Health, TB is not a major problem in the Albany, N.Y., area. This means I focus on mycobacterial and other infectious diseases, treating inpatients and running a weekly outpatient clinic. I have long believed that all of our academic faculty, including me, should maintain active clinical roles, and that this provides a vital link between medical education and high quality medical care. Working side-by-side with our faculty in clinical practice clearly facilitates the professional development of our physician learners.
Golden Apple The late Robert D. Wickham, M.D. ’52 and his spouse, Kate Wickham, generously established the Golden Apple Awards to honor the College’s commitment to excellence in teaching. The awards, stewarded by the Alumni Association, allow the graduating medical students the opportunity to recognize outstanding educators they encountered during their time at the College. Dr. Blinkhorn has been the recipient of the Outstanding Clinical Golden Apple Award.
Dr. Blinkhorn leading a discussion with medical students and residents as part of the teaching group he holds over lunch twice a week.
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FEATURED ALUMNUS
Steven Stain, M.D., chair, Department of Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Mark Callery, M.D. ’85 and Dean Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84.
Mark P. Callery, M.D. ’85 On Monday, Oct.5, Albany Medical College’s Department of Surgery inaugurated the Alden March Distinguished Surgeon Award at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Conference in Chicago, IL. Mark P. Callery, M.D. ’85 was named the first award recipient and was joined by Dean Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84, The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ’67 Distinguished Dean, Steven C. Stain, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery, alumni and colleagues from Harvard University. Dr. Callery is professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and chief of general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. He completed his surgical residency training at Barnes Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, and his fellowship training in HPB Surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland. He joined the Washington University faculty in 1992. In 1996, Dr. Callery was recruited to become chief of the division of general surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, and in 2001 assumed his current position at Harvard. A self-described “parochial kid” growing up in Lowell, MA, Dr. Callery attended Albany Medical College after graduating from Tufts University. He served as first-year class president. Dr. Callery looks back on his time at the College as a “wonderful experience” and warmly remembers several faculty members who inspired him - Drs. Alley, Bernard, Chang, DeLuca, Lempert ’58, Pietrocola ’75, Popp ’67 and
14 alumni.amc.edu
Shah. Dr. Martin McKneally, however, who served as chair of cardiothoracic surgery at the time, truly lit a fire in Dr. Callery. Under Dr. McKneally’s tutelage, Dr. Callery was challenged to develop a basic science research project that he presented at the meeting of the Society of University Surgeons in Richmond VA, a career highlight for him as a medical student. He has pursued an academic career in surgery since College. Additional career highpoints for Dr. Callery include serving as president of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, building an international brand and global reach for the society, and receiving the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation. Above all, his life’s greatest highlight was meeting his wife Angela while a student at Albany Medical College. It has been through her unwavering support that he has achieved his many successes. Dr. Callery is internationally recognized as an expert in Pancreatic, Hepatobiliary and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery. On receiving the inaugural award Dr. Callery stated, “It’s an amazing award and it speaks to the legacy of Dr. Alden March as a pioneering educator and brilliant surgeon. Albany Medical College is a great place to learn with extraordinarily caring people and the most remarkable friends who last a lifetime.”
COLLEGE NEWS AND
EVENTS
Dr. Argoff Delivers Address Dr. Charles E. Argoff, professor of neurology at Albany Medical College, and director of the Comprehensive Pain Center in the Department of Neurology at Albany Medical Center delivered the Keynote Address—“Pastrami or Prescriptions? The Deli Can Wait…We Need More and Better Pain Practitioners NOW!” on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at the PAINWeek 2015 Conference in Las Vegas, NV—the largest US pain conference for practioners.
Sarah Sindell, M.D. ’07 Department of Surgery Grand Rounds Presentation On Thursday, Oct. 15, the Department of Surgery welcomed Dr. Sindell to conduct Grand Rounds. A general surgeon from the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, she presented “Surgery in the Last Frontier: Scalpels, Service and Snow.” While on campus, Dr. Sindell was also a special guest at a dinner for women doctors and medical students interested in surgery.
