UpstateMedicalAlumniJournal_Winter2025

Alumni JOURNAL UPSTATE MEDICAL

WINTER 2 0 2 5 PUBLISHED BY UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI FOUNDATION

OUTSTANDING IN THEIR FIELDS

Alumni award winners Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10, Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90, and Mark Wolraich, MD ’70

M ED I C A L A L U M NI B O A R D O F D I R EC T O R S

4

6

Robert A. Dracker, MD ’82 President Danielle A. Katz, MD ’97 Vice President Barbara Jones Connor, MD ’82 Treasurer James A. Terzian, MD ’75 Secretary Richard M. Cantor, MD ’76 Larry S. Charlamb, MD ’88 Peter J. Christiano, MD ’85 Dennis D. Daly, MD ’83 Mantosh Dewan, MD, HS ’79 Mark S. Erlebacher, MD ’79 Brian J. Gaffney, MD ’72 Douglas W. Halliday, MD ’79 Ruth H. Hart, MD ’80 Robert H. Hill III, MD ’06 Samantha Jones, MD ’11 Bruce M. Leslie, MD ’78 Barbara Clayton Lutz, MD ’92 Kirsten P. Magowan, MD ’87 Barbara Anne Morisseau, MD ’98 Mark S. Persky, MD ’72 Amy L. Reynders, MD ’01 Charles J. Ryan III, MD ’82 K. Bruce Simmons, MD ’79 George L. Stanley Jr., MD ’94 Ralph L. Stevens, MD ’81

EMERITUS

Frederick R. Davey, MD ’64 Richard W. Doust Karen K. Heitzman, MD ’83 Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Michael H. Ratner, MD ’68 Gregory A. Threatte, MD ’73 Jack Yoffa, MD ‘69

EX-OFFICIO

Lawrence Chin, MD Paul Norcross Robert Ruiz Martha A. Wojtowycz, PhD

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES

Katherine Narvaez Mena ’26 Maushmi Chitale ’26 Binghamton Raquel Batista ’27 Christopher Bushnell ’27 Binghamton Stevie Tchako-Tchokouassi ’28 Kathy Burke ’29

AlumniJOURNAL UPSTATE MEDICAL

30

38

Features

4 A Reunion to Remember Alumni from across the country returned to Syracuse to reunite, reminisce, and to honor their own.

6 Care Beyond Symptoms Distinguished Alumnus Mark Wolraich, MD ’70, reshaped the understanding and treatment of ADHD and changed the way medicine cares for the whole child.

10 Standing Her Ground Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10, is fighting to preserve reproductive healthcare.

14 A Calling Across Continents The mission of Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90

19 Report of Gifts Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, the Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation raised a record-breaking $9.3 million in gifts this year to support student scholarships and other initiatives.

Departments 1 38 40 49

COURTYARD STUDENT ROUNDS CLASS NOTES IN MEMORIAM

WINTER 2025 ISSUE Published three times in 2025 in spring, autumn, and winter. Copyright © 2025 by Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and subjects and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Alumni Foundation or Upstate Medical University. Published by the Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation of Upstate Medical University, Setnor Academic Building #1510, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, New York 13210-9976 Issue Number: 96 Submissions and address corrections should be sent to Paul Norcross, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Setnor Academic Building #1510, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, New York 13210-9976 Phone: 315/464-4361 Fax: 315/464-4360 Email: norcrosp@upstate.edu Paul Norcross Executive Editor Renée Gearhart Levy Managing Editor

Lori Murphy Associate Managing Editor

Sarah Burns Ellen Edgerton Skip Lockwood Chere Raven Contributing Editors

Kiefer Creative Design and Production Jean Albanese Darryl Geddes Contributing Writers William Mueller Debbie Rexine Rich Whelsky Photographers Michael H. Ratner, MD ’68, Chair Fred Davey, MD ’64 Ruth Hart, MD ’80 James Terzian, MD ’75 Editorial Board JUST A CLICK AWAY Visit the Medical Alumni web page at medalumni.upstate.edu for special event information, past Alumni Journals, giving opportunities, and more. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ UpstateMedicalAlumni ON THE COVER: 2025 Medical Alumni Foundation award winners: Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10, Outstanding Young Alumna; Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90, Humanitarian; and Mark Wolraich, MD ’70, Distinguished Alumnus

C O U R T YA R D

Upstate Honors Pioneering Physicians at Sculpture Unveiling

U

pstate Medical University is honoring two of its earliest and most influential graduates with two statues on the Weiskotten courtyard. Statues honoring Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, and Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD, were unveiled on October 23 and now flank the entrance to Upstate’s main academic building. Blackwell was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States, graduating as valedictorian in 1849 from Geneva College of Medicine, which today is SUNY Upstate Medical University. She later founded the New York Infirmary for Women and Children. Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD, class of 1876, was one of the nation’s first female African American physicians and the first female doctor in the Dominican Republic.

“These beautiful sculptures . . . will forever grace what I like to call the Courtyard of the Founding Mothers,” says Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD, HS ’79. “Every day, these two women will loudly declare that we have welcomed all deserving people for 150 years and commit—in bronze—to welcoming all people for another 150 years.” Internationally recognized sculptor Carolyn Palmer created the bronze statues, which each stand 6-feet-2 inches high and weigh 400 pounds. She said she was inspired by their trailblazing work and tried to reflect their passion, vision, and strength in bronze.

Students unveil the sculpture of Elizabeth Blackwell, who became the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. The statue, along with that of Sarah Loguen Fraser, sits in the courtyard of Weiskotten Hall. Right: Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD, HS ’79, with sculptor, Carolyn Palmer

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

1

C O U R T YA R D

The first cohort of Upstate’s North Country Medical Scholars includes, left to right: second-year student Sarah Hoh; first-year student Cole Carpenter; third-year student Rachel Milone; and second-year student Mairead Lawliss.

Upstate and Hudson Headwaters Launch North Country Medical Scholars Partnership

U

pstate Medical University’s Norton College of Medicine and Hudson Headwaters Health Network have joined forces to launch the North Country Medical Scholars Program, a new initiative designed to increase the number of physicians serving rural and underserved communities across the greater Glens Falls, Adirondack, and Plattsburgh regions. The program supports students who are from or have strong ties to the communities served by Hudson Headwaters’ eight-county region, which includes Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Fulton, Hamilton, Essex, Clinton, and Franklin counties. Selected scholars are eligible to receive up to $45,000 per year for as many as four years of medical school tuition assistance. In return, recipients commit to working with Hudson Headwaters one year for every year of financial support received. Hudson Headwaters Health Network is a nonprofit system of 26 community health centers providing comprehensive primary care across 7,900 square miles of the Adirondack North Country and Glens Falls region.

2

According to Robert F. Ruiz, Upstate’s interim vice president for educational services and dean of student affairs, the program’s goals are to recruit and retain talented students from the North Country, reduce the financial burden of medical education, and help meet the region’s growing need for primary care physicians. “The emphasis is on growing the physician workforce for the North Country, making medical school more financially accessible for students from the region, and— most importantly—delivering more comprehensive care to the people of New York State,” Ruiz says. The first cohort of Upstate’s North Country Medical Scholars includes first-year student Cole Carpenter; second-year students Mairead Lawliss and Sarah Hoh; and third-year student Rachel Milone. “This initiative is important to Upstate and to the communities we serve,” says Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD, HS ’79. “Our partnership with Hudson Headwaters reflects our shared commitment to rural medicine and expands our longstanding pledge to improve access to care in underserved regions.”

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

C O U R T YA R D

Amar Suryadevara, MD ’03, HS ’08, named Chair of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences

A

mar Suryadevara, MD ’03, HS ’08, has been named chair of the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences. He previously served as interim chair of the department since 2021, during which time he grew the department to more than 80 members across various sites, including 15 faculty members. “Dr. Suryadevara has demonstrated outstanding leadership, dedication, and a deep commitment to advancing the department,” says Lawrence Chin, MD, dean of the Norton College of Medicine. “We are grateful for his continued leadership of this important clinical department.” Suryadevara completed his otolaryngology residency at Upstate and his fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. He is currently board-certified in both otolaryngology and head and neck surgery and facial plastic reconstructive surgery.

He joined the Upstate faculty in July 2009 and was named a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences in 2022. Additionally, he has served as the director of the Otolaryngology Residency Program (2014-2024) and co-director of the Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship (2018-present). He also is affiliated with the VA Medical Center. Suryadevara has been published in dozens of peerreviewed publications and has written several book chapters that are included in important texts, including The Art and Craft of Facial Rejuvenation Surgery. In addition to presenting his work both nationally and internationally, he was recently a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons multidisciplinary performance measure development workgroup on reconstruction after skin cancer resection. He also serves as Chair of the EvidenceBased Medicine and Research Committee for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Amar Suryadevara, MD ’03, HS ’08

Gregory Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, Named First B. Thomas Golisano Professor of Pediatrics

G

regory Conners, MD, MPH, MBA, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and executive director of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, has been named the nation’s first B. Thomas Golisano Professor of Pediatrics. This newly established endowed professorship honors Conners’ exceptional leadership in pediatric medicine and his national impact on pediatric emergency care, education, and advocacy. The professorship is named in recognition of Tom Golisano and his steadfast support of children’s health. “Dr. Conners exemplifies the very best of academic medicine—clinical excellence, visionary leadership, and a deep commitment to serving children and families,” says Mantosh Dewan, MD, HS ’79, president of Upstate Medical University. “We are immensely grateful to Tom Golisano for his extraordinary generosity, which continues to elevate pediatric care at Upstate and beyond.” “I am deeply honored to be named the inaugural B. Thomas Golisano Professor of Pediatrics,” says Conners.

“This recognition reflects the tireless work of our entire team at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue advancing the care, education, and advocacy that every child deserves. I am especially humbled that this professorship carries the name of Tom Golisano, whose extraordinary generosity is transforming children’s health care.” Conners joined Upstate in 2019. Under his leadership, Upstate was ranked as having the 17th best pediatric care in the nation and second best in New York, by Forbes magazine. As the B. Thomas Golisano Professor of Pediatrics, Conners will continue to guide the Department of Pediatrics and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in advancing clinical care, academic excellence, and community engagement—building on a career defined by impact, innovation, and service.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Gregory Conners, MD, MPH MBA

3

A WEEK END OF

Connection, Legacy, and Impact O

ld friends. Inspiring mentors. New facilities. Classes ending in 0 and 5 returned to Syracuse September 19-20 for Upstate’s Norton College of Medicine Reunion 2025. Alumni reconnected with faculty members who shaped their calling, explored new cutting-edge campus facilities, and reminisced over cocktails and class dinners. Friday’s awards ceremony reminded everyone the impact of giving back. Thanks to alumni generosity, $1.9 million in endowment and direct funds provided 182 scholarship awards to medical students following in their footsteps. Alumni also honored three physicians whose careers embody Upstate’s values: Distinguished Alumnus Mark Wolraich, MD ’70, Outstanding Young Alumna Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10, and Humanitarian Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90. Their journeys—detailed in the pages ahead—inspire us all. We look forward to seeing you again in 2030!

4

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

5

Care Beyond Sym Distinguished Alumnus Mark Wolraich, MD ’70, reshaped the understanding and treatment of ADHD and changed the way medicine cares for the whole child.

Award Winner 2025

Mark Wolraich, MD ’70

6

W

hen Mark Wolraich, MD ’70, decided in high school that he wanted to become a doctor, he could not have imagined the profound impact his career would have on millions of children and families around the world. Over more than five decades, his work has transformed how physicians understand and treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and advanced a model of pediatric care that looks far beyond symptoms to address the needs of the whole child. In September, the Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation recognized Wolraich’s lifetime of achievement with its Distinguished Alumnus Award—a fitting honor for a physician whose compassion, curiosity, and rigor have shaped modern developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Growing up in New York City—first in the Bronx, then on Long Island— Wolraich was drawn to science early on. After earning his undergraduate degree in chemistry from SUNY Harpur College (now Bing-

hamton University), he entered Upstate Medical University, where a clinical rotation would change the course of his life. “Of all the rotations I had in medical school, the one that was the friendliest and most interesting for me was pediatrics,” he recalls. “I didn’t warm up as much to the others as I did to working with children.” But it wasn’t just pediatrics that captured his imagination. It was the people—three extraordinary mentors—who showed him how deeply medicine could touch children’s lives.

THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP Julius Richmond, MD, dean of the College of Medicine and chair of pediatrics, had just returned from Washington, DC, where he and educator Betty Caldwell co-created the federal Head Start program. “He really set an example of what you could do beyond the exam room to improve children’s health,” Wolraich says. Dr. Richmond met weekly with students on pediatric rotations and those discussions opened Wolraich’s eyes to the physician’s role in public policy. Howard Weinberger, MD ’58, introduced him to the rigor of clinical research, demonstrating how to balance excellent clinical care with rigorous academic research—a model that would define Wolraich’s own career. “He had a particular support and interest in me over the two years that I was there,” says Wolraich. But perhaps the most transformative influence came from Ted DeBono, MD, who worked with children with developmental disabilities, particularly those with intellectual disabilities. Dr. DeBono had established an interdisciplinary clinic that included psychologists, therapists (PT, OT and speech clinicians) and educators alongside physicians—a novel approach at the time.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

mptoms “It was exciting to see how people in disciplines other than medicine looked at children and took care of them,” Wolraich says. “I really enjoyed being able to work together in a clinic model, which had multiple disciplines involved in both the evaluation and services provided to the children.” Through an elective with DeBono, including exposure to the Syracuse State School (one of the institutions that then served individuals with intellectual disabilities), Wolraich gained insight into state services and programs. By his internship year, he knew with certainty that he wanted to pursue caring for children with developmental disabilities. “These children in particular require coordinated care that focuses not just on medical care, but also on their educational needs,” he says. “And that it was important as physicians for us to think more broadly about what their needs would be, particularly on how the kids do in school.”

AN UNEXPECTED DETOUR As he was completing his intern year at Upstate in 1971, Wolraich’s career took an unexpected turn due to the Vietnam War. Although he had an offer of a one-year naval deferment, a friend suggested he apply to the Indian Health Service because of his interest in Native American families, sparked by exposure to the Onon­daga Nation near Syracuse. Through what he describes as “sheer luck,” he secured a position at the Phoenix Indian Hospital, which had recently lost its pediatric accreditation and needed general medical officers with pediatric backgrounds. For two years, he served diverse Native American populations from nine native nations across Arizona. This experience reinforced his commitment to comprehensive, culturally sensitive care—principles that would guide his work throughout his career. By the time the Vietnam War ended and Wolraich could return to complete his pediatric residency, posi-

Wolraich and wife Debra on graduation day, 1970

tions were scarce. Based on a recommendation from a colleague who had trained there, he completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He had no plans to ever return. “It was too conservative for us,” he says. Life, however, had other plans. But first came a fellowship in “care of handicapped children,” now called developmental and behavioral pediatrics, at the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland from 1974 to 1976. He and his wife Debra had fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest during a summer position in Seattle in 1968, shortly after their wedding, and Oregon represented a return to a region they cherished. It was during this fellowship that Wolraich’s research career truly began to flourish. He started focusing on a condition then called Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD), now known as ADHD. The condition had first captured his attention back at Syracuse through his work with DeBono, who treated children with MBD using medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine. In Oregon, Wolraich was able to conduct studies and publish his first research on the condition.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

7

LAUNCHING A RESEARCH CAREER In 1976, Wolraich accepted his first faculty appointment at the University of Iowa Hospital School, launching what would become a 14-year tenure. The position offered everything he had been seeking: the opportunity to practice, teach, and conduct research in an interdisciplinary setting. At Iowa, Wolraich established himself as a leading researcher in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. He took on the spina bifida program and worked with children with cerebral palsy and other conditions, but his primary research focus remained on ADHD—by then renamed Attention Deficit Disorder, and eventually Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the mid-1970s. He also tackled one of the most persistent and problematic myths in pediatrics: the belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. “There had been—and unfortunately, still continues to be—the myth that sugar was adversely affecting kids’ behavior and that’s why they were having hyperactivity,” Wolraich explains. Securing a grant from the National Institutes of Health, he designed what would become a landmark study. The research was extraordinarily rigorous: his team provided all food to participating families throughout the study period, used different sweeteners (saccharin and another artificial sweetener) in a controlled design, and made families believe the diet changed weekly when it actually changed every three weeks across three conditions. “We had a van set up as an evaluation room where they could test the children weekly,” he says. “We made it look like the diets changed weekly by the vegetables and other food we provided.” The study included teacher and parent rating scales, direct observation, and neuropsychological testing. The results were as definitive as possible. “At the end of it, we could find no relationship between what diet the children ate and their behavior or learning,” Wolraich says. “It was really a definitive negative study.

