Dominic J. Nompleggi, MD, PhD

In Memoriam

It is with heartfelt sadness that we note the passing of Dominic Nompleggi, MD, PhD. Dom was a staff member of the University of Massachusetts (now Chan) School of Medicine and UMass Memorial Medical Center for 30 years, serving initially as its Director of the Adult Nutritional Support Service and the Director of Esophageal Motility Laboratory. In 2000, he became the Clinical Chief of UMMC’s Gastroenterology Division until 2004 when he became the Chief of the Division, a position he notably and faithfully served until his passing Aug. 27, 2021, surrounded by his beloved wife, Ann and their two daughters, Victoria, “Tori,” and Elizabeth, “Libby.”

Dominic J. Nompleggi, MD, PhD

Dom was born in Boston in May 1950. Following his graduation from Boston College High School in Dorchester, Mass., Dom spent the next 14 years at Georgetown University earning a plethora of degrees including a BA, MS, PhD, and an MD. He then returned to Boston completing his residency at the New England Deaconess Hospital where he also served as Chief Medical Resident from 1985 to 1986, becoming a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty. After a research fellowship in Nutrition at the New England Deaconess Hospital, Dom completed a clinical and research fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before accepting an invitation to join the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the Gastroenterology Division of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1991.

Dom was the proverbial triple threat. His research interests centered around the mechanisms of stress-related mucosal damage to the gastrointestinal tract and nutritional support of the hospitalized patient. He authored numerous papers and book chapters on these subjects and was invited to lecture on these topics both regionally and nationally. Dom was an award-winning teacher. He helped to organize and implement the Physician, Patient, and Society Course, which for many years was a requirement for UMass medical students. Whether teaching medical students, medical residents, gastrointestinal fellows or colleagues, Dom was insightful, calm, unpretentious and frequently interjecting a gentle humor into his discussion. Above all, Dom was a consummate physician: intelligent, knowledgeable, caring, allowing himself always to be present with his patients. Dom cared for the person while treating the disease. Despite being perpetually listed among the Best Doctors in America since the award’s inception, Dom remained a humble and self-effacing physician who delighted in caring for his patients.

During his tenure as Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Dom successfully gathered around himself a group of outstanding gastroenterologists and hepatologists, fostered a collegial relationship with his community colleagues, helped create a nationally acknowledged excellence in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, and successfully steered the GI division through administratively challenging times. Dom’s gifts facilitated him to become a successful leader. Simply stated, he cared. When negotiating or in a discussion, Dom sought to listen and understand the other person’s point of view, which helped him create common ground for agreement. When in his presence you sensed his concern for your welfare. Dom was a peacemaker.

Dom, like most gastroenterologists, loved good food and drink, especially martinis. He loved music, the beauty and peacefulness of the Rhode Island shore, and the time spent with his family there or on Amelia Island off the Florida Coast. While Dom loved being a physician, he cherished even more time his family – Ann, Tori and Libby. When with him ,the conversation would often drift to what the three women in his life were accomplishing. He was a proud husband and father.

Dom’s prolonged exposure to the faith of his Italian mother and father, and the teaching of the Jesuits at Boston College High School and Georgetown University, led him to view life and his talents as a gift to be used for a purpose. As his life journey progressed, Dom found his purpose in being the beloved husband of Ann, the beloved father of Tori and Libby, and a beloved physician to his patients, and colleague to his peers. Well done, Dom. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Thank you to an esteemed friend and colleague, John Zawacki, MD