Alan S. Boulos, M.D. ’94 Named Chair In October, Dr. Boulos was named the inaugural chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center. He had been had been serving as interim chair of neurosurgery. “Dr. Boulos is an exceptional surgeon, physician leader, and patient advocate who has been steadfastly committed to advancing the field of neurosurgery. We are lucky to have him here at Albany Medical Center and in the Capital Region community at large,” said Dean Vincent Verdile, M.D. ’84, The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ’67, Distinguished Dean. “His outstanding track record will serve us well as we continue to expand the Department of Neurosurgery.” In 2013, Dr. Boulos was elected to the prestigious Society of Neurological Surgeons, whose selective membership is limited to 200 in the nation. Dr. Boulos also serves as the Herman and Sunny Stall Chair of Endovascular Surgery, director of the neurovascular section and associate professor of neurosurgery and radiology at Albany Medical College.
L. Nelson Hopkins III, MD ’69 and Alan Boulos, M.D. ’94.
L. Nelson Hopkins III, M.D. ’69 Delivered Eldridge Campbell Lecture Dr. Hopkins was the guest speaker for the Albany Medical Center’s Department of Neurosurgery’s Twenty-Eighth Annual Eldridge Campbell Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 22 in Huyck Auditorium. The topic of the presentation was, “Innovation in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.” Dr. Hopkins is a Distinguished Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiology at SUNY Buffalo and the President and CEO of Gates Vascular Institute in Buffalo.
Dean Verdile Honored for Leadership On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84 The Lynne and Mark Groban, M.D. ‘67 Distinguished Dean of Albany Medical College received the prestigious Academic Laureate Award from the University at Albany Foundation. Dr. Verdile was recognized for his outstanding contributions to academia and leadership in the Capital Region medical community. A published author and active editor, Dr. Verdile was also commended for his service on numerous local, state and national committees and for being a recipient of several awards in recognition of his governance and service.
Customer Service All-Star Christine Horigan, associate director of the Alumni Association was named Albany Medical Center’s “Customer Service All-Star” for October 2015. Recognized for her willingness to go above and beyond for our College’s students, alumni, faculty and fellow staff, we applaud Chris’ incredible service.
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COLLEGE NEWS AND
EVENTS
Center for Immunology & Microbial Disease
Theobald Smith Lecturers Elected to the National Academy of Medicine Two recent Theobald Smith Lecturers have been elected to the highly prestigious National Academy of Medicine: Keith Paul Klugman, M.D., Ph.D., director for pneumonia, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle; emeritus William H. Foege Professor of Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta; and honorary professor, University of the Biwatersand Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa. Jean-Laurent Casanova, M.D. Ph.D., investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; and professor and senior attending physician, St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller Institute, New York City. Note: The Theobald Smith Chair was established by the Alumni Association in support of an endowed professorship and chair in Microbiology and Immunology. Dennis W. Metzger, Ph.D. currently holds the position.
Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. ’72 Endowment in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Lecture On Tuesday, Dec. 1, Dr. Sinatra presented a lecture titled, “Health Revelations from Heaven and Earth” at the Hilton Garden Inn at Albany Medical Center. The presentation was based on the book with the same name co-authored by Tommy Rosa and Dr. Sinatra. Dr. Sinatra and Mr. Rosa each shared their unique perspectives on living a happy and healthy life—practical strategies for good health and spiritual well-being—with members of the College community and hospital staff. Richard MacDowell, M.D. ’72, Stephen Sinatra, M.D. ’72, Herbert Scherzer, M.D. ’72 and Jeffrey Lozman, M.D. ’72 at Dr. Sinatra’s lecture.
Koinonia Primary Care Blessing Party On Friday, Dec. 11, Albany Medical College students and staff volunteered at the Koinonia Primary Care “Holiday Blessing Party,” held each year for members of the Arbor and West Hill communities in Albany. Hosted by Robert J. Paeglow, M.D. ’94, Koinonia’s founder and faculty member of the Department of Family & Community Medicine, the party included crafts, games, and an area for children to shop for their family members for free. The Albany Medical College Keytones performed and led the group in singing carols.
Albany Medical College Volunteers at the Koinonia Primary Care “Holiday Blessing Party.”
16 alumni.amc.edu
Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Designation In January, the New York State Department of Health named the Alzheimer’s Center at Albany Medical Center a Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease (CEAD), and awarded $2.4 million in state funding over a five-year period. Albany Med is one of only six CEADs in New York State, and the only one in the region. “The Center of Excellence designation speaks volumes to the level of service we provide our patients and their caregivers,” said Earl Zimmerman, M.D., professor and director of the Alzheimer’s Center at Albany Med. “This grant will enable us to continue to provide and extend the compassionate care and support the Alzheimer’s Center at Albany Med has become so well known for.”