It’s pretty rare to have something that set.” Yet the myth persists. “Despite that, I still have calls asking about diet playing a role in behavior,” he says. At Iowa, Wolraich also secured grants to study the effects of better training for pediatricians caring for children with ADHD. Throughout his research, he maintained close collaborations with psychologists—particularly Scott Lindgren, PhD, who served as co-investigator on both the sugar study and ADHD research. By 1990, having reached the rank of full professor, Wolraich was ready for new challenges. When an opportunity arose at Vanderbilt University Medical School, he seized it. As director of the Division of Child Development at Vanderbilt, Wolraich spent 11 years expanding clinical services, research, and training programs. It was during this period that he completed work on what would become one of his most enduring contributions: the Vanderbilt ADHD Rating Scale. The scale’s name reflects Wolraich’s practical approach and sense of humor. He and his team needed a good measurement tool for their studies, but existing scales were proprietary and expensive, and weren’t adequate for his needs. So, he developed his own, starting the work at Iowa and finishing it at Vanderbilt. “I decided to call it the Vanderbilt scale, although Vanderbilt University did not provide any particular resources. But if I named it after myself, which is what some of the other scales had done, most people wouldn’t be able to pronounce the name right,” he says with a laugh. The scale is now used worldwide and has become a standard tool for diagnosing and monitoring ADHD. Beyond his research, Wolraich played a crucial role in establishing developmental and behavioral pediatrics as a formally recognized subspecialty. Working with colleagues from the Society for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP), he helped facilitate its approval as a new subspecialty in pediatrics. He also served as president of SDBP, helping to shape the field’s development and standards.

FULL CIRCLE

Wolraich and wife Debra at a book signing event

8

In 2000, Wolraich made a decision that surprised even him: he accepted an endowed chair at the University of Oklahoma, becoming the Shawn Walters Professor of Pediatrics—returning to the state he once thought he’d never revisit. He would spend the final 20 years of his career there, expanding services, research, and educational programs for children with disabilities throughout Oklahoma. One of his most significant accomplishments during this period was developing a service navigation program for children with disabilities that eventually served most counties in Oklahoma. The program helped families navigate the complex landscape of services

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

LESSONS FROM A LIFE IN MEDICINE

Wolraich was appointed to an endowed chair at the University of Oklahoma in 2001.

“I really cherish the interdisciplinary approach I learned at Upstate. It shaped everything I did throughout my career and helped countless children receive the comprehensive care they deserved.” and support available for their children—embodying the comprehensive, family-centered approach that had guided Wolraich’s work since his days with Ted DeBono at Syracuse. Throughout his career, Wolraich remained active in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), where his influence extended far beyond his own institutions. He helped develop training programs for pediatricians in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD and played a major role in creating and subsequently revising the Academy’s ADHD Guidelines—documents that have shaped how pediatricians across the country approach the condition. He also authored AAP books for parents on toilet training and ADHD and edited the organization’s Classification of Child and Adolescent Mental Diagnoses in Primary Care. His scholarly output over his career was prodigious: 24 books, 111 articles, and 50 chapters.

Wolraich’s contributions have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including the C. Anderson Aldrich Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics, induction into the CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Hall of Fame, and the Career Achievement Award from the Society for Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. But perhaps more important than the accolades is the lasting impact of his work. The Vanderbilt ADHD Rating Scale continues to help clinicians accurately diagnose and monitor millions of children. His research debunking the sugar-hyperactivity myth has provided evidence-based guidance to countless families (even if the myth stubbornly persists). His work on AAP guidelines has shaped standard practice across the country. And his advocacy for interdisciplinary care has influenced how medical centers structure their services for children with developmental and behavioral challenges. Since retiring in 2020, Wolraich continues to contribute to pediatric care through training programs with the REACH Institute. He and wife Debra—whom he met during his senior year of college and married in his second year of medical school—have settled in Connecticut, enjoying outdoor activities and spending time with their children and grandchildren. They maintain close friendships with a group of four couples from college days, gathering each summer and for New Year’s Eve—a tradition that speaks to Wolraich’s capacity for lasting relationships. Reflecting on his career, Wolraich remains deeply grateful for the foundation he received at Upstate. “I really cherish the interdisciplinary approach I learned at Upstate,” he reflects. “It shaped everything I did throughout my career and helped countless children receive the comprehensive care they deserved.” As developmental and behavioral pediatrics continues to evolve—with growing recognition of conditions like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and learning disabilities—Wolraich’s contributions remain foundational. His insistence on rigorous research, his commitment to interdisciplinary care, and his practical approach to developing tools that clinicians actually use have left an indelible mark on the field. His story reminds us that the most important question isn’t always “What condition does this child have?” but rather “What does this child need?” Answering that question well requires listening to many voices, drawing on many disciplines, and never forgetting that behind every diagnosis is a child and a family deserving comprehensive, compassionate care. 7

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

9

Standing Her Gr Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10, and the fight to preserve reproductive healthcare

Award Winner 2025

10

C

aitlin Bernard, MD’10, is in her car driving from her home in Indianapolis to Champaign, Illinois, where the OB/GYN travels twice monthly to provide medical care at a Planned Parenthood Clinic. The two-hour drive each way is a perfect time to catch up on books, podcasts, and calls, including with reporters who want to share her story. Three years ago, Dr. Bernard became a lightning rod in the national abortion debate, transforming her from a locally respected OB/GYN into one of the most recognized physicians in America. It all started with a phone call she received in June 2022 from a child-abuse pediatrician in Ohio. Would Bernard see a 10-year-old rape victim who needed an abortion but had just passed Ohio’s newly imposed six-week limit? As horrifying as that scenario is to many of us, the urgent request was not unusual for Bernard. “Unfortunately, these stories are very common in our world,” she says. It came just three days after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, and the consequences were already becoming devastatingly obvious. When an Indianapolis Star reporter overheard Bernard mention the case at a rally and asked to include it in an article, she agreed—never identifying the patient. The story went viral. President Joseph Biden referenced it in an executive order announcement. Media outlets worldwide covered it as dramatic evidence of post-Dobbs America. Then came the backlash: accusations that Bernard had fabricated the story, an investigation by Indiana’s Republican attorney general, claims that she had failed to maintain professional standards, and a reprimand from the state medical licensing board

“In many ways, there’s nothing special about me or the stories that I’ve told. So, I’ve really tried to the best of my ability to represent the voices of my colleagues and our patients across the country.” for allegedly breaching patient privacy—an allegation both Bernard and her employer, Indiana University School of Medicine, rejected as politically motivated. During a 14-hour hearing, as white-coated colleagues sat behind her in solidarity, Bernard faced intense, even personal, questioning. “Do you have a tattoo of a coat hanger that says, ‘Trust Women’?” one deputy attorney general asked. (She does, on her foot.) Bernard received death threats requiring security measures, faced harassment from politicians and pundits, and saw her professional record tarnished. The experience was “very scary,” she says. “Not knowing exactly what was going to happen; not knowing if this was going to impact my ability to continue working where I work, my ability to continue

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

round seeing patients. And certainly, I was scared for my personal safety and for the safety of my family.” Yet support poured in. Colleagues raised nearly $100,000 for her legal defense. Hundreds of Indiana doctors signed an open letter in her support. National organizations honored her courage: the ACLU of Indiana’s Sig Beck Award, the AMA Foundation’s Courage in Women’s Health Advocacy Award, and Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2022. She was profiled in Vanity Fair and the New Yorker. In September, she was honored at her 15-year College of Medicine Reunion as the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumna. “In many ways, there’s nothing special about me or the stories that I’ve told,” says Bernard. “So, I’ve really tried to the best of my ability to represent the voices of my colleagues and our patients across the country who are dealing with all of the exact same things that I’m dealing with.”

A NEW REALITY Bernard loves being an OB/GYN. “It’s a really unique way to be able to support women at a critical time in their life during a pregnancy, whether that’s unplanned or planned and wanted,” she says. “Whether they’re having complications or just having a happy, healthy delivery, you can really be a good supporter for them.” But her current work life reflects the fragmented reality of reproductive healthcare in America. Recently promoted to associate professor and serving as director for Indiana University’s Division of Complex Family Planning, Bernard splits her time between providing complex family planning care within Indiana University’s hospital system—the only legal abortions in the state—and traveling to Planned Parenthood in Illinois to provide care for Indiana residents who don’t meet the strict exceptions. She also maintains a full OB/GYN practice, covering labor and delivery, taking overnight hospital calls, and staffing emergency rooms. “The amount of work that we have to put in for each

Caitlin Bernard, MD ’10

individual patient to be able to get the care that they need is really tremendous,” she explains. Each potential abortion in Indiana requires consultation with at least two physicians, including a high-risk OB specialist, extensive documentation, and careful legal review. “We have policies and protocols in place at the institution level, which has obviously taken a lot of work to develop with lawyers and administrators,” she says. “But at the end of the day, we really don’t know what could happen if somebody disagreed with us. Our state government has certainly made it clear they intend to enforce the law.” Bernard fields calls from physicians across Indiana who have “really quite sick” patients who would benefit from abortion care but are afraid to even advise it as an option. “Certainly, there’s nothing in the Indiana law that says that you can’t advise a patient that an abortion would be helpful, but physicians are still very scared,” she says. The consequences reach far beyond access. Three maternity hospitals in northern Indiana have closed since the abortion ban took effect, partly due to difficulty staffing them with physicians. Bernard has seen an increase in requests for permanent sterilization from women worried about pregnancy complications. She counsels patients worried about getting pregnant because of previous complications during pregnancy. “If that happens again, and I poten-

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

11

ROOTS OF ADVOCACY

Bernard in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during a 2017 leadership training institute hosted by Physicians for Reproductive Health

tially need what might be considered abortion care, would my life and my health be put in jeopardy because I can’t access that care?” they ask. Bernard is also training the next generation of OB/ GYNs and worries about the future of women’s healthcare. Applications to OB/GYN residencies in states with abortion bans have dropped nearly seven percent. “At first, we saw increased interest,” she says. “But as more states ban abortion and fear rises, students are second-guessing taking this on as a career because of the risk associated with it.” Still, she encourages them. “It’s a wonderful field. There’s nothing else I would ever want to do,” she said. “But advocacy is now absolutely part of the job.” Practicing in a conservative state, Bernard knows her activism has made an impact. “Pushing institutions to do the right thing for patients and for their doctors is definitely a big part of what I do,” she says. “I think I’ve been successful in changing the culture of my institution to recognize the importance of our role. If we’re not here, there’s literally no one to take care of these women,” she says. “Whatever their personal beliefs, the administrators, the lawyers, the nurses, the other physicians that I work with really understand that this is lifesaving medical care that needs to be preserved.”

12

Bernard’s path to activism was set long before medical school. Born in 1984 on a communal farm in Binghamton, New York, she grew up in a household where social justice was a core value. Her father, a carpenter and community organizer, brought her on volunteer trips to Puerto Rico to build playgrounds and install septic tanks. Her mother, a laboratory researcher, took young Caitlin to Take Back the Night marches. “It was really impressed upon me that it’s important to kind of find something that can help you contribute to the world,” Bernard says of her upbringing. By high school, she knew she wanted to become an OB/GYN. While studying at Binghamton University, she volunteered as a doula and at Southern Tier Women’s Health Services, the clinic once targeted by militant anti-abortion activist Randall Terry. Bernard saw firsthand how the reproductive rights community—her parents included—rallied to protect and support the clinic. “Showing them that they were protected made a lasting impression,” she says. When Bernard entered Upstate Medical University in 2006, she found a mentor who would help shape her career: Phil Ferro, MD ’54, one

Bernard’s clinical work encompasses the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, from routine obstetrics to complex pregnancy complications and contraceptive care.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Bernard with fellow class of 2010 alumnae at Reunion 2025

of New York’s first abortion providers, who had performed the procedure even prior to Roe. Dr. Ferro’s stories of women who had died from unsafe abortions and physicians who practiced in secrecy made clear the stakes of reproductive freedom. “He and others of his generation felt they had to hide, that they couldn’t be public about what they were doing, even though they knew it was right,” Bernard says. “I really believed it could be different, that we could make progress from his career to mine and be public about why this work is important and necessary.” Another influential figure, Peter J. Cronkright, MD, ran migrant farmworker clinics where Bernard volunteered. These physicians helped provide Bernard with more than clinical skills; they gave her a moral framework and a sense of mission. After completing her residency at Upstate in 2014, Bernard spent a year in Kenya with AMPATH, a collaborative focused on sustainable, equitable healthcare led by Indiana University and the Kenyan government. She then pursued a fellowship in complex family planning at Washington University in St. Louis, earning a master’s in clinical investigation along the way. It was there that her advocacy sharpened. As Missouri lawmakers advanced increasingly restrictive abortion legislation, Bernard testified against measures designed to limit access. In 2017, she joined the faculty at Indiana University School of Medicine with two clear goals: to continue her global health work with AMPATH and to build the university’s Complex Family Planning Program in a state already hostile to reproductive rights. She also began working with Planned Parenthood clinics in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Louisville, and eventually—after Indiana’s abortion ban—Champaign, Illinois. Her work extended beyond clinical care to education and institutional change. She developed curricula for medical students on pregnancy options counseling,

created surgical simulation training for residents, and pushed administrators to improve access to reproductive healthcare. Bernard’s own advocacy continues on multiple fronts. She serves as co-legislative chair for ACOG’s Indiana section, provides expert testimony in legal challenges to abortion restrictions, speaks at national conferences, and writes op-eds. In November 2024, she spoke at the Association of American Medical Colleges annual meeting on a panel titled “How can we confront the criminalization of medicine?” She maintains her global health work with AMPATH in Kenya, overseeing educational programs and research. To recharge, she practices yoga, spends time outdoors, and visits family scattered across the country.

BALANCING MISSION AND RISK Bernard and her husband—with whom she has two young children, ages three and six—have discussed moving to another state. But the idea that people can simply relocate from red states to blue states for safety rings hollow to her. “We’re the United States. We need to stand together wherever we are,” she says. Her mission-driven career is non-negotiable. “That includes providing abortion and ensuring access to reproductive health care in places where it’s not easily accessible,” she says. “I don’t think that I would be as happy not doing that, but it is hard, sometimes, to balance against the risks.” That determination reflects lessons from Dr. Ferro and the generation of providers who provided abortion care in the years before Roe. “I don’t intend to go back into the shadows,” Bernard says. When asked what she wants her medical school peers to know about her career, Bernard turns reflective. “I went to medical school with a very clear plan of what I wanted to do,” she says. “The fact that I was able to achieve that is a testament to the support that I received at Upstate, from my mentors, teachers, friends, and colleagues. I’m forever indebted to that.” She says her career illustrates that you can make a big impact in ways you never expect or anticipate. “When we support each other, no matter what our specialties are, we hopefully can see progress in access to care and move towards social justice together.” That collaborative vision—rooted in the communal values of her childhood and nurtured through her medical training—sustains Bernard through the most difficult days. “There is something to be said for having a mission-aligned career that is much more than just a job,” she says. “I am very thankful for that.” 7

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

13

A Calling Across The mission of Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90

Award Winner 2025

S

ister Mary Felice, MD ’90, sits in a conference room in Weiskotten Hall, sharing a PowerPoint presentation about the St. Vincent the Servant General Reference Hospital in Lukolela, Democratic Republic of Congo, where she has served as medical director for 10 years. The 130-bed hospital is run by the Daughters of Charity, the religious order Sister Mary belongs to. Its facilities are spread across a campus of modest cement-block buildings—all of the bricks made on site—with separate structures for the emergency room, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, intensive care, psychiatry, and isolation. Several of these buildings are new, constructed under Sister Mary’s oversight, including a much-needed isolation unit for epidemics. The most recent outbreak—cholera— emerged shortly after Sister Mary left Lukolela in June to visit the United States. Every three years, sisters working abroad are granted a three-month Sister Mary Felice, MD ’90 furlough to rest,

14

reconnect with family, and reenergize before returning to their missions. This year, Sister Mary received a special extension of 22 days so that she could attend Reunion at Upstate and accept recognition from the Medical Alumni Foundation as the 2025 Humanitarian Award recipient. For Sister Mary, it’s not about the personal accolade, but the opportunity to share the work of her hospital and community. The need to fundraise is constant. In a matter of days, she will embark on the long return. The route itself illustrates the hospital’s remoteness: Albany to Chicago to Brussels to Kinshasa. From the Congolese capital, Sister Mary will board a smaller plane to Mbandaka, a city where the Daughters of Charity maintain their provincial house. Then comes the final leg—a boat journey down the Congo River to Lukolela. Under the best circumstances, the trip will take at least a week. In Mbandaka, she will reunite with sisters from her hospital who have been making their annual retreat and travel together back to Lukolela. If they weren’t there, she’d look for a merchant boat heading in the right direction. Three years ago, all flights to Mbandaka were mysteriously canceled and she ended up making the entire journey by boat. Traveling the river reveals the Congo in all its beauty and difficulty. Along the way, she’ll witness village after village with no industry, just camps and nature and people living in rustic housing, who traverse the river in long, narrow pirogues carved from tree trunks. She’ll see roadside stands selling fried dough and tea, little boys hawking green vegetables from their mothers’ fields, houses with roofs of palm thatch that might someday be replaced with sheet metal as families earn enough money.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

s Continents

Travel along the Congo River

A HOSPITAL AT THE EDGE OF THE RIVER Lukolela is a remote river town about 118 miles from the nearest city, accessible mainly by boat. St. Vincent the Servant General Reference Hospital serves as the hub for a vast health district covering nearly 8,700 square miles and a population approaching 200,000. Families come by canoe, motorcycle taxi, and sometimes bicycle, often arriving in advanced stages of illness because of the distance, the cost, or initial reliance on traditional medicine. Inside the hospital, modern medicine is performed with limited resources. Despite constant high heat, there is no air conditioning. Sterilization is done with a pressure cooker. Suction during surgery comes from a manual foot pump. Patients’ families provide meals, wash clothing, and sleep on the floor beside their loved ones. And yet, under the Daughters of Charity’s leadership, the hospital has flourished. In 2024 alone, it recorded 9,141 patient visits, 3,556 hospitalizations,

801 major surgeries, and 123 cesarean sections. Malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, HIV, trypanosomiasis, and malnutrition are constant challenges. Surgeons operate regularly for typhoid-related bowel perforations—cases that are often fatal without timely intervention. During peak malaria seasons, the pediatric ward may overflow with comatose children, many needing blood transfusions. Sister Mary recalls that before the intensive care building was constructed in 2019, two or three children often shared a bed. “It was intolerable,” she says. The new facility offers cubicle partitions, giving each child privacy and better infection control. Step by step, building by building, Sister Mary has worked to transform a crumbling mid-century hospital into a facility that meets the essential needs of its community.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

15

An annex was recently added to the hospital surgical department, allowing for more space between patient beds.

DOING MUCH WITH LITTLE In Weiskotten Hall, Sister Mary clicks through images of construction projects that have transformed the hospital during her tenure. Every brick visible in the photographs was made on site by hired groups who know the craft. Workers carry sand from the river’s edge to the hospital grounds—at least half a mile, perhaps more. School children and youth groups from the local parish help transport supplies, a way for schools to earn money to pay teachers who haven’t yet made it onto the government payroll, a process that can take years. The urgency behind this construction becomes clear when Sister Mary shows photos of the old buildings— structures built in 1947, too small, in poor shape, with leaking ceilings and rooms separated only by curtains. In the old emergency room, patients crowded into a main room with just two cubicles branching off. The old internal medicine building was similarly inadequate, beds crammed so close together they touched, the heat oppressive, the lack of space dangerous during epidemic outbreaks. Now there’s a new emergency room and administrative building, blessed and opened on December 23, 2022. It features the hospital’s first tile floor. “The employees kidded me that it’s going to be like the United States,” Sister Mary says. Instead of rooms separated by curtains, there are now four proper examination rooms. Medical records and the administrator’s office have dedicated space. An addition to the surgical building followed, creating more distance between beds and allowing the hospital to better separate clean wounds from dirty wounds. The new internal medicine building, funded in part by the Italian Bishops’ Conference, took 11 months to construct. During that time, the hospital faced the difficult challenge of continu16

The new isolation building, used most recently to house patients during a cholera outbreak last summer

ing to treat patients while tearing down and rebuilding. They used the surgical addition temporarily for internal medicine patients and started using the new building before it even had windows installed, blocking openings with plywood out of sheer desperation. The isolation building is perhaps the most crucial addition, as evidenced by a cholera outbreak three weeks after Sister Mary left for the U.S. “Our hospital was particularly hard hit,” she says. “We had more than 600 patients in our health district.” Doctors Without Borders came to help. But Sister Mary was half a world away, following the situation remotely, trusting in her staff and the systems in place. Photos arrived on her phone: patients first crowded into the old isolation building, then overflowing into the new facility even though it wasn’t finished, beds were placed on a dirt floor while workers frantically completed the pavement in an adjacent room. Cholera comes roughly every four or five years in Lukolela—rice water diarrhea so profuse it kills through dehydration unless patients receive Ringer’s Lactate Solution intravenously. But cholera isn’t the only threat. During Sister Mary’s tenure, the hospital has also managed epidemics of measles and polio. Last year brought a monkeypox outbreak. She shows a photo of a child with the characteristic lesions. “This little girl did live,” she says with relief. Tuberculosis patients are constant, often exceeding capacity in the hospital’s four-bed TB facility. And always, always, there’s malaria and typhoid—the two most common diagnoses by far. Patients with severe malaria arrive in comas or needing blood transfusions. They stabilize for two or three days in the intensive care unit before transferring to pediatrics or internal medicine.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

A DAY IN THE LIFE

department celebrates with the poor, giving each person a new shirt or dress. Nine sisters live in the house in World Women’s Day on March 8 is another annual Lukolela, running the hospital, the milestone. “If I asked you the date, you likely wouldn’t school, and social services—all know,” Sister Mary says. “But there, everyone knows within about a block of each other. it’s March 8.” Women have local seamstresses make Their days begin and end with special dresses and hold a joyful march around the prayer, bookending the long hours of hospital and through the village. “It’s a very big day. I medical work, administration, and think it’s because the women work so hard and it’s the community life. one day that they’re honored,” she says. Life revolves around the river At 62, Sister Mary has stepped back from surgery. and the community. “I don’t operate anymore,” she says. “I leave it to the Sunday Mass averages three younger doctors.” She’s also moved from the demandhours, four on feast days, filled with ing internal medicine service to pediatrics, which has singing and dancing, the congregation moving together fewer patients, giving her more time for her administrain worship. “The people are very adept at singing and tive duties and to mentor the next generation of dancing spontaneously,” she says. “I think it’s because physicians. they don’t have access to radio, television, or internet, Her days begin with meetings. Mondays and Tuesso this is their own form of entertainment.” days, she meets with the health district leadership. A The feast of St. Vincent brings a massive celebration part of her responsibilities is to fill in for the head of the for hospital and school employees. There’s a soccer health district when he’s away—which is frequently for game the night before, election of employee of the year, meetings, training programs and since his family lives in and abundant food preparation. The social service Mbandaka. Mondays are for planning the week’s activities. Tuesdays bring the painstaking work of infectious disease surveillance. “There’s a very tight monitoring system,” she says. Every health center and the hospital must report weekly on infectious diseases—how many malaria cases, typhoid cases, whether anyone has presented with measles, Ebola, or other concerning conditions. Every Tuesday, the hospital compiles cases from the week, reviews the report, and transmits it to Mbandaka. Wednesday, Mbandaka holds a meeting and transmits data to Kinshasa. It’s an early warning system, designed Sister Mary Felice with colleagues at the St. Vincent the Servant General Reference Hospital In Lukolela to catch epidemics before they explode. UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

17

A family with an infant patient seeking care at the hospital

If an epidemic is detected and a specimen tests positive, the Provincial Health Department often arranges for a specialist from the World Health Organization to come to guide the response. The system works remarkably well, Sister Mary says, particularly for vaccinations. Children can get immunized for free at any of the 16 health centers in the district if families follow the preschool clinic schedule. The Health District and Hospital receive free medications for HIV, TB, malaria and trypanosomiasis and leprosy. Sister Mary is not sure how many of these are funded through USAID, but she worries about the impact of the agency’s dissolution. “I’m dreading what I’m going to find going back,” she admits. The hospital also received free treatment for malnutrition, clearly marked from USAID. “I can’t even fathom what we’re going to do, because to buy the powdered milk to fabricate it ourselves is so expensive,” she says. Beyond meetings and disease surveillance, Sister Mary does pediatric rounds, conducts patient visits, and performs ultrasounds—the only imaging available at the hospital. As medical director, she handles all the requisitions: medical reports for trauma cases, violence, and sexual assault. These go to local law enforcement at their request.

FAITH, FAMILY, AND FULFILLMENT Her summer in the United States has been restorative. Sister Mary spent time with family, made an eight-day retreat and connected with other sisters. She visited the Daughters of Charity’s all-girls high school in Bladensburg, Maryland, outside Washington, where she shared her PowerPoint presentation with students. “They were very interested and asked a lot of questions,” she says. She’s given the same presentation to various organizations, to family members, to gatherings of Sisters. And she’s shopped—the practical work of preparing to return. In her luggage will be two handheld nebulizers and two handheld 18

ultrasound devices that plug into iPads, one for Lukolela and one for a health center that the Daughters of Charity have, located another 5 hours down the river and staffed by Sister Emilienne, a Congolese, Sister-physician along with two other Sisters. She’s also bringing gifts: clothing, balloons for children, jewelry from a friend for the women on World Women’s Day, handmade bags in different colors made by another friend for each of the nine sisters in the house. Despite the challenges, it’s clear from the way her face lights up that Sister Mary loves her work and the people she serves. “Whenever I come back to the United States, after about two months I start getting restless,” she says. “If I didn’t get restless, perhaps that would say something to me. But it would be hard for me if I couldn’t go back.” Sister Mary looks forward to slipping back into a familiar rhythm: early mornings, rounds, consultations, emergencies at all hours. Meetings with staff, with sisters, with community leaders. Planning for the next project—that new OB-GYN department they dream about, the first two-story building with pediatrics and neonatology on the second floor. Retirement isn’t on her mind. “Well, I’m just 62,” she says when asked, as if that settles it. She knows sisters in their 80s still on mission. The decision of when to leave, like the decision to come, ultimately rests with her religious order and with what she discerns as God’s will. For now, she carries both worlds with her: the warmth of family connections, the honor of the Humanitarian Award, the renewed energy that comes from rest, and the reassurance that her colleagues handled the cholera crisis and that the hospital continues its work with or without her. This is the paradox of her vocation: she is both essential and replaceable, uniquely suited to this work yet ultimately just one person serving something far larger than herself. In the conference room at Weiskotten, Sister Mary closes her PowerPoint presentation. The photos freeze on screen— cement buildings along the river, patients arriving by pirogue, children playing with homemade toys, sisters gathered for prayer. Within weeks, these images won’t be photographs but her daily reality. She’s ready to go home. 7 For more about Sister Mary’s path to medicine, see the Spring 2022 Alumni Journal. For more about the St. Vincent the Servant General Reference Hospital, visit www.congoriverjourney.org.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

A Historic Year of Giving Dear Alumni and Friends, Thanks to the remarkable generosity of our Norton College of Medicine alumni and friends, the Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation has achieved a record-breaking $9.3 million in gifts this past year—a testament to your enduring commitment to excellence in medical education. This historic year also marks the successful completion of our Generation to Generation/Excellence in Medicine campaign, which surpassed its goal by raising more than $25 million for student scholarships and other endowments. This trans­formative achievement will open doors for generations of future physicians, helping to ensure that talented students can pursue their calling in medicine regardless of financial circumstances. This year at Reunion, we were able to present 182 scholarship awards worth $1.9 million to deserving students with financial need. Your gifts represent more than dollars—they embody the values that unite our alumni community: a dedication to advancing medical education, a commitment to reducing student debt burden, and a shared belief in the power of opportunity. Each scholarship awarded, each student supported, and each barrier removed reflects your investment in the future of medicine and the continuation of Upstate’s legacy of excellence. On behalf of the students whose lives you’ve changed and the institution you continue to strengthen, we extend our deepest gratitude. This Report of Gifts celebrates your generosity and the lasting impact you are making on medical education. Thank you for your generosity,

Paul Norcross Executive Director Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

19

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Leadership Gifts President’s Society

Jacobsen Society

$50,000 AND ABOVE Anonymous (4) Patricia Blau Norman R. Loomis, MD ’52* Colleen E. O’Leary, MD ’78 Michael R. O’Leary, MD ’78 Betty E. Reiss, MD ’68 Jacob A. Reiss, MD ’68 Peter D. Swift, MD ’77

Weiskotten Society $25,000-$49,999 Dennis L. Allen, MD ’72 Ronald Dvorkin, MD ’70 Vijay K. Kotha, MD ’99 Alexander E. Kuehl, MD ’70 Paul L. Kupferberg, MD ’70 B. Dale Magee, MD ’75 Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Herbert M. Weinman, MD ’65 Wayne H. Welsher, MD ’75 Brian D. Woolford, MD ’84

Elizabeth Blackwell Society $10,000-$24,999 John D. Bisognano, MD ’90 Mantosh J. Dewan, MD Richard F. Endres, MD Jennifer S. Hur, MD ’99 John Hur, MD ’99 Jonas T. Johnson, MD ’72 Bruce M. Leslie, MD ’78 David A. Lynch, MD ’75 Albert F. Mangan, MD ’54* Teresa R. Miller, MD ’79 and John D. Goeke Stephen E. Presser, MD ’78 Ralph L. Stevens, MD ’81 Thomas J. Stevens, MD ’65 Bruce Stewart, MD ’63

$5,000-$9,999 Robert M. Baltera, MD ’85 Harvey K. Bucholtz, MD ’68 Stephanie S. DeBuck, MD ’93 Cathey E. Falvo, MD ’68 Kenneth A. Falvo, MD ’68 Philip M. Gaynes, MD ’63 William S. Halsey, MD ’68 William A. Henion, MD ’70 Donald L. Jeck, MD ’65 Alan S. Kliger, MD ’70 Brian Maloney, MD John P. Marangola, MD ’70 Lori J. Mosca, MD ’84 Ralph S. Mosca, MD ’85 Rudolph J. Napodano, MD ’59 Janice M. Nelson, MD ’76 Michael F. Noe, MD ’69 Dr. and Mrs. Paul D. Parkman ’57* Peter A. Pinto, MD ’95 Anne H. Rowley, MD ’82 Stephen M. Rowley, MD ’82 Charles J. Ryan, III, MD ’82 Jack J. Schneider, MD ’66 Susan Schwartz McDonald, PhD William D. Singer, MD ’70 Suzanne B. Sorrentino Joel A. Strom, MD ’70 Marc A. Subik, MD ’79 Sandra Swinburne Elizabeth Tanzi, MD ’96 Robert Trapasso, MD ’76 Brian P. Wicks, MD ’84 Alan L. Williams, MD ’70 Kathryn Yarkony Roy T. Young, MD ’65 Stanley Zinberg, MD ’59