COLLEGE NEWS AND
EVENTS
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Students Celebrate Healthy Living with City Neighbors at Carnival on the Hill For the past 10 years, Albany Medical College students have been helping kids in Albany’s West Hill and Arbor Hill communities learn about personal health in the best of all settings: a vibrant carnival featuring free family fun and healthrelated games, health screenings and refreshments for kids. Carnival on the Hill, which was celebrated in August in the West Hill neighborhood, began as a small block party 14 years ago and has grown into an annual celebration for thousands. Since 2006, Albany Medical College’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and Project MedSCOPE (Medical Student Community Outreach for Prevention and Education) have been involved with the event. “One of the main focuses of Project MedSCOPE is helping people gain the skills they need to take control of their own health,” said Katherine M. Wagner, M.D. ’94, vice chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine.
Physician of Tomorrow Award Aleena Paul, Class of 2016, received an American Medical Association Foundation’s 2015 Physicians of Tomorrow Award. The scholarship awards were created in 2004 to provide financial assistance to medical students facing spiraling medical school debt. To date, more than $1 million has been granted to exceptional medical students across the nation.
Attendees at the Barbershop Health Clinic.
Barbershop Health Clinic Aims to ‘Cut Hypertension’ On Saturday, Sept. 12, Albany Medical College students and faculty, and community partners, Alpha Phi Alpha and the George Biddle Kelley Foundation screened individuals for high blood pressure at Brick’s Barbershop in Albany as part of Albany’s first-ever “barbershop health clinic.” The screening is part of a new initiative to address health care concerns of atrisk individuals in the Albany community.
Medical Student Education Student Scholarship Award In October, Madeline Haas, Class of 2016, was selected as a 2016 recipient of the Society of Teachers and Family Medicine (STFM) Conference on Medical Student Education Student Scholarship Award. The award highlights students who demonstrate promise as an educator, advocate, or scholar in family medicine.
N.A. Graduation The Nurse Anesthesiology Class of 2015 at their Commencement at the Hilton Albany Hotel on Friday, Nov. 20.
MSI Day Molly McGuiggan, Class of 2017, presenting her poster at the Medical Student Investigation Day on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
The Celebrities of Medical Education:
My Experience at Stanford Medicine X By Ajay Major, Class of 2016
Five months ago, I unexpectedly received an email with the subject line, “Invitation to speak at Stanford University Sept 23, 2015.” Instantly, my stomach welled with the pangs of anxious nausea. As I quickly scanned through the email, three words caught my eye: “main stage talk.” I did a double-take back to the subject of the email. It was addressed to me. A fresh wave of nausea washed over me. Don’t get me wrong—I’ve never been more excited to receive a conference invitation. It’s been a dream of mine to speak on the main stage at Stanford Medicine X. Med X is the foremost medical innovation conference of our generation, a meeting of the greatest minds in health care to plan the disruption of patient care, health technology and physician education. It’s the Academy Awards, the Grammys of medicine—everyone who is anyone in medical innovation goes to Med X, decked in their finest clinic clothes and carrying their Twitter-enabled devices of choice. For budding physicians like myself, being present in their company is an experience of awe, and engaging in their discussions is the premier intellectual exercise for our ventures, a singular opportunity to probe their collective intelligence and get real-world feedback on our projects. This year, Stanford Med X was trying something new: a 2-day pre-conference entitled Medicine X | Ed dedicated entirely to innovation within medical education. In the internet-enabled era of medicine, medical schools across the country are developing 18 alumni.amc.edu
new ways to educate their students, transforming standard lectures of brute-force memorization to interactive didactic sessions that teach budding physicians how to critically analyze the literature and make evidence-based decisions for their patients. Med X | Ed was to be a gathering of the greatest minds in medical education to create new ways to teach and learn. And I was going to be there, up on that lighted stage with the futuristic white couch and cameras pointing from all directions, in the company of hundreds who, like me, were passionate about the future of academic medicine. If there was ever an opportunity to communicate my message and impress all those superstars of medicine, this was it. You can understand my nauseous apprehension. I showed up at 6am the day of the conference, a full hour before registration began, anxious to get a look at the main stage and practice my speech a few hundred times before my talk later that day. Dr. Larry Chu, the mastermind of Stanford Medicine X, was already hard at work in the early morning light, flitting around the Li Ka Shing Learning and Knowledge Center on the Stanford