Platinum Society $2,500-$4,999 Carol L. Bender, MD ’72 Peter T. Brennan, MD ’80 Peter J. Christiano, MD ’85 Kevin M. Coughlin, MD ’83 James J. Cummings, MD ’82 Lawrence F. Geuss, MD ’71 Timothy S. Huang, MD ’95 John J. Imbesi, MD ’99 The Isaacs Family

Kenar D. Jhaveri, MD ’04 Kathleen A. Leavitt, MD ’86 Steven H. Lefkowitz, MD ’70 Sharon A. McFayden-Eyo, MD ’94 Jenny A. Meyer, MD ’13 Justin P. Meyer, MD ’13 Mr. and Mrs. David Middleton Divya Rajasekaran, MD ’10 Kirk P. Rankine, MD ’98 Deborah L. Reede, MD ’76 Jeffrey Roth, MD ’91 Gary G. Sauer, MD ’85 Philip S. Schein, MD ’65 Barbara Sheperdigian Susan B. Stearns, PhD Steven Strongwater, MD ’78 Debra Tristam, MD Joseph D. Verdirame, MD ’75 Alan C. Yao, MD ’95 Ralph D. Zehr, MD ’64

Gold Society $1,000-$2,499 Anonymous (5) Jeffrey S. Abrams, MD ’80 David H. Adamkin, MD ’74 Peter J. Adasek, MD ’65 Kenneth J. Adcook, MD ’70 John L. Albrigo, MD ’70 Barry C. Altura, MD ’76 Barrie Anderson, MD ’67 Robert Antoniou, MD ’10 Frederick Arredondo, MD ’78 Steven A. Artz, MD ’62 Karl G. Baer, MD ’68 Rebecca L. Bagdonas, MD ’02 Cinthia T. Bateman, MD ’98 Michael C. Bateman, MD ’98 Andrew M. Becker, MD ’85 Rosemary Bellino-Hall, MD ’71 Douglas Bennett, MD ’92 Jane S. Bennett, MD ’92 Bruce W. Berger, MD ’68 Michael L. Black, MD ’83 Malcolm D. Brand, MD ’94 Matthew R. Brand, MD ’91 Elliot Brandwein, MD ’67 Sharon A. Brangman, MD ’81 Stephen D. Brenner, MD ’70 Mark D. Brownell, MD ’80 Edward Burak, MD ’64

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

20

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Leslie M. Burger, MD ’67 Linda Burrell, MD ’84 Jerry Caporaso, Jr., MD ’99 Robert L. Carhart, Jr., MD ’90 Glenn Champagne, MD ’75 Yuk-Wah N. Chan, MD ’85 Brian J. Chanatry, MD ’80 Jayne R. Charlamb, MD Larry S. Charlamb, MD ’88 Mark Charlamb, MD ’91 Roy Chen, MD ’08 Anthony J. Chiaravalloti, MD ’14 Newton B. Chin, MD ’58 Samuel Chun, MD ’87 Frank T. Cicero, MD ’59 Barbara L. Clayton-Lutz, MD ’92 Alfred P. Coccaro, MD ’67 Peter F. Coccia, MD ’68 Kenneth J. Cohen, MD ’87 Coleen K. Cunningham, MD ’85 Hugh D. Curtin, MD ’72 Dennis D. Daly, MD ’83 Colleen M. Dargie, MD ’86 Gustave L. Davis, MD ’63 Karen DeFazio, MD ’89 Mary C. DeGuardi, MD ’85 Joan S. Dengrove, MD ’79 Surinder S. Devgun, MD ’96 Michael A. DiPietro, MD ’74 Robert A. Dracker, MD ’82 Gary J. Drillings, MD ’85 Neil M. Ellison, MD ’73 Jay A. Erlebacher, MD ’75 Trent Erney, MD ’89 Daniel W. Esper, MD ’86 Donald Fagelman, MD ’75 Frank A. Fazzolari, MD ’95 Stephen G. Federowicz, MD ’85 Herbert Fellerman, MD ’65 Pamala A. Ferron, MD ’75 Norman L. Fienman, MD ’66 Noah S. Finkel, MD ’69 Michael B. Fisher, MD ’68 Philip L. Florio, MD ’74 Joseph T. Flynn, MD ’87 Bradley P. Fox, MD ’91 Philip A. Fraterrigo, MD ’94 Bruce E. Fredrickson, MD ’72 Barry Freeman, MD ’70 Hugh S. Fulmer, MD ’51 Emile H. Galib, MD ’75 Joby George, MD ’05

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Welton M. Gersony, MD ’58 Michael L. Lester, MD ’04 Ronald S. Gilberg, MD ’87 Marc F. Levenson, MD ’76 Cynthia A. Gingalewski, MD ’90 Michael S. Levine, MD ’66 Phillip Gioia, MD ’75 Robert A. Levine, MD ’66 Brett P. Godbout, MD ’82 Edward M. Liebers, MD ’97 Richard M. Goldberg, MD ’79 Vito J. Losito, MD ’85 Irwin P. Goldstein, MD ’63 Jonathan Lowell, MD ’75 David A. Goodkin, MD ’80 Carol Lundin-Schwartz, MD ’85 Geoffrey M. Graeber, MD ’71 Charles J. Lutz, MD ’93 Janet E. Graeber, MD ’72 Thomas J. Madejski, MD ’86 Frederick D. Grant, MD ’84 Alphonse A. Maffeo, MD ’72 Roger P. Greenberg, PhD* William J. Malone, MD ’72 Edward C. Gross, MD ’80 Joseph Maloney, MD ’73 Robin L. Gross, MD ’90 Drs. Dania and Moussa Mansour Paul M. Grossberg, MD ’75 Richard I. Markowitz, MD ’69 Andrew W. Gurman, MD ’80 Maureen E. McCanty, MD ’78 William M. Hartrich, MD ’84 Timothy McCanty, MD ’85 Patrick J. Hayes, MD ’76 Patricia Merritt, MD ’91 Charles I. Hecht, MD ’75 Melvyn C. Minot, MD ’73 Stephen P. Heyse, MD ’74 Lisa Minsky-Primus, MD ’00 Edward F. Higgins, Jr., MD ’78 Adolph Morlang, MD ’66 Joseph Hinterberger, MD ’91 Sarmistha B. Mukherjee, MD ’02 David J. Honold, MD ’70 Leon Mullen, MD ’76 Michael D. Horn, MD ’67 Maureen T. Murphy, MD ’85 David Horowitch Henry P. Nagelberg, MD ’86 The Horowitch Family Foundation Jaime H. Nieto, MD ’96 Kim Humphrey Bridgit Nolan, MD ’10 Kathryn D. Iorio, MD ’68 Paul E. Norcross Makoto Iwahara, MD ’80 David J. Novelli, MD ’75 George B. Jacobs, MD ’58 Frank M. O’Connell, MD ’85 Hana F. Jishi, MD ’00 Anne Pearl, MD ’85 Roberta M. Johnson, MD ’84 Stuart Pergament, MD ’91 Roy A. Kaplan, MD ’70 Paul E. Perkowski, MD ’96 Ann Kasten Aker, MD ’79 Beverly Khnie Philip, MD, ’73 Ira Kastenberg, MD ’75 James H. Philip, MD ’73 Mark H. Katz, MD ’75 Jessica A. Pizzuti, MD ’17 Tim and Peg Kelley John A. Pizzuti, MD ’16 Gerald A. King, MD ’65 Martin R. Post, MD ’67 Nikolai V. Kolotiniuk, MD ’13 Michael D. Privitera, MD ’80 Joseph C. Konen, MD ’79 Tamara A. Prull, MD ’98 Louis Y. Korman, MD ’75 Donald W. Pulver, MD ’71 Marilyn Krch, MD ’80 Robert S. Pyatt, Jr., MD ’75 Paul B. Kreienberg, MD ’87 Dana C. Ranani, MD ’00 Frank J. Kroboth, MD ’76 Anne M. Ranney, MD ’91 Michael A. Kwiat, MD ’87 Michael H. Ratner, MD ’68 Amy L. Ladd, MD ’84 Harold Richter, MD ’82 J. Patrick Lavery, MD ’68 William H. Roberts, MD ’69 Margaret A. Leary, MD ’94 Lewis Robinson, MD ’73 E. Annie Lee, MD ’95 Louis A. Rosati, MD ’66 Ann M. Lenane, MD ’82 Stanley Rothschild, MD ’68 Avery Leslie O’Neill and Hank Charles L. Rouault, MD ’71 O’Neill Charles Salinger, MD ’68

Beverly A. Schaefer, MD ’10 Joel Schwartz, MD ’85 Eve Shapiro, MD ’76 Maria M. Shevchuk Chaban, MD ’74 Neal M. Shindel, MD ’80 Allan Shook, MD ’73 Carol A. Simmons, MD ’81 Lawrence F. Simon, MD ’65 Amar Singh, MD ’00 William Snearly, MD ’86 Sophia Socaris, MD ’82 John H. Soffietti, MD ’80 Philip J. Speller, MD ’55 Stephen G. Spitzer, MD ’00 Simon D. Spivack, MD ’85 Adam Stallmer, MD ’07 Kenneth I. Steinberg, MD ’75 Donald S. Stevens, MD ’77 Dawn M. Sweeney, MD ’89 Nancy J. Tarbell, MD ’79 James A. Terzian, MD ’75 Hollis A. Thomas, MD ’67 Barbara C. Tommasulo, MD ’86 Paul F. Torrisi, MD ’72 Raymond C. Traver, Jr., MD ’68 Willie Underwood, III, MD ’94 Upstate Medical University Foundation William S. Varade, MD ’82 Angela Veloudios, MD ’84 Theodore M. Vermont, MD ’82 Gary D. Walford, MD ’75 Jean M. Weigert, MD ’80 Michael A. Weiner, MD ’72 Niesha Westmoreland, MD ’03 Maria E. Wilson, MD ’98 Edward J. Wladis, MD ’01 Mark L. Wolraich, MD ’70 Bradley A. Woodruff, MD ’80 Jack E. Yoffa, MD ’69 Rachel Zehr, MD ’12 Zhandong Zhou and Yingxun Zhu Neal Zung, MD ’85

Legacy Society

O

ur Legacy Society honors those who have provided a gift to the Norton College of Medicine in their estate plans. The Legacy Society allows us to give these donors the recognition they deserve during their lifetime. Peter J. Adasek, MD ’65 Carol L. Bender, MD ’72 Jane and Benjamin H. Button, MD ’58* Colonel Bruce Campbell* and Mrs. Marie Campbell* Alan M. Davick, MD ’67 Frederick Dushay, MD ’57 Mark S. Erlebacher, MD ’79 Walter F. Erston, MD ’70* Robert E. Ettlinger, MD ’72 Mary Elizabeth Fletcher, MD ’41* Amy and Leon I. Gilner, MD ’74 Catherine and P. William Haake, MD ’65 Paul L. Kupferberg, MD ’70 Michael S. Levine, MD ’66 David T. Lyon, MD ’71 Cheryl Morrow Brunacci, MD ’97 Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Barton Pakull, MD ’61 Elmerina* and Paul D. Parkman, MD ’57* Stanley M. Polansky, MD ’74 Donna and Gerald F. Schwartzberg, MD ’63 K. Bruce Simmons, MD ’79 Suzanne and Brian Sorrentino, MD ’85* Betsy* and Christopher G. Ullrich, MD ’76* To view complete Legacy Society list, visit: medalumni.upstate.edu/legacy

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

21

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Alumni Giving 1949 $100-$499 Shirley M. Stone Cohlan

1950

$1-$99 Ronald A. Nackman Murray V. Osofsky

1958

1954

$100-$499 Samuel J. Braun Samuel Hellman Richard J. Lubera Myron Miller

$500-$999 Carlo R. deRosa Barton Pakull

$10,000-$24,999 Bruce Stewart

$2,500-$4,999 Ralph D. Zehr

$5,000-$9,999 Philip M. Gaynes

$1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Edward Burak

1960

1962

$500-$999 David G. Storrs

$100-$499 George S. Goldstein Richard Schoenfeld

$500-$999 Julian M. Aroesty Samuel O. Thier

$1,000-$2,499 Steven A. Artz

$1-$99 Dennis R. Derby

$100-$499 Robert E. Alessi Leonard R. Friedman Harvey R. Gold Allen H. Unger Lewis Wexler Philip A. Wolf

$100-$499 Bernard W. Asher Richard F. Carver Arnold R. Cohen Arnold Derman Stuart L. Kaplan Regis C. Kohring Malcolm E. Levine David F. Pearce David I. Rosen Carl Salzman Richard J. Wells

$1,000-$2,499 Hugh S. Fulmer

$1-$99 Daniel J. Mason

1964

$500-$999 Howard L. Weinberger

1951

1953

1963

$1-$99 Gerald E. Epstein

$1-$99 Fleurene P. Holt

$50,000 and above Norman R. Loomis*

1961 $100-$499 Peter Greenwald Howard R. Nankin Robert I. Raichelson

$1,000-$2,499 Newton B. Chin Welton M. Gersony George B. Jacobs

1952

$500-$999 Carl E. Silver

1959 $5,000-$9,999 Rudolph J. Napodano Stanley Zinberg $1,000-$2,499 Frank T. Cicero

$1-$99 Robert R. Siroty

$500-$999 Steven N. Berney Burton A. Scherl $100-$499 Richard H. Bennett Kirtland E. Hobler William J. Mesibov Robert Poss John Ritrosky, Jr. $1-$99 Theodore K. Tobias

$50,000 and above Anonymous $10,000-$24,999 Albert F. Mangan* $100-$499 Thomas A. Treanor

1955 $1,000-$2,499 Philip J. Speller $100-$499 John E. Bloom

1956 $500-$999 Douglas S. Langdon $100-$499 Willard Cohen Milton Ingerman Robert D. Lindeman Robert Penner Judah Roher

1957 $5,000-$9,999 Paul D. Parkman* $100-$499 Frederick Dushay Bert G. Katzung ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

22

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

$1,000-$2,499 Gustave L. Davis Irwin P. Goldstein

$500-$999 Jack C. Schoenholtz $100-$499 Michael Andrisani George Burak Seymour Grufferman Nathan M. Hameroff Daniel L. Harris Phineas J. Hyams Lewis W. Johnson Samuel J. Mazza Gene R. Moss Lawrence W. Myers Albert A. Tripodi David W. Watson $1-$99 Robert F. Agnew*

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

A Lifetime of Caring Norman R. Loomis, MD ’52, endows scholarship to support family medicine students

W

Norman R. Loomis, MD ’52, and his wife Jinny

1965 $25,000-$49,999 Patricia J. Numann Herbert M. Weinman $10,000-$24,999 Thomas J. Stevens $5,000-$9,999 Donald L. Jeck Roy T. Young $2,500-$4,999 Philip S. Schein $1,000-$2,499 Peter J. Adasek Herbert Fellerman Gerald A. King Lawrence F. Simon $500-$999 Lucy P. Buckley Paul J. Honig Susan R. Young $100-$499 Gary J. Havens Dirk E. Huttenbach

hen Norman R. Loomis, MD ’52, began his medical education at what was then Syracuse University College of Medicine, paying for tuition, books, and food was a constant challenge. With help from the GI Bill and a supportive uncle who was also a family doctor, he made it through—and built a lifelong career defined by compassion, community, and service. After completing his residency at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, Dr. Loomis settled in Ontario, New York, where he practiced family medicine for more than 50 years. His office on Walworth Road, an architectural curiosity designed by a friend and protégé of Louis Kahn, became a town landmark, and his home dining room doubled as an in-home clinic for neighbors in need of stitches or care. “Helping when people need it most isn’t a 9-to-5 job,” Loomis says. “It wasn’t a burden.

It was part of the job that I loved.” Loomis was also part of the larger medical community, serving as town health officer, physician for the Wayne Central School District, as president of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians and also served on the board of American Academy of Family Physicians. Nearing his 99th birthday and 29 years retired, Loomis says people still stop him and share stories of his impact as their doctor. That enduring gratitude inspired him to give back to the profession that shaped his life. In 2024, he endowed the Dr. Norman R. Loomis Family Practice Scholarship at the Norton College of Medicine, hoping to encourage medical students into the field of family medicine. “It’s not about my name on the scholarship,” he says. “It’s about supporting students who want to serve their communities through family practice. If I can help make that path a little easier, we all win.” For 2025 scholarship recipient John Babich ’26, the impact is already profound. “This award strengthens my commitment to primary care,” Babich wrote in a thank-you note to Loomis. “Your generosity encourages me to carry forward the values of service and compassion central to family medicine.” That’s precisely what Loomis was hoping for. “I believe we are created to be involved and to help one another,” he says. “My entire career was devoted to helping all people—across my town, county, state—and it was hugely satisfying to me. I hope others can enjoy similar rewards.” Dr. Loomis died November 8 as this magazine was preparing to go to print. Donations in his memory can be made to the Dr. Norman R. Loomis Family Practice Scholarship at https://medalumni.upstate.edu/donate

Aaron Kassoff George A. Knaysi Robert A. Nover Ronald A. Rohe Richard N. Snyder James R. Tobin Daniel H. Whiteley

1966 $50,000 and above Anonymous $5,000-$9,999 Jack J. Schneider $1,000-$2,499 Norman L. Fienman Michael S. Levine Robert A. Levine Adolph Morlang Louis A. Rosati $500-$999 Neal M. Friedberg Bonnie M. Norton Robert G. Spencer $100-$499 Nathan Billig

Members of the Class of 1965 accept the award for the largest class gift at Reunion 2025. ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

23

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Malcolm D. Davidson Barry H. Dolich A. Michael Kaplan Michael S. Kreitzer Laurence B. Levenberg George H. Newman Stuart N. Novack Austin M. Pattner John W. Petrozzi Alan F. Pritchard Gerald Sufrin Russell F. Warren Frank G. Yanowitz

1967 $50,000 and above Anonymous $1,000-$2,499 Barrie Anderson Elliot Brandwein Leslie M. Burger Alfred P. Coccaro Michael D. Horn Martin R. Post Hollis A. Thomas $500-$999 Martin L. Cohen Daniel G. McDonald $100-$499 James A. Barnshaw Joel A. Berman Sheldon Cohen Charles F. Converse Bruce D. Edison Stanley A. Filarski, Jr. Warren C. Gewant

Mark A. Goodman Ira D. Levine Norman J. Marcus Bruce L. McClennan Robert M. Quencer Charles T. Sitrin Aaron N. Tessler Jesse Williams Elizabeth D. Woodard Bertram Zarins

Gary P. Schwartz Arthur J. Segal Eleanor Williams $1-$99 G. Richard Barr

1969 $5,000-$9,999 Michael F. Noe $1,000-$2,499 Noah S. Finkel Richard I. Markowitz William H. Roberts Jack E. Yoffa

1968 $50,000 and above Betty E. Reiss Jacob A. Reiss $5,000-$9,999 Harvey K. Bucholtz Cathey E. Falvo Kenneth A. Falvo William S. Halsey $1,000-$2,499 Karl G. Baer Bruce W. Berger Peter F. Coccia Michael B. Fisher Kathryn D. Iorio J. Patrick Lavery Michael H. Ratner Stanley Rothschild Charles Salinger Raymond C. Traver, Jr. $100-$499 Philip Kaplan Marvin Kolotkin Betty Miller Wayne A. Miller

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

24

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

$500-$999 Allan L. Bernstein Larry A. Danzig Gerard Selzer $100-$499 Donald P. Alderman Joan E. Berson Henry M. Born Paul K. Brodsky

Robert S. Davis Ruth B. Deddish Jane L. Falkenstein Joel Greenspan Kenneth M. Grundfast Robert I. Klein Martin D. Mayer John T. McCarthy Edward M. Nathan Robert H. Osofsky

2024-2025 Report of Gifts Stanley I. Rekant Ronald M. Rosengart Judith S. Warren $1-$99 Robert V. Davidson Warren L. Gilman Ronald J. Saxon

1970 $25,000-$49,999 Ronald Dvorkin Alexander E. Kuehl Paul L. Kupferberg $5,000-$9,999 William A. Henion Alan S. Kliger John P. Marangola William D. Singer Joel A. Strom Alan L. Williams $2,500-$4,999 Steven H. Lefkowitz $1,000-$2,499 Kenneth J. Adcook John L. Albrigo Stephen D. Brenner Barry Freeman David J. Honold Roy A. Kaplan Mark L. Wolraich $500-$999 Bernard J. Crain Peter A. Freedman Lawrence Handelsman Brian P. O’Neill Howard D. Wulfson

$100-$499 Paul E. Buckthal Robert L. Chiteman Alan D. Drezner Dennis A. Ehrich Patrick J. Sheehan Richard L. Sullivan

1972

1973

$25,000-$49,999 Dennis L. Allen

1971

$2,500-$4,999 Carol L. Bender

$2,500-$4,999 Lawrence F. Geuss

$1,000-$2,499 Hugh D. Curtin Bruce E. Fredrickson Janet E. Graeber Alphonse A. Maffeo William J. Malone Paul F. Torrisi Michael A. Weiner

$1,000-$2,499 Neil M. Ellison Joseph Maloney Melvyn C. Minot Beverly Khnie Philip James H. Philip Lewis Robinson Allan Shook

$1,000-$2,499 Rosemary Bellino-Hall Geoffrey M. Graeber Donald W. Pulver Charles L. Rouault $500-$999 Philip Altus Robert B. Cady Steven R. Hofstetter Eugene M. Kenigsberg Gary J. Levy $100-$499 Richard J. Hausner Tomas M. Heimann Bruce Hershfield Michael Hertzberg Jeffrey A. Klein Robert T. Liscio Charles J. Matuszak Lester D. Miller David A. Ostfeld Daniel Rutrick Paul I. Schneiderman Edward J. Zajkowski $1-$99 Ira D. Lipton Lee P. Van Voris

$10,000-$24,999 Jonas T. Johnson

$500-$999 Bob Hanrahan, Jr. Stephen C. Robinson Stephen J. Winters $100-$499 Joann C. Blessing-Moore Ronald S. Bogdasarian Joseph A. Caruana Joseph P. DeVeaughGeiss John W. Ely Richard C. Hawley Douglas G. Long Paul B. Nussbaum William R. Platzer Robert J. Rankel Janice E. Ross Stephen A. Silbiger David B. Tyler Dwight A. Webster Michael L. Weitzman

$500-$999 Anonymous Timothy Fenlon Lee Rosenbaum Marc J. Schweiger William P. Shuman Gregory A. Threatte $100-$499 Mark J. Apfel David M. Davis Paul G. Fuller, Jr. Joel Kalman Harold J. Kamm Lars C. Larsen Harold A. Sanders Steven A. Schenker Warren R. Steinberg Paul L. Sutton $1-$99 Athanasios Mallios Judith D.S. Noel Daniel R. Van Engel Ralph J. Wynn

1974 $1,000-$2,499 David H. Adamkin Michael A. DiPietro

Philip L. Florio Stephen P. Heyse Maria M. Shevchuk Chaban $500-$999 James H. Brodsky Joseph P. LiPuma Jay M. Ritt $100-$499 Janet F. Cincotta Stephen Cooper Robert A. Edelman Alan D. Freshman Aaron L. Friedman Leon I. Gilner J. Peter P. Gregoire Charles W. Hewson John M. Horan Lia E. Katz Gary M. Kohn Howard E. Miller Dennis R. Novak Teresa J. Pagano-Parke Robert G. Parke Ronald A. Savrin Philip Schulman Michael W. Slome JoAnn M. Smith Ross Brickley Sweet Albert I. Tydings $1-$99 Rosalind M. Caroff

1975 $25,000-$49,999 B. Dale Magee Wayne H. Welsher

$10,000-$24,999 David A. Lynch $2,500-$4,999 Joseph D. Verdirame $1,000-$2,499 Glenn Champagne Jay A. Erlebacher Donald Fagelman Pamala A. Ferron Emile H. Galib Phillip Gioia Paul M. Grossberg Charles I. Hecht Ira Kastenberg Mark H. Katz Louis Y. Korman Jonathan Lowell David J. Novelli Robert S. Pyatt, Jr. Kenneth I. Steinberg James A. Terzian Gary D. Walford $500-$999 Edmund D’Orazio John D. Fey Mark D. Goldman Kenneth R. Kohen Gretchen H. Rooker John J. Sacco $100-$499 Anonymous Louis Bland Jeffrey J. Boxer Joseph A. Cincotta James A. Dispenza* Judy S. Fuschino Robert M. Goldberg Joseph W. Helak Richard F. Kasulke

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

25

2024-2025 Report of Gifts Samuel N. Pearl Anthony J. Scalzo Robert J. Segal Stuart J. Sorkin $1-$99 Ken Grauer

1976

$2,500-$4,999 Deborah L. Reede

$5,000-$9,999 Janice M. Nelson Robert Trapasso

$1,000-$2,499 Barry C. Altura Patrick J. Hayes Frank J. Kroboth Marc F. Levenson Leon Mullen Eve Shapiro

Class of 1970 Scholarship Fund John L. Albrigo, MD ’70 Robert L. Chiteman, MD ’70 Bernard J. Crain, MD ’70 Alan David Drezner, MD ’70 Ronald Dvorkin, MD ’70 Peter A. Freedman, MD ’70 William A. Henion, MD ’70 Roy A. Kaplan, MD ’70 Alan S. Kliger, MD ’70 Alexander E. Kuehl, MD ’70 Paul L. Kupferberg, MD ’70 John P. Marangola, MD ’70 Brian P. O'Neill, MD ’70 Patrick J. Sheehan, MD ’70 William D. Singer, MD ’70 Joel A. Strom, MD ’70 Alan L. Williams, MD ’70 Mark L. Wolraich, MD ’70 Howard D. Wulfson, MD ’70

$500-$999 Richard M. Alexander Richard M. Cantor Gerard A. Coluccelli Patrick J. Riccardi Margaret A. Sennett $100-$499 Allen D. Alt William Beals Gerald A. Cohen James F. Cornell Susan J. Denman Dennis L. Feinberg Michael A. Finer Anthony J. Fraioli Thomas W. Furth Irving Huber Leonard H. Madoff Michael H. Mason Julia A. McMillan William M. Nauseef Lorinda J. Price Thomas J. Rakowski Howard A. Sackel Thomas E. Staley

$1-$99 Marc Rothman

1977 $50,000 and above Peter D. Swift $1,000-$2,499 Donald S. Stevens $500-$999 Johana Kashiwa Brakeley Drake M. Lamen John M. Manring $100-$499 Jeffrey Berman Stephen C. Brigham Larry Consenstein Ronald Criscitiello John J. Cucinotta Gary Dunetz Charles B. Eaton Robert H. Fabrey, II Henry S. Friedman Philip D. Gottlieb Patrick W. Knapp Lester Kritzer Debra Kuracina William R. Latreille Celeste M. Madden Frank V. Messina Anthony Scardella Carolyn A. Smith Jud A. Staller Jack E. Zigler Mark W. Zilkoski

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

26

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

$1-$99 Jody S. Bleier James A. Schneid

1978 $50,000 and above Colleen E. O’Leary Michael R. O’Leary $10,000-$24,999 Bruce M. Leslie Stephen E. Presser

Gerald N. Goldberg Ronald D. Klizek Michael Lustick David J. Seeley John N. Talev James J. Vacek $1-$99 A. James Ciaccio Ronald W. Pies Richard J. Steinmann

1979

$2,500-$4,999 Steven Strongwater

$10,000-$24,999 Teresa R. Miller

$1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Frederick Arredondo Edward F. Higgins, Jr. Maureen E. McCanty

$5,000-$9,999 Marc A. Subik

$500-$999 Stephen L. Cash Michael J. Moeller $100-$499 Anonymous Terry M. Anderson David M. Auerbach Judy A. Beeler Mark A. Belsky Stephen W. Blatchly Patrick S. Collins Mary Catherine DeRosa Sharon A. Falkenheimer Robert Fulop Marie A. Ganott

$1,000-$2,499 Joan S. Dengrove Richard M. Goldberg Ann Kasten Aker Joseph C. Konen Nancy J. Tarbell $500-$999 David B. Duggan* Stephen L. Ferrante Richard A. Muller Linda M. Rice Andrew D. Rosenberg Lawrence Semel K. Bruce B. Simmons $100-$499 Sharon L. Abrams Henry M. Adam

2024-2025 Report of Gifts Cynthia A. BattagliaFiddler Robert M. Constantine David H. Dube Douglas K. Hyde Barry F. Kanzer Mark L. Moster Marlene R. Moster Elizabeth A. Rocco Bruce A. Salzberg Ronald J. Siegle Gary D. Steward James A. Trippi

1980 $2,500-$4,999 Peter T. Brennan $1,000-$2,499 Jeffrey S. Abrams Mark D. Brownell Brian J. Chanatry David A. Goodkin Edward C. Gross Andrew W. Gurman Makoto Iwahara Marilyn Krch Michael D. Privitera Neal M. Shindel John H. Soffietti Jean M. Weigert Bradley A. Woodruff $500-$999 Madeline Barott Mary Blome Robert D. Bona Lowell L. Hart Gregory G. Kenien John F. Quinn Melanie D. Ramachandran Maris Rosenberg John Shavers Stephen M. Silver William L. Sternheim Robert M. Vandemark $100-$499 Gary C. Enders John F. Fatti Kenneth Friedman Robert T. Friedman Bonnie D. Grossman Patricia Herko Philip E. Keller Reginald Q. Knight Nancy S. Knudsen Paul Menge Gerald B. Rakos John E. Ritchie Peter J. Stahl Marshall Trabout Alexander E. Weingarten Nora W. Wu Joanna ZolkowskiWynne

1981 $10,000-$24,999 Ralph L. Stevens $1,000-$2,499 Sharon A. Brangman Carol A. Simmons $500-$999 Anonymous Steven M. Connolly David G. Greenhalgh David B. Grossberg William P. Hannan Martin P. Jacobs Lori Jalens Sternheim Stuart W. Zarich $100-$499 Brian P. Anderson David M. Armesto Paul L. Asdourian Michael J. Boquard Ronald C. Brodsky Gary D. Dean Steven P. Galasky David C. Goodman David E. Kolva James A. Longo Robert G. Shellman Stephen A. Spaulding Richard M. Steinbruck Kathleen Stoeckel Scott A. Syverud $1-$99 Ellen M. Kaczmarek Anthony J. Viglietta

1982 $5,000-$9,999 Anne H. Rowley Stephen M. Rowley Charles J. Ryan, III $2,500-$4,999 James J. Cummings $1,000-$2,499 Robert A. Dracker Brett P. Godbout Ann M. Lenane Harold Richter Sophia Socaris William S. Varade Theodore M. Vermont $500-$999 James F. Boehner Kenneth R. Epstein Alan J. Goodman Barbara Jones Connor Gary B. Kaplan Matthew J. Kuhn Robert McCann Norman R. Neslin David M. Novick William S. Sykora $100-$499 Bruce K. Barach Frederick J. Bunke

Joseph Cambareri Robert C. Cupelo Joseph J. Fata Valerie J. Fein-Zachary Leon Martin, Jr. John C. Morris Frank Rhode Mark A. Rothschild John S. Tsakonas Nicholas G. Tullo Pamela D. Unger Amy J. Yale-Loehr $1-$99 Dennis S. Poe Steven A. Radi Joseph A. Smith Jeffrey D. Spiro