When you tweet as often as I do, you not only recognize faces, but you also build relationships, making friends and new colleagues that you would never have met before the era of instantaneous communication. campus, making sure everything was ready for the onslaught of medical educators, students and patients that were soon to arrive. I pulled out my laptop and opened up Twitter, penning the first of hundreds of tweets that I would post over that day. Stanford Med X is one of the few medical conferences in which live-tweeting, the practice of tweeting the day’s events as they happen and interacting with other conference attendees in real-time, is not only allowed, but actively encouraged. Live-tweeting is one of my favorite activities as a conference—not only does it enable you to keep a virtual notebook of the lessons you learn throughout the day, it also allows you to share those lessons with others and participate in a meta conversation about the conference with people around the world. Later that day, the #MedX hashtag would start trending on Twitter, with over 1,200 participants (I was number 4!) Tweeting is also instrumental to networking at conferences like Med X. Although the question “Don’t I know you from Twitter?” may seem a social faux pas, this isn’t the case at Med X. Our name badges prominently feature our Twitter handles, just in case our profile photos don’t reflect our real appearances—a foot-in-mouth question we do want to avoid. As I sat in the foyer, I began to recognize the faces at the registration table. “Holy cow, that’s @amcunningham! And is that @doctor_v? I just tweeted with him last week. And there’s @ShivGaglani from the last AAMC conference I was at.” Really, all we needed is a red carpet. The celebrities had arrived. Dr. Alex Djuricich (who I know better as @MedPedsDoctor, a medicine-pediatrics attending at Indiana University School of Medicine) sat next to me in the foyer. He shook my hand, recognizing me from Twitter, and asked about my residency search, all the while I could only think to myself, “I can’t believe this is actually happening.” When the doors opened, he invited me to sit at his table, with some of his faculty colleagues. I would compare this to the tired trope of being invited to sit at the seniors table in high school, but it just doesn’t do the feeling justice. As the talks began on the unmet needs of medical learners and new virtual classrooms for medical students, the tweets began flowing, spilling out from the countless open laptops and tablets around the hall. I got into a small virtual scuffle with a Twitter user who was following the conference from the UK about the role of the medical student voice in education reform—the topic of my upcoming talk and a personal passion of mine. When you tweet as often as I do, you not only recognize faces, but you also build relationships, making friends and new colleagues that you would never have met before the era of instantaneous communication.
Take @AmolUtrankar, a second-year medical student at Vanderbilt. I met him last year through my publication inTraining when he was a pre-medical student, passionate about the use of innovative technology in health care and medical education. After bringing him onto the publication as a social media manager and a podcast producer, I was privileged to watch him mature into a medical student leader of his own right, all over email, Twitter, and his phenomenal blog. Despite having worked with him as colleagues, I met him for the first time in person at Med X, on a coffee break between talks. It is a rare conference that facilitates these virtual-turned-real connections—this is the power of Stanford Medicine X. Finally, it was time for lunch, which could only mean one thing: my talk was next on the agenda. I guzzled another cup of coffee, ate the few bites of food that my stomach could manage, and headed backstage to the green room. I was greeted by a flurry of activity, as I was whisked into a chair and a very excitable stage manager began taping a microphone to my cheek. What follows is, in my mind, a blur. The other presenters gave their talks while I watched on the backstage screen, pacing from corner to corner of the tightly enclosed space and going over the details of my talk in my head. When it was my turn, I heard the booming voice of the announcer say my name and school, and I walked onstage, greeted by the bright stage lights and the watchful eyes of a sea of people. “Here goes!” was my last thought as I reached my spot on center stage and began.
alumni.amc.edu/reunion
Highlights/ Schedule Friday, April 29 Pillars Luncheon Hilton Garden Inn, Albany Medical Center
Distinguished Alumnus Lecture Huyck Auditorium, Campus
Reception
Saturday, April 30 Alumni Breakfast/ State of the College Address Dean Vincent P. Verdile, M.D. ’84 Hilton Garden Inn, Albany Medical Center
Morning Campus Events:
Student-led College tours Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center tour Academic Sessions Afternoon and Evening Events:
Annual Alumni Awards Luncheon Hilton Garden Inn, Albany Medical Center
Reunion Gala New York State Museum, Albany, N.Y.
Immediately following the lecture, Campus
Individual Class Dinners At various Albany locations
Sunday, May 1 Military Alumni Breakfast (all alumni welcome) Campus, Alumni Lounge
WARCHIVES CORNERW
It’s a Mystery! A History Mystery!