1983 $2,500-$4,999 Kevin M. Coughlin $1,000-$2,499 Michael L. Black Dennis D. Daly $500-$999 George N. Coritsidis Karen K. Heitzman Joseph H. Keogh Michael R. Robinson Cynthia S. Wong $100-$499 Anonymous Cheryl A. DeSimone Ronald R. Domescek Eric L. Fremed Wanda P. Fremont Michael P. Gabris Seth S. Greenky Jules Greif Ellen B. Kaplan Lya M. Karm Terry H. Lapsker Joseph P. Laukaitis Robert Lowinger Robert J. Ostrander Paul P. Romanello Scott A. Ross Richard F. Russell Susan E. Schraft Charles A. Seager Joan L. Thomas Elizabeth A. Valentine Charles I. Woods Darryl A. Zuckerman $1-$99 Marcy E. Mostel Andrea R. Stewart

1984 $25,000-$49,999 Brian D. Woolford $5,000-$9,999 Lori J. Mosca Brian P. Wicks

$1,000-$2,499 Linda Burrell Frederick D. Grant William M. Hartrich Roberta M. Johnson Amy L. Ladd Angela Veloudios $500-$999 John R. Ayres Anthony W. Hartmann Sandra M. Lombardo John M. Marzo Donald Patten Michael D. Schwartz Lynn M. SutleyHartmann Elizabeth S. Yerazunis Palis $100-$499 Harold M. Augenstein Eva F. Briggs Bradley M. Denker Michael A. DeVito Anthony N. Donatelli, Jr. George T. Fantry Debra S. Feldman Sallye R. GranberryLaMont David P. Haswell Cynthia E. Johnson Michael Komar Hindi T. Mermelstein Vicki C. Ratner David C. Richard Bruce B. Sloane $1-$99 Erik A. Niedritis Daniel C. Wnorowski

1985 $5,000-$9,999 Robert M. Baltera Ralph S. Mosca $2,500-$4,999 Peter J. Christiano Gary G. Sauer $1,000-$2,499 Andrew M. Becker Yuk-Wah N. Chan Coleen K. Cunningham Mary C. DeGuardi Gary J. Drillings Stephen G. Federowicz Vito J. Losito Carol Lundin-Schwartz Timothy McCanty Maureen T. Murphy Frank M. O’Connell Anne Pearl Joel Schwartz Simon D. Spivack Neal Zung $500-$999 William Canovatchel Gerard A. Compito

Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD Class of 1876 Alumni Scholarship Anonymous (3) Roline L. Adolphine, MD ’02 David Anderson, MD ’88 Madison C. Cuffy, MD ’02 Yvonne Cuffy, MD ’07 Kethia Eliezer, MD ’17 Marie L. Fleury, MD ’16 Valini G. Gosine, MD ’16 Alicia K. Guice, MD ’96 Roberto E. Izquierdo, MD ’87 Lisa Minsky-Primus, MD ’00 Donna B. Moore, MD ’93 Caitlin A. Nicholson, MD ’17 Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Dolores A. Rhymer-Anderson, MD ’88 Lewis Robinson, MD ’73 K. Bruce Simmons, MD ’79 Susan B. Stearns, PhD Willie Underwood, III, MD ’94 Niesha Westmoreland, MD ’03

Mitchell R. Lebowitz Michael Oberding Joseph A. Pinkes Jonathan P. Yunis Robert M. Zielinski Mitchell Zipkin $100-$499 Anonymous Jane B. Black James M. Callahan Debra J. Clark Stephen F. Coccaro Mark Costanza Donna F. Desmone Anthony J. diGiovanna Peter Eckberg Lori E. Fantry Mark A. Fogel Paula A. Gauss Robert V. Hingre Daniel R. Kelly Edward D. Malloy Anthony N. Passannante Anthony Petracca, Jr. David Salm Alan M. Schuller $1-$99 Michelle M. Davitt

1986 $2,500-$4,999 Kathleen A. Leavitt $1,000-$2,499 Colleen M. Dargie

Daniel W. Esper Thomas J. Madejski Henry P. Nagelberg William Snearly Barbara C. Tommasulo $500-$999 Gary M. Freeman Steven B. Goldblatt Mitchell S. Shek Robert L. Tiso $100-$499 Georgianne Arnold Marc Behar Michele Berger Simmons Shelley R. Berson William Blau James B. Carroll David J. Civic Colleen O. Davis James H. Hertzog Bennett Leifer Gerald V. McMahon Niel F. Miele Sarah B. Nemetz Elizabeth A. Prezio Russell Rider Toufic A. Rizk David L. Rocker Richard A. Romer Richard A. Rubin Ernest M. Scalzetti Scott B. Sheren Marc Z. Simmons Brian K. Smith Andrew Topf

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

27

2024-2025 Report of Gifts 1987

Rebecca K. Potter John J. Walker

$1,000-$2,499 Samuel Chun Kenneth J. Cohen Joseph T. Flynn Ronald S. Gilberg Paul B. Kreienberg Michael A. Kwiat

$100-$499 Mark D’Esposito Joseph F. Femia Barbara L. Gannon Dan Gerstenblitt Roberto E. Izquierdo Dennis Kelly Kirsten P. Magowan Lisa A. Manz-Dulac R. Keith Miller

$500-$999 Rosemarie Lombardi Conigliaro

Jeanine M. Morelli Peter J. Morelli Paul R. Perreault Elizabeth Rajamani Edward J. Spangenthal James Tyburski $1-$99 Miranda Chakos Daphna Kilion

1988 $1,000-$2,499 Larry S. Charlamb $500-$999 Mary Kay Morrell Timothy A. Scholes Paul A. Zimmermann $100-$499 David Anderson Erick C. Bulawa Anthony Cannuli Andrew M. Goldschmidt Teresa J. KarcnikMahoney Michael Lastihenos Alice S.Y. Lee Michael J. Mahelsky Michael S. McGarrity Anne Meduri James L. Megna Anthony Nostro Dolores A. RhymerAnderson Regina Torelli

1989 $1,000-$2,499 Karen DeFazio Trent Erney Dawn M. Sweeney

Members of the Class of 1985 with the award for highest reunion attendance

$500-$999 Daniel I. Choo Linda J. Powell Stephen R. Weinman

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

28

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

$100-$499 Robert H. Ablove Richard J. Aubry Susan L. Auffinger R. Eugene Bailey Jeffrey Belanoff Caitlin M. Cusack Bruce Eisendorf Elizabeth H. Higgins Thomas A. Holly Eileen A. Keneck Amy L. McGarrity Zotter G. Michael Ortiz James F. Palombaro J. Marc Pipas Mark A. Rubenstein Ronald C. Samuels William J. Smith Nicholas C. Trasolini $1-$99 Marc S. Rudoltz

1990 $10,000-$24,999 John D. Bisognano $1,000-$2,499 Robert L. Carhart, Jr. Cynthia A. Gingalewski Robin L. Gross $500-$999 Elsie Alvarez Wayne Isaacson Paul O. Ketro Joseph Marsicano Gail Petters Susan V. Rockwell

$100-$499 Lawrence S. Blaszkowsky Ronald J. Costanzo Kelly R. Huiatt Cynthia Jones J. James Lewis Edward K. Onuma Joan E. Pellegrino Ruthann Rizzi Donald Stewart $1-$99 Thomas G. Lynch

1991 $2,500-$4,999 Jeffrey Roth $1,000-$2,499 Matthew R. Brand Mark Charlamb Bradley P. Fox Joseph Hinterberger Patricia Merritt Stuart Pergament Anne M. Ranney $500-$999 John C. Brancato Joseph A. De Gregorio Louise G. Ligresti Sara Peters (Hanley) Nancy L. Wang $100-$499 Nora E. Bolanos Gwenneth O. Cancino Elizabeth Ditonto David Dombroski

2024-2025 Report of Gifts $500-$999 Eileen Gallagher Lyle J. Prairie $100-$499 Jarrod Bagatell Janice A. Bedell Bruce Beesley Ross D. Crary Donald Curran Donna B. Moore John Sveen Pamela Weaner Maria J. Ziemba

Lawrence S. Goldstein Gordon D. Heller James A. Krukowski Thomas M. Larkin Denise C. Monte Valerie Newman Kathleen H. Stewart Cheryl D. Wills

1992 $1,000-$2,499 Douglas Bennett Jane S. Bennett Barbara L. Clayton-Lutz $500-$999 Joseph P. Damore, Jr. Mary Elizabeth Damore Nancy Giannini Lawrence J. Kusior Jongwon Lee Dwight Ligham

$100-$499 John Alfarone Michael J. Baccoli David J. Caucci Mirlande Jordan Rubia Khalak Alan Kravatz Steven Kushner Theresa R. Lipsky Dino A. Messina Stephanie SchwartzKravatz $1-$99 Joseph P. Gale

1993 $5,000-$9,999 Stephanie S. DeBuck $1,000-$2,499 Charles J. Lutz

$1-$99 Sean P. Roche

1994 $2,500-$4,999 Sharon A. McFayden-Eyo $1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Malcolm D. Brand Philip A. Fraterrigo Margaret A. Leary Willie Underwood, III $500-$999 Timothy S. Boyd Michael K. Ditkoff Carolyn J. Slatch Harry H. Slatch $100-$499 Lisa R. Berger David N. Feldman John D. Passalaris

James M. Perry John P. Risolo Anne R. Sveen Edward H. Tom Alan Wang Russell Wenacur $1-$99 Susan L. Gardner Miller

1995 $5,000-$9,999 Peter A. Pinto $2,500-$4,999 Timothy S. Huang Alan C. Yao $1,000-$2,499 Frank A. Fazzolari E. Annie Lee $500-$999 Allison A. Duggan Melissa Ehlers Sean A. Fullerton Yves A. Gabriel $100-$499 Karen M. Clary Steven J. Colwell Richard M. Ingram Lucinda A. Keller Carolyn L. Marasco Joseph D. Pianka Luis A. Santos Susan A. Scavo Thomas L. Schwartz

$1-$99 Michelle T. Spencer

1996 $5,000-$9,999 Elizabeth Tanzi $1,000-$2,499 Surinder S. Devgun Jaime H. Nieto Paul E. Perkowski $500-$999 Alicia K. Guice $100-$499 Andrew Blank Dana L. Brenner Jennifer H. Johnson Sonja M. LichtensteinZayneh Joseph B. Luna Philip T. Ondocin Karen Saylor $1-$99 Taewan Kim

1997 $1,000-$2,499 Edward M. Liebers $500-$999 Danielle A. Katz Gerard J. Newcomer

$100-$499 Anonymous Rose-Marie Carrera Michael C. Fischi Timothy G. Keenan Alice Y. Kim Shelly S. Lo Colleen M. Quinn Rola H. Rashid Andrew B. Reese Stacy J. Spiro $1-$99 Donald E. Hertweck Shani L. Lipset

1998 $2,500-$4,999 Kirk P. Rankine $1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Cinthia T. Bateman Michael C. Bateman Tamara A. Prull Maria E. Wilson $500-$999 Timothy K. Atkinson Felice A. Caldarella John F. Defrancisco Bradley D. Gerber Karen Y. Ng Eric M. Spitzer Karen L. Tedesco

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

29

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Providing Opportunity Vijay Kotha, MD ’99, Honors His Parents and His Upstate Roots

F

or Vijay Kotha, MD ’99, establishing the Kotha Family Scholarship in honor of Aranjyothi Kotha, MD, HS ’82, and Vijayasimha Kotha, MD, wasn’t just about giving back—it was about honoring sacrifice, celebrating opportunity, and supporting students from economically challenged communities. Vijay Kotha, MD ’99, with his parents, Aranjyothi Kotha, MD, HS ’82, The scholarship, created in January 2025, celebrates and Vijayasimha Kotha, MD the sacrifices his parents made and aims to open doors for future students from the region where he grew up. “My parents gave everything for our family and our education,” Kotha says. $100-$499 “This is a way to honor them and help others from our area have the Gina Abbruzzi Martin same chance I did.” David M. DeVellis His father, Dr. Vijayasimha Kotha, is a urologist who built a busy $1,000-$2,499 Matthew R. DiCaprio Hana F. Jishi practice in Ogdensburg, in northern New York. His mother, Dr. AranAlexander N. Greiner Lisa S. Minsky-Primus Matthew R. Kaufman jyothi Kotha, attended medical school in India before immigrating to Dana C. Ranani Dario A. Lecusay, Jr. the United States to marry her husband and deferred her career for Amar Singh Bridget D. Marroquin over a decade while raising three children. Stephen G. Spitzer Victoria M. Michaels When Dr. Kotha was in the fourth grade, his mother began a resiBarbara Anne Morisseau $500-$999 dency in psychiatry at Upstate, located two hours south in Syracuse. Andrew M. Schulman Anonymous (2) Every week, she would drive to Syracuse for her residency—returning Kathy Byun $1-$99 Casey L. Duca home only on weekends, which she spent cooking meals to last her Yuliya Rekhtman Michael E. Higgins family for the next week. “Having gone through residency myself, I Rajesh K. Jain don’t know how she did it,” Kotha says. “She worked incredibly hard, Timothy H. Lee not because we needed the money—my father had a successful pracChristina M. Liepke tice—but because she wanted her own meaningful career.” Matthew J. Liepke $25,000-$49,999 Stacy J. Ostapko Vijay K. Kotha After completing her residency in 1982, she spent more than two Elan W. Salzhauer decades serving patients at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center. She $10,000-$24,999 Richard A. Tallarico died in 2015. His father practiced urology in Ogdensburg for more than Jennifer S. Hur $100-$499 John Hur 40 years. Their dedication inspired their son’s own path in medicine. Tracy E. Alpert After earning his undergraduate degree from Cornell and a $2,500-$4,999 Michael E. Bang master’s from Boston University, Kotha came to Upstate for medical John J. Imbesi Walter S. Bukowski school. Visiting friends who lived in Madison Towers, he realized Holly K. Cleney $1,000-$2,499 Laura Dattner he’d been there as a child. “It was where my mother lived during her Jerry Caporaso, Jr. Jennifer A. Hamm residency,” he says. Penelope Hsu $500-$999 Following graduation, where his parents were able to hood him Brian N. King Meghan E. Hayes to welcome him into the medical profession, Kotha completed his Maria McPherson $100-$499 urology residency at SUNY Buffalo and now practices with CompreDaniel M. Putterman Samuel G. Alpert Girish T. Reddy hensive Urology in Canton, Michigan. Kenneth K. Cheng Heather A. Wheat Despite having two daughters in college (including one at SyraLisa M. Chirch Asaph Zimmerman cuse University) and a third in high school, Kotha says his own sucChristopher M. De Santo $1-$99 Erin E. O’Connor cessful practice affords him the ability to give back to the institution Adam P. Ellis Eric P. Paulson that provided the foundation for that career. “I feel like I’ve come full Renika N. McLeodcircle,” he says. “I wanted to give back to the place that put me on $1-$99 Labissiere Andrew D. Feingold the road to doing well.” JulieAnn Nagle Warner The Kotha Family Scholarship will support Norton College of Medicine students with financial need who come from northern New York counties such as St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, and Franklin. $1,000-$2,499 Edward J. Wladis “It’s an economically challenged area,” Kotha explains. “If someone from there gets into medical school, I want to help them succeed.” $500-$999

2000

1999

2001

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

30

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Meghan E. Ogden

$100-$499 Carina Cartelli Lynn E. Fraterrigo Boler Lisa M. Geer-Yan Joseph A. Lasek Stephen W. Merriam Christie Perez-Johnson Amy L. Reynders Jamie Shutter Anthony J. Sousou Lia M. Spina David Yan Kimberly A. Yee $1-$99 Sanjay Jobanputra

2002 $1,000-$2,499 Rebecca L. Bagdonas Sarmistha B. Mukherjee $500-$999 Jessica J. Lee $100-$499 Roline L. Adolphine Eben A. Carroll Madison C. Cuffy Michael T. Gaslin Patrick J. Murray Erik A. Rueckmann $1-$99 Matthew J. Brown

2024-2025 Report of Gifts 2003 $1,000-$2,499 Niesha Westmoreland $500-$999 Nicholas W. Clavin Joseph M. Ferrara, Jr. Ann E. Kane Damon J. Ng Anurag Shrivastava $100-$499 Greg R. Blair Bo Chao Nathaniel S. Gould Shari M. Hogan Jessica F. Sherman William M. Sherman Erica D. Weinstein

2004 $2,500-$4,999 Kenar D. Jhaveri $1,000-$2,499 Michael L. Lester

Kimberly A. Giusto Evan B. Grossman Leon Kushnir Andrew J. Najovits John P. O’Brien Jason P. Scimeme

2005 $1,000-$2,499 Joby George $500-$999 Jay S. Dalal Lynn L. Ji Daniel R. Lefebvre Samantha Ng Isabelle Zamfirescu $100-$499 Erin R. DeRose Yauvana V. Gold Kelly M. Willman $1-$99 Dana R. Cohen Michael de la Cruz Alice C. Miller Robert W. Whelpley

$500-$999 Jimmy Feng Jung-Taek Yoon

2006

$100-$499 Scott P. Albert Matthew J. Egan Clifford J. Ehmke Jennifer Eng

$100-$499 Joanne Andrades Scott R. Ekroth Jason L. Freedman Glenn E. Groat

Daniel D. Hayes Lisa M. Hayes Erin K. Hill Robert H. Hill, III Markhabat O. Muminova Anne Marie Tremaine Larisa Vorobyeva

2007 $1,000-$2,499 Adam Stallmer

$500-$999 Bryant Carruth Lisa K. Law Jing Liang Jeremy M. Liff

Marny Shoham Lauren Slater

$100-$499 Anonymous Emily L. Albert Yvonne Cuffy Faye Knoll Alexandra McGann Adams Avreliya Shapiro

$1,000-$2,499 Roy Chen

2008 $100-$499 Steven Altmayer Paul Aridgides Lindy Davis Tina Nguyen Lisa O’Connor

Christopher Palmer Rebecca Swan Robert T. Swan $1-$99 Benjamin Raile Matthew D. Thornton

2009 $500-$999 Sachin Shah Robert Van Gorder

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

31

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

Gifts to the Parents and Family Fund Anonymous (2) Bruce and Zhanna Aber Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Allis Lev and Svetlana Barats John and Nicole Blomfield Timothy Bond and Nancy Seward Ann and Matthew R. Brand, MD ’91 Randolph and Miranda Brown JoAnne Burbige Joel Chernov and Deborah Skakel Julie Christmas Brian and Joyce Connolly Stephen Craxton Thomas Dean and Yunah Hong Jennifer Eng, MD ’04 David Franks and Andrea Wolf David Gadoury and Franzine Smith Sharon and Ronald S. Gilberg, MD ’87 Moises Gonzalez-Wainwright and Jill Wainwright Gregory and Priscilla Gumina Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hambrose Aiping Hu and Yanqing Duan Eric and Kate Johnson Agnes Juhasz

Mary Levi Manuel and Maria Lopez Charles J. Lutz, MD ’93 and Barbara L. Clayton-Lutz, MD ’92 Daniel and Gina Mahoney Drs. Moussa and Dania Mansour Julian Marte and Bethania Castro James Martin Mariusz and Dorota Morawski Lori A. Murphy Diane Nameth Ugochukwu and Rita Nzeako Surjeet and Bobby Pohar Dwyce and Mick Ratliff Andrew Rudmann, MD and Carolyn Cleary, MD Anne Sacco Mark and Kim Shepard Paul and Ellen Simpson Mark and Coralie Solasz Karen Tobias Roger van Loveren and Karen Lau Zhandong Zhou and Yingxun Zhu Joseph and Maria J. Ziemba, MD ’93

$100-$499 Anonymous Britton M. Chan Katherine A. KaprothJoslin Dodji V. Modjinou Won-Hong Ung $1-$99 Kimberly Robeson Aly R. Sheraly

2010

Julie O’Connor Elizabeth Riccardi Yarnell Stillings $1-$99 Rosemary J. Froehlich

2011 $100-$499 Eva S. Smith Daniel K. Sperry Yening Xia

$2,500-$4,999 Divya Rajasekaran

2012

$1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Robert Antoniou Bridgit Nolan Beverly A. Schaefer

$1,000-$2,499 Rachel Zehr

$500-$999 Michael G. Fitzgerald Christopher D. Parks Jin Qian

$100-$499 Sarah M. Cardillo Huy N. Hoang Ai Lin Huang

$100-$499 Anonymous Amanda J. Brender Kristin N. Kelly Kei C. Ko

2013

$500-$999 Kerry E. Whiting

$2,500-$4,999 Jenny A. Meyer Justin P. Meyer

$1,000-$2,499 Nikolai V. Kolotiniuk $100-$499 Charles D. Hannum

2014 $1,000-$2,499 Anthony J. Chiaravalloti $500-$999 Michelle N. Stram $100-$499 Anonymous Ryota Kashiwazaki Lauren M. Titone

2015 $100-$499 Patrick J. Belton Lauren I. Keshishian $1-$99 Therese Federowicz Tammer N. Ghaly Devin R. Halleran

2016 $1,000-$2,499 John A. Pizzuti $500-$999 Jacob T. Frier Leesha A. Helm Matthew F. Helm Ariel M. Kredentser Kelsey G. Kredentser $100-$499 Andrew J. Bellantoni Marie L. Fleury Valini G. Gosine Michelle E. WakeleyCruise $1-$99 William L. Ericksen Andrew J. Nastro Jessica M. Winters Arthur Zak

2017 $1,000-$2,499 Jessica A. Pizzuti $100-$499 Oluwafisayo O. Adekoya Kethia Eliezer Yuxin Liu Caitlin A. Nicholson Julia A. Reiser Alan Shum Timothy M. Smilnak

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

32

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

$1-$99 Elizabeth A. Magowan

2018

2023 $1-$99 Mary T. Mahoney

$100-$499 Peter D. Congelosi Kaitlyn M. McGregor Connor G. Policastro

2026

2019

$1-$99 Brady S. Iles

$100-$499 Karen I. Cyndari Daniel F. Farrell

Friends

2020 $100-$499 Katherine C. Frega $1-$99 Bilal D. Malik

2021 $500-$999 Allen L. Zhou $1-$99 Zachary R. Visco

2022 $1-$99 Kathleen P. Heslin

$100-$499 Derrick M. Spencer

Anonymous James Boler, MD Miles Bottrill Jayne R. Charlamb, MD Lynn M. Cleary, MD Donna Dispenza Margaret Ekroth, MD Barbara and Philip A. Fraterrigo, MD John H. Gilbert, MD Frank Lancellotti, MD Paul E. Norcross Lina P. Perry, MD Joel Potash, MD Patricia Randall, MD Elaine Rubenstein Alexander J. Ryu, MD Dr. Richard Stram Boyd E. Terry, MD Debra Tristam, MD

Matching Gift Companies

AbbVie The Benevity Community Impact Fund Goldman, Sachs & Co Matching Gift Program National Philanthropic Trust

Gifts to the Andre de Corla-Souza, MD ’00 Memorial Scholarship Anonymous (2) Samuel G. Alpert, MD ’99 Tracy E. Alpert, MD ’00 Michael E. S. Bang, MD ’00 Walter S. Bukowski, MD ’00 Kathy Byun, MD ’00 Jerry Caporaso, Jr., MD ’99 Class of 2000 Holly K. Cleney, MD ’00 Laura Dattner, MD ’00 Casey L. Duca, MD ’00 Adam P. Ellis, MD ’00 Michael E. Higgins, MD ’00 Penelope Hsu, MD ’00 Rajesh K. Jain, MD ’00

Hana F. Jishi, MD ’00 Brian N. King, MD ’00 Timothy H. Lee, MD ’00 Renika N. McLeod-Labissiere, MD ’00 Maria McPherson, MD ’00 Stacy J. Ostapko, MD ’00 Daniel M. Putterman, MD ’00 Dana C. Ranani, MD ’00 Girish T. Reddy, MD ’00 Elan W. Salzhauer, MD ’00 Amar Singh, MD ’00 Stephen G. Spitzer, MD ’00 Richard A. Tallarico, MD ’00 Asaph Zimmerman, MD ’00

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

33

2024-2025 Report of Gifts Honor, Memorial Gifts Memorial Gifts In Memory of A. Geno Andreatta Robert D. Bona, MD ’80 David B. Grossberg, MD ’81 Lowell L. Hart, MD ’80 Stuart Pergament, MD ’91 Richard F. Russell, MD ’83 John J. Sacco, MD ’75

In Memory of Richard H. Aubry, MD, MPH, Prof Emeritus Richard J. Aubry, MD ’89 Eileen A. Keneck, MD ’89

In Memory of Ethel Black Michael L. Black, MD ’83 Thomas and Julie Quinn

In Memory of Stephen P. Blau, MD ’68 Patricia Blau

In Memory of Ellen Cades Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of Herbert E. Cohn, MD Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of Patrick Cole Casey L. Duca, MD ’00

In Memory of John R. DePalma, MD ’59 Miles Bottrill

In Memory of Arleen DiCaprio Matthew R. DiCaprio, MD ’98

In Memory of Eleni Doufekias, MD ’03 Nicholas W. Clavin, MD ’03 Shari M. Hogan, MD ’03 Ann E. Kane, MD ’03

In Memory of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Edison Bruce D. Edison, MD ’67

In Memory of Joseph C. Fischer, MD ’79 Eleanor Fischer Quigley and Bob Quigley

In Memory of Stuart H. Forster, MD ’80 Edward C. Gross, MD ’80

In Memory of Karl Gauss, MD ’85

Caroline Cerasia Linda Cerasia Christiana Ciaccio Nancy A. Collins and Robert Schalk, Jr. Naven Duggal Giana Gleeson Brady S. Iles Shannon R. Iles Tim and Peg Kelley Daniel G. Kindell Kaitlyn M. McGregor, MD ’18 Derrick M. Spencer Daniel J. Swan Michael Ziemann

In Memory of Cliff Kane Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of Carol A. Kavanagh, MD, ’73

Michael A. DiPietro, MD ’74

In Memory of Kathleen A. Iles, MD ’18 Mary Bryant

In Memory of Joanne Sackman

In Honor of Alden P. Endres Richard F. Endres, MD

Dennis L. Feinberg, MD ’76

In Honor of Ingrid A. Endres

In Memory of Julius Schwartz, MD ’33

Richard F. Endres, MD

In Honor of Ernie Found, MD ’80

Susan Schwartz McDonald, PhD

Madeline Barott, MD ’80

In Memory of Brian Sorrentino, MD ’85

In Honor of My Dad, Hugh Fulmer, MD ’51’s, 97th Birthday

Mark A. Fogel, MD ’85 Suzanne B. Sorrentino

Kim Humphrey

In Memory of Ronald H. Spiro, MD ’55 Bennett Leifer, MD ’86

In Honor of Carole Ginsburg and Richard Cutler Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Honor of Paul M. Grossberg, MD ’75 David B. Grossberg, MD ’81

In Memory of Andrew J. Swinburne, MD ’69

In Honor of Herb Isaacs

Sachin Shah, MD ’09

Sandra Swinburne

In Memory of Clifford H. Turen, MD ’83

In Honor of Saul J. Klein, MD ’59

In Memory of Martha S. Kincaid, MD ’73 Alden Paul Endres Ingrid Alice Endres Richard F. Endres, MD Ernest and Alice Putnam

Kevin M. Coughlin, MD ’83

In Memory of Darvin J. Varon, MD ’93

In Memory of Sonya A. LaBella

In Memory of Andrew D. Weinberg, MD ’78

Brian Maloney, MD Lori J. Mosca, MD ’84 Ralph S. Mosca, MD ’85

Patricia Randall, MD

Anonymous

In Memory of Ellen W. Liang, MD

The Isaacs Family Miles Bottrill

In Honor of Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Anonymous Coleen K. Cunningham, MD ’85 Dennis L. Feinberg, MD ’76 Mark H. Katz, MD ’75

In Honor of Joel Potash, MD Joseph Hinterberger, MD ’91

In Memory of Rita Leighton, MD ’91

Alan C. Yao, MD ’95

In Honor of the R-Med Fund for Northern NY

Cynthia A. Gingalewski, MD ’90

In Memory of David Yarkony

Hugh S. Fulmer, MD ’51

Kathryn Yarkony

In Honor of Rissa & Michael Ratner, MD’68, on their 60th Anniversary

In Memory of Stanley D. Leslie, MD ’51 The Isaacs Family Bruce M. Leslie, MD ’78 Avery Leslie O’Neill and Hank O’Neill Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of Thomas J. Maher, MD ’83 Kevin M. Coughlin, MD ’83

In Memory of Michael Maiale In Memory of George F. McVay, MD In Memory of Marty Michaels, MD ’81

Honorary Gifts In Honor of John J. Alfarone, Jr., ’26

Harvey K. Bucholtz, MD ’68

Michael K. Ditkoff, MD ’94

In Honor of My Children, Lindsay, Carli and Jeremy

In Honor of Ann Barker-Griffith, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology

In Honor of Susan Stearns, PhD

Michael R. Robinson, MD ’83

In Honor of N. Barry Berg, PhD Michael G. Fitzgerald, MD ’10 Jing Liang, MD ’07 Richard F. Russell, MD ’83

In Honor of John D. Bisognano, MD ’90

Bruce A. Salzberg, MD ’79 Sarah C. Burns Ronald J. Costanzo, MD ’90 Paul A. Zimmerman, MD ’88

In Honor of Janet S. Stram, RN Michelle N. Stram, MD ’14 Dr. Richard Stram

In Honor of Paula Trief, PhD

Malcolm D. Brand, MD ’94

Daniel Himmelsbach

In Honor of Sharon A. Brangman, MD ’81

In Honor of Howard Weinberger, MD ’58

Mr. and Mrs. David Middleton

Ellen M. Kaczmarek, MD ’81 John Shavers, MD ’80

Mark H. Katz, MD ’75

In Memory of David G. Murray, MD

In Honor of Arthur Zak, MD ’16

In Honor of the Class of 1965

Timothy M. Smilnak, MD ’17

William P. Hannan, MD ’81

In Memory of Brad Middleton, MD ’20

Noah S. Finkel, MD ’69

In Memory of Frank and Flo Presser Stephen E. Presser, MD ’78

Philip S. Schein, MD ’65

In Honor of the Class of 1976 Richard M. Alexander, MD ’76

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

34

Jin Qian, MD ’10

Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

David J. Novelli, MD ’75

In Memory of Philip M. Guiliano, MD ’74

Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of E. Gregory Keating, PhD

In Memory of Robert M. Green, MD ’75

Gerard A. Compito, MD ’85

In Memory of Adam Rosen

In Memory of Judy Stahl

Claudia Leslie and Louis Lipschutz

In Memory of Diane F. Green-El, MD ’78

Robert J. Rankel, MD ’72

In Honor of the Upstate Faculty Supporting Non-Traditional Students

Anonymous Joseph Maloney, MD ’73

Paula A. Gauss, MD ’85

Gary D. Walford, MD ’75

In Memory of Robert F. Rohner, MD ’52

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

2024-2025 Report of Gifts

2025 Scholarship Recipients Thanks to the generosity of alumni support, the Medical Alumni Foundation awarded more than $1.9 million in student scholarships this year. The Dennis L. Allen, MD ’72 and Linda Riffe Allen Endowed Scholarship in Memory of John B. Henry, MD Harrison Smith