Are you naturally curious? Do you have detective skills? Then the Archives need your help. • Detectives, sleuths, and gumshoes wanted to help identify mystery photos from the Albany Medical College Archives.
• Take a careful look at the three photos provided and contact the Archives with any clues.
• Prizes from the Albany Medical
College bookstore will be awarded!
Anyone with information regarding the mystery photos, please contact the College Archivist, Jessica Watson at WatsonJ1@mail.amc.edu 20 alumni.amc.edu
Class NOTES
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: AMCalumni@mail.amc.edu CLASS OF 1955
Joseph Belsky, M.D. ’55 In November, Dr. Belsky received the Benjamin Rush, M.D. Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Fairfield County Medical Association in Connecticut. (The award is named for Benjamin Rush who was a doctor during the Revolutionary War and signer the Declaration of Independence.) Fellow alumnus and friend David Beck, M.D. ’54 attended the award ceremony. CLASS OF 1961
Clyde W. Turner, M.D. ’61 In December, Dr. Turner received the Educator of the Year Award for Foundations Tutorials from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He was recognized for his extraordinary contributions and high standards as a volunteer instructor.
Melvin J. Silverstein, M.D. ’65 On Monday, Oct. 5, Dr. Silverstein delivered the 50th I.S. Ravdin Lecture at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Conference in Chicago, IL. The Ravdin Lecture is named for Isidor S. Ravdin, M.D, a distinguished clinician, innovative researcher and renowned administrator, who served as the Chairman of the Board of Regents. Dr. Silverstein is the first Albany Medical College alumnus to give the lecture, established in 1966. Dr. Silverstein holds the Gross Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Oncoplastic Surgery and is director of the Breast Program at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, CA. He is also a clinical professor of surgery at the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. CLASS OF 1966
CLASS OF 1965
David Nalin, M.D. ’65 In February, Dr. Nalin was appointed Professor Emeritus in the Center for Immunology & Microbial Disease by the Board of Trustees of Albany Medical College.
Edward A. Iannuccilli, M.D. ’65 Dr. Iannuccilli gave a presentation at the Italian American Heritage Museum in Albany titled, “Good Times and Sunday Dinners” on Thursday, Nov. 19. He shared his stories of family gatherings and travels to Italy with the audience.
Betty R. Vohr, M.D. ’66 In March, Dr. Vohr, medical director of the Neonatal FollowUp Program in the Department of Pediatrics at Women & Infants Hospital and professor of pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, was awarded the Stan
and Mavis Graven’s Leadership Award for Outstanding Contributions to Enhancing the Physical and Developmental Environment for High-Risk Infants and their Families. Dr. Vohr accepted the award at the 28th Annual Graven’s Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant, in collaboration with the March of Dimes, in Clearwater Beach, FL.
Richard D. Zallen, M.D. ’66 Margot and Richard D. Zallen, M.D. ’66 returned to campus for a visit during the summer. CLASS OF 1971
Daniel A. Kramer, M.D. ’71 In August, Dr. Kramer was awarded the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by CAPT G.R. Smith, Commanding Officer, Naval Health Clinic Quantico, VA, upon his retirement after 44 years of practicing medicine. Dr. Kramer received the prestigious medal for his professionalism, initiative, and dedication to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Daniel Kramer, M.D. ’71 being awarded the Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Medal by Captain G.R. Smith, Commanding Officer, Naval Health Clinic Quantico.
CLASS OF 1976
Donna A. Caniano, M.D. ’76 In October, The Ohio State University College of Medicine announced the establishment of the Donna A. Caniano, M.D. Lectureship to honor her pioneering work as a female surgeon. The lecture series’ goal is to increase awareness of surgical careers for women and those individuals underrepresented in medicine. Prior to her retirement in 2010, Dr. Caniano served as professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery at The Ohio State University Department of Surgery; and as the H. William Clatworthy, Jr. Professor in Pediatric Surgeon and surgeon-in-chief at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Richard L. Levine, M.D. ’76 In July, Dr. Levine was elected vice chief of staff at Doctors Hospital, Baptist Health South Florida, in Coral Gables, FL. He is an infectious disease specialist.
Mary E. Rappazzo, M.D. ’76 On Saturday, Oct. 31, Dr. Rappazzo was a panel participant at the New York Chapter of American College of Physicians (NYCAC) Hudson Valley Capital District Educational Event in Albany, N.Y. The panel discussion was titled, “Balancing Professional Career and Personal Life: An Interactive Conversation.” Dr. Rappazzo is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association.
Philip DiNovo, Museum Director of the Italian American Heritage Museum in Albany, Diane Iannuccilli and Edward Iannuccilli, M.D. ’65.
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Class NOTES
Strive for 95 Coalition is a partnership between local medical groups, hospital system, public health department and local schools. CLASS OF 2003
Colum F. Amory, M.D. ’03
CLASS OF 1984
Members gathered for dinner in August. CLASS OF 1985
CLASS OF 1996
Michael S. Lauer, M.D. ’85
Veronica L. Dunckley, M.D. ’96
In September, Dr. Lauer was appointed deputy director for Extramural Research at the National Institutes of Health. He is a board-certified cardiologist, an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and an elected fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Dr. Dunckley’s book entitled, Reset Your Child’s Brain, was released in August. An integrative psychiatrist, she practices in Los Angeles.
CLASS OF 1987
Brian G. Cuddy, M.D. ’87 In 2015, Dr. Cuddy, a neurosurgeon in Charleston, South Carolina, was appointed chairman of Roper/St. Francis Healthcare, a system that includes three hospitals and 6,000 employees serving the coastal region of South Carolina. CLASS OF 1995
Danny Lee, M.D. ’95 In November, Dr. Lee received the 2015 Innovations in Clinical Care Award at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians of Johns Hopkins Medicine. He was recognized for implementing numerous electronic medical record enhancements that improve safety, increase efficiency and make patient care more comprehensive. 22 alumni.amc.edu
CLASS OF 1998
Shellie Asher, M.D. ’98, M.S. ’10 Dr. Asher, associate professor of emergency medicine and program director of the Albany Medical College Emergency Medicine Residency Program, became a member of the editorial board of Academic Emergency Medicine in August. A reviewer for the journal for the past six years, Dr. Asher received the Outstanding Reviewer Award in 2012. She will now serve as an editor for papers on research ethics and general ethics.
Daniel R. Brennan, M.D. ’98 Dr. Brennan was named the 2015 Physician of the Year by the Santa Barbara Medical Society for his continuing volunteer efforts in the Santa Barbara community and for the creation of the Strive for 95 Coalition. Strive for 95 is a community effort to increase vaccination rates to 95% or higher in an effort to rebuild community immunity. The
In November, Dr. Amory was named the Edith M. Hellman and Hellman Family Chair in Stroke Medicine at Albany Medical Center. He joined Albany Med in 2009 from the Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he received fellowship training in vascular neurology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and served as chief resident in neurology. CLASS OF 2005
Gina M. Geis, M.D. ’05 Dr. Geis joined the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center in August. A neonatologist, she cares for babies who are critically ill or born prematurely. Dr. Geis has a particular interest in family-centered care and bioethics, and will consult with the hospital’s “Journeys” program for pediatric palliative care and the Alden March Bioethics Institute. CLASS OF 2007
Benjamin J. Infantino, M.D. ’07 In August, Dr. Infantino joined the Bernard and Miller Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center. He is a pediatric gastroenterologist.
Neil R. Gildener-Leapman, M.D. ’07 In November, Dr. GildenerLeapman joined Albany Medical Center’s department of surgery, and has been appointed assistant professor of surgery at Albany Medical College. Board certified in otolaryngology, Dr. Gildener-Leapman is fellowship
trained in surgical oncology of the head and neck, including experience in transoral robotic surgery for tonsil and tongue cancer. He has joined Albany Med’s Kingston, N.Y. location. Dr. Gildener-Leapman most recently served as an assistant professor at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.
Calvin C. Leung, M.D. ’07 In September, Dr. Leung joined the Orlando VA Medical Center in Orlando, FL as an interventional cardiologist. He works alongside fellow alumnus Mark R. Milunski, M.D. ’84 at the Center. CLASS OF 2008
Mary Ellen “Mellie” Gilder, M.D. ’08 Dr. Gilder continues her work in obstetrics serving refugees at a health clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, near the ThaiMyanmar border.
Blake Moore, M.D. ’08 In December, Dr. Moore published an article in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. He researched and compared three common procedures most frequently performed by orthopaedic surgeons to relieve forefoot pain in patients in his study. Dr. Moore is a foot and ankle orthopaedics specialist practicing in Virginia.
Sarah S. Narayan, M.D. ’08 In November, Dr. Narayan, a rehabilitation physician who specializes in back pain, joined Albany Medical Center’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and has been appointed assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Albany Medical College. She completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Swedish Covenant Hospital and Loyola University, where she served
Class NOTES
as chief resident and team physician for the university’s football and basketball programs. She was also the medical sports team doctor for the USA Volleyball Team.
Ann Rutter, M.D. ’08 Dr. Rutter co-wrote the article “Community Preceptors & Medical Education: Dispelling Myths About Having a Student in Your Office” that appeared
the department of Family & Community Medicine at Albany Medical College.
in the spring edition of Family Doctor: A Journal of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians. She is an assistant professor and director of Family Medical Student Education in
In Memoriam We mourn the passing of the following classmates: John R. Tietjen, M.D. ’45 Frederick H. Grabo, M.D. ’49 Victor H. Burdick, M.D. ’54 James J. Cassidy, M.D. ’55 Robert E. O’Mara, M.D. ’59 John A. Lang, M.D. ’63 Charles W. Bollinger, M.D. ’65
Diane Moriarty Berejka, M.D. ’90 Robert J. Tigue, M.D. ’90 Jack L. Bernard, M.D. ’93 Michael J. Guido, M.D. ’93 Victor Hurst, Ph.D. ’99 Liselotte B. Hof, Ph.D., (Hon.) ’02
Steven L. Eisen, M.D. ’66 Vincent R. DiGregorio, M.D. ’68 Joseph J. Palombi, M.D. ’68 Jane Van Delft Pinkham, M.D. ’68 Robert E. Johnson, M.D. ’74 Joel J. Feintuch, M.S. ’77, OD
Laurie King, M.D. ’85 Laurie King, M.D. ’85 passed away on June 27, 2013 after a three-year battle with colon cancer. Dr. King will be remembered as always doing things her own way. She put herself through college by dog grooming, and after being matched into a Urology residency, changed course and pursued a career in Emergency Department medicine. A single mother, who worked full time until she was diagnosed, she continued to work even after being told it was “time to stop.”
1953-2013
The Class of 1985 remembers Dr. King for her wonderful sense of humor and originating the note taking service. Her daughter, Michele, writes that her mother “saved countless lives through medicine, humor, and an extraordinary, allconsuming love for her patients and the people in her life.” She is missed. Remembrance submitted by Laura Weissberg, M.D. ’85
Liselotte B. Hof, Ph.D., (Hon.) ’02 Dr. Liselotte B. Hof, former Associate Professor of Biochemistry, passed away September 22nd in Gainesville, FL at age 78. She was born and raised in Cologne, Germany and went to the University of Cologne where she was awarded B.S. and M.S. degrees in Organic Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Physiological Chemistry in 1965. Following postdoctoral training at the Universities of Michigan and Chicago, she returned to Ruhr University in Germany in 1970. In 1972 Dr. Hof joined the Department of Biochemistry at the Albany Medical College, and married Professor Peter Weber. She was appointed Associate Professor in 1978 and Vice Chairperson in 1988. Dr. Hof mentored numerous graduate and medical students. One of the few woman faculty members, she was a role model for
1937-2015
many female students. Dr. Hof served as chair of the academic committee on harassment, was a member of several other committees and an officer in the Faculty Organization and Faculty Senate. Dr. Hof taught a highly successful course on nutrition. She authored or coauthored 57 scientific publications. A hard worker and beloved teacher, she was elected honorary alumna of the Albany Medical College in 2002, a signal honor affirming her distinguished service to the College community. Drs. Hof and Weber retired to Micanopy, FL in 2003 where they had the opportunity to fulfill their great love of nature. Dr. Hof’s activities extended into the community where she was president of the Micanopy Historical Society Museum and a docent at the University of Florida Art Museum. She was a very special person and esteemed colleague. Remembrance submitted by Norman L. Strominger, Ph.D., professor of Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience at Albany Medical College
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Alumni Office (MC-5) P4800 Albany Medical College 47 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY 12208 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
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GRATITUDE On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of Albany Medical College, we thank you for your generous gifts to the Alumni Annual Fund in 2015. The loyal and continued support of our alumni provides essential funding for financial aid, teaching, research and technological advancements—all program areas vital to our success.
alumni.amc.edu/annualfund