The A. Geno Andreatta Scholarship Maggie Markgraf

The Benjamin N., Mollie P., Gerson H. ’57 and Martin W. Aronovitz, MD ’65 Memorial Scholarship Dillon Prus

The Nathan and Ada August Memorial Scholarship Eunice P. Yoon

The Stanley A. August, MD Memorial Scholarship Jacob Fagnani

The Zaven S. Ayanian, MD ’59 Family Scholarship Kirsten Krick and Sophia Xian

The Leonard D. Carpenter, MD ’33 and Ruth E. Carpenter Memorial Scholarship

The Max Gara and Robert H. Gara, MD ’56 Scholarship

The Sonya A. LaBella Memorial Scholarship

The Suzan and Philip M. Gaynes, MD ’63 Scholarship

The Stanley D. Leslie, MD ’51 Memorial Scholarship

The Douglas (Ed Ben-Edison) Cox, MD ’63 Scholarship

The Susan E. and Welton M. Gersony, MD ’58 Endowed Scholarship

The Dr. Norman R. Loomis Family Practice Scholarship

The Edwin T. Dailey, MD ’68 Memorial Scholarship in Radiology

The Samuel Gersten, MD ’39 and Martha Gersten Endowed Scholarships

Cara Smith

The David L. Charney, MD ’68 Endowed Scholarship Joe Karboski

Angelique A. Dabel

Ahmad Wady

The Andre de Corla-Souza, MD ’00 Memorial Scholarship

Prithi Chakrapani and Brody Hooper

The Dewan Family Endowed Scholarship

Arwaa Mehran, Nawab Rustum Qaderi, Barbara Santos, Jeanpierre Tenesaca and Daniel Toscano

Demi Ajao

Khadean Moncrieffe

Kathleen Renna

Noelle C. Ortiz, Sunny U. Patel, Eleanor J. Sommers and Christopher Stanton

The Jerome C. Goldstein, MD ’63 and Rochelle Goldstein Scholarship John Alfarone

The I. Bruce Gordon, MD ’63 Scholarship in Honor of Professor William H. Bergstrom

Avree S. Kestay

The Alfred W. Doust, MD Endowed Scholarship in Otolaryngology

The Theresa Baltera Memorial Scholarship

Febronia Mansour

The Dracker Family Scholarship

Mus’ab Azam

Jian Li

Mary Locastro and Annika A. Mounts

The N. Barry Berg, PhD Scholarship for Musculoskeletal Medicine

The Robert Eitches, MD ’78 Scholarship in Honor of Shirley and Irving Eitches

Febronia Mansour

Isaiah Pompo

Samantha Ballas

The Martin Black Family Scholarship

The Alfred F. and Shirley D. Enwright Endowed Scholarship (endowed by Michael O’Leary, MD ’78 and Colleen Enwright O’Leary, MD ’78)

Mark D. Verenich

The Joseph C. Fischer, MD ’79 Memorial Scholarship

Grace E. Gugerty

The John R., MD ’84 and Deborah L. Ayres Endowed Scholarship

Brady Iles

The Stephen Blau, MD ’68 Memorial Scholarship

Eunice Baik, Jackson C. Bright II, Gianna A. DeRoberts, Stephanie Ezeoke, Mack Ogden, Christian Poblano, Brianna Rheaume, Jonathan Rismany, Michelle Robbins, Khristy Tapiero and Kelly Zhou

Afeesat Durosinmi

The Elliot Brandwein, MD ’67 and Arlene Eckstein Brandwein, MD ’68 Scholarship

Mary Locastro

Filip Morawski, Kathleen Renna and Zachary M. Williams

The Sharon A. Brangman, MD ’81 Scholarship in Geriatrics Sidney Davis

The Bernard J. Burke, MD 12/’43 Scholarship Michelle Montero

The Cady Family Scholarship Emily Norris

Mark Lutz

The Medical Alumni Foundation Founders Scholarship The Sarah Loguen Fraser, MD Alumni Scholarship Schyler M. Turner

The Friendship Scholarship in Honor of Ernest Found, MD ’80, in memory of his wife, Ellyn Slocum Found, and his daughter, Caroline Slocum Found Avree S. Kestay

The Joseph J. Gadbaw, MD 12/’43 and Ann Gadbaw Scholarship Gracy Lin

Mary Locastro

The Diane Green-El, MD ’78 Memorial Scholarship The Sahib Saran Gupta Memorial Scholarship The Douglas W. Halliday, MD ’79 Scholarship The Frances A. Harmatuk, MD ’41 Geriatrics Scholarship Kenneth Ortega

The Edward F. Higgins, MD ’78 Scholarship The Geraldyne and Grant Hobika, MD ’52 Creative Arts and Medicine Scholarship Brian C. Ganeles

The Robert V.P. Hutter, MD ’54 and Ruth L. Hutter Scholarship Adam Novak

The Kasten Aker Family Scholarship Febronia Mansour

The E. Gregory Keating, PhD Memorial Scholarship Sophia Xian

The Martha S. Kincaid, MD ’73 Scholarship Kristin M. Schermerhorn

Estee Wu

Amelia Gabor

John Babich

The Margaret and Jonathan Lowell, MD ’75 Endowed Scholarship Emily Cranmer and Amy Huang

The Lynch Family Scholarship Hannah Brown

The Alphonse A. Maffeo, MD ’72 Scholarship Nicholas Federico

The B. Dale Magee, MD ’75 Scholarship

Juan Diego Betancur, Adedoyin Julius, Arwaa Mehran and Dante Whitmire

The Edward A. Major, MD ’64 and Stephen Major, MD Psychiatry Award Elliot Levi

The Angeline R. Mastri, MD ’59 Scholarship Jeisson Ramos Miranda

The Patrick T. Mathews, MD ’03 Memorial Scholarship Katie Farkouh

The McAnarney Family Endowed Scholarship in Pediatrics Alondra Y. Holland

The James L. McGraw, MD ’41 Scholarship Mark D. Verenich

The Gustave P. Milkey, MD ’43 and Janet B. Milkey Merit Scholarship Estelle G. Khairallah

The James and Dolores Moffett Memorial Scholarship Demi Ajao

The Peggy and Adolph Morlang, MD ’66 Scholarship Nia Brown and Schyler M. Turner

The Joseph A. Morra, MD “Renaissance Man” Memorial Scholarship Allison Carroll

Rudolph J. Napodano, MD ’59 Scholarship Timothy Chan

ALL GIFTS RECEIVED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 | *DECEASED

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

35

2024-2025 Report of Gifts The Nelson/Freedman Scholarship Robert Martino

The Stephen Presser, MD ’78 Scholarship in Memory of Frank and Flo Presser

The Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65 Endowed Scholarship

Morgan Pierce

The Onondaga County Medical Society (OCMS) Medical Student Scholarship

Morgan Pierce

Demi Ajao

Yousef Kamel Elsayed and Jack H. Michaels

The Allan J. Press, MD ’67 Endowed Scholarship Hannah H. Kim

The Michael H. Ratner, MD ’68 Endowed Scholarship The Betty Reiss, MD ’68 and Jacob Reiss, MD ’68 Family Endowed Scholarship Mary Locastro

The Monroe Richman, MD ’55 and Esther Richman Scholarship Emily Cranmer

The Samuel Rosenthal, MD ’64 Scholarship

The Marc A. Subik, MD ’79 Family Scholarship

The Rural Medicine Alumni Endowed Scholarship

The Swift Family Legacy Grants

The Sanders/Kilkelly Scholarship

The Andrew J. Swinburne, MD ’69 Memorial Scholarship

Timothy Chan

Jacob Fagnani

Annika A. Mounts

Peter J. Adasek, MD ’65 Scholarship John D. Bisognano, MD ’90 Endowed Scholarship Colonel Bruce and Mrs. Marie Campbell Scholarship Class of 1955 Scholarship Class of 1965 Memorial Scholarship Class of 1970 Scholarship Class of 1980 Scholarship Eleni Doufekias, MD ‘03 Memorial Scholarship Garakani Family Scholarship Kathleen A. Iles, MD ’18 Memorial Scholarship The Kotha Family Scholarship in honor of Aranjyothi Kotha, MD and Vijayasimha Kotha, MD Sam and Carol Nappi Endowed Scholarship Adam Oberlander, MD Class of 2005 Memorial Scholarship Robert J. and Mary C. O’Leary Endowed Scholarship David N. Osser Scholarship Reiss Family Kenyan Student Scholarship Bruce Stewart, MD ‘63 Scholarship Patsy and Wayne Welsher, MD ’75 Scholarship Brian D. Woolford, MD ’84 Scholarship Ann and Stanley Yarkony Memorial Scholarship

Other Awards/ Grants Class of 1968 Primary Care Endowment Jerry Hoffman Advocacy Award Brad Middleton, MD ‘20 Memorial Fund

36

Teresa R. Miller, MD ’79 Wellness Initiative for Psychiatry Residents Pediatric Residents Endowment for International Travel Dr. Tarakad Ramachandran Neurology Award

Fellowships Susan and Gustave L. Davis, MD ’63 Summer Fellowship for Pathology Ellen Cook Jacobsen, MD ’50 Fellowship in Psychiatry

Lectureships The Welton M. Gersony Pediatric Lectureship Robert V.P. Hutter, MD ’54 and Ruth L. Hutter Endowed Lectureship The Donald and Mary Elizabeth King Endowed Lectureship The Lawrence Pickett, MD Endowed Lectureship in Pediatric Surgery Reiss Family Visiting Lectureship in Ethics and Equity

Professorships/ Chairs Stanley A. August, MD ’69 Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics Medical Alumni Endowed Professorship in Bioethics Alan and Marlene Norton Presidential Chair at Upstate Medical University The Patricia J. Numann, MD ’65, Chair of Surgery Lloyd S. Rogers Endowed Professorship in Surgery Leanne and Frank E. Young, MD ’56, PhD, Endowed Chair in Biomedical Science

Yannis Dimitroff, Brody Hooper, Elliot Levi, Cara Smith and Omar Yaipen

The Schein Family Scholarship

Emily Cranmer

The Jack J. Schneider, MD ’66 Scholarship

Amelia Gabor

Kristin M. Schermerhorn

Mus’ab Azam

The Julius Schwartz, MD ’33 Scholarship Jonathan Mohnkern

Pending Scholarships

Estelle G. Khairallah

The Setnor Family Endowed Scholarship (endowed by Rose and Jules R. Setnor, MD ’35 and Stanford S. Setnor, MD ’42) Olivia C. Buyea

The Dr. Oscar and Mrs. Luba Trief Memorial Scholarship The Barbara and Harold H. Wanamaker, MD ’56 Scholarship Estelle G. Khairallah

The Andrew D. Weinberg, MD ’78 Memorial Geriatric Scholarship Ava Conklin

The Herbert M. Weinman, MD ’65 and Suzy Weinman Scholarship Award

The Ara A. Sheperdigian, MD ’60 Memorial Scholarship

Sunny U. Patel

The John B. and Henrietta E. Simeone Scholarship in Memory of Fiorindo A. Simeone, MD

Zachary M. Williams

The Frederick W. Sloan, MD ’74 Scholarship

Ciara Murphy

Coralee A. Everett

Prithi Chakrapani

Brian C. Ganeles

The Brian P. Sorrentino, MD ’85 Memorial Scholarship Sara Solasz

The Susan B. Stearns, PhD Scholarship for Community Engagement Rachel Ziemba

The Alan L. Williams, MD ’70 and Luanne G. Williams Scholarship The Susan and Jack Yoffa, MD ’69 Scholarship in Memory of Elaine Yoffa Hornung The Frank E. Young, MD ’56 and Leanne Young Endowed Scholarship John Babich

Class Scholarships The Class of 1966 Scholarship Oyeolamide O. Oyediran

The Class of 1971 Scholarship

The Mallory Stephens, MD ’54 Endowed Scholarship

Grace E. Gugerty

Chris Cizmeciyan

The Carol Kavanagh and Class of 1973 Scholarship

The Ellen Lawson Stevens, MD Endowed Scholarship

Jessica Chavez Gutierrez

The Class of 1977 Scholarship

Elliot Levi, Nicola Manfredi, Sunny U. Patel, and Alena Thotam

Theresa Chung

The Ralph Stevens, MD ’81 Madison-Oneida County Scholarship

Usiwat Abdul

Aaron Samuel Alejo, Coralee A. Everett, Amelia Gabor, Matthew Infarinato, Elizabeth Kaido, Estelle G. Khairallah, Sophia Silas, Mark D. Verenich, Zachary M. Williams, and Rachel Ziemba

The Rosemary Stevens, MD Annual Scholarship

Petrack Amankwah, Allysa Kemraj, Asharee Mahmood, Deborah Ogunribido, Eunice Park and Barbara Santos

The Keith Stube, MD ’88 Endowed Scholarship Anjali Malhotra

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

The Class of 1979 Scholarship The Rick Zogby, MD, Class of 1984 Memorial Scholarship Anas Abbas

Student Citizen Awards These awards recognize those students who have distinguished themselves as leaders and volunteers in the life of our campus and greater Syracuse community. Class of 2026: Elizabeth Lee Class of 2027: Kira Whisenhunt Class of 2028: Stevie TchakoTchokouassi

2024-2025 Report of Gifts CHANGE Scholars

Dean’s Distinction Awards

The CHANGE Scholarship is a collaboration between Drs. Betty and Jacob Reiss ’68 and the Center for Bioethics and Humanities. It is awarded to third-year medical students who have successfully completed the Physicians and Social Responsibility course and are committed to advocating for social responsibility and change in their professional lives.

The President’s Office supports full tuition, housing and a stipend for outstanding medical students identified by the Admissions Committee.

Saad Ahmad, Ejun Dean, Swathi E. Jacob, Verónica Rivé and Estee Wu

RMED Experience Scholars These Scholarships support students participating in the Rural Medical Education elective experience, which allows third-year medical students the opportunity to live and train in small-town communities. Olivia Brand, Benjamin Carguello, Richard Colby, Michael Connolly, Ryan Crouse, Hunter Dean, Caitlin Grace, Austen Kalivas, Rachel Milone, Emily Norris, Emily Seale, Griffin Sigal, Jackie Whitehead and Kyle Wollner

Alumni Scholars The George J. Buchholtz, MD ’52 Scholarships and the Medical Alumni Foundation Scholarships support full or partial tuition payments for outstanding medical students identified by the Admissions Committee. Elyas Ayad Anas Badri Eunice Baik Marcea Bond Mary Brewer Angela Chen

Dante Hovancik Avree S. Kestay Blessing Chidiuto Lawrence Miryam Matute Roca Jack H. Michaels David Morrison

John F. Burns, Hannah L. Cousins, Auriole C.R. Fassinou and Emerald Hall

Helen and Albert F. Mangan, MD ’54 and Upstate Say Yes Scholarship This Scholarship provides full tuition, housing and a stipend for a student who has graduated from a Syracuse City School District high school or Syracuse Academy of Science charter school and attended college as a Say Yes Scholarship recipient. Jennifer Nguyen

Upstate Say Yes Scholarship This Scholarship provides full tuition, housing and a stipend for a student who has graduated from a Syracuse City School District high school or Syracuse Academy of Science charter school and attended college as a Say Yes Scholarship recipient. Alexander Guerrero, Molly Scott

Katherine D. Narvaez Mena Janet Nguyen Deborah Ogunribido Dania Salah Kate Trujillo Wai Cheung Tung

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

37

STUDENT ROUNDS From Exam Room to Newsroom MEDICAL STUDENTS LEARN TO COMMUNICATE LIKE JOURNALISTS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH LITERACY

W

hen Matthew Infarinato ’26 opened the Rome Daily Sentinel one morning, his name was printed in bold just beneath the headline: “My Blood Pressure Is High, But I Feel Fine! Should I Go to the Emergency Department?” It was surreal. Infarinato, a fourth-year medical student at the Norton College of Medicine, had written the piece not as a scientific report or case study, but as an editorial for his hometown community newspaper. The article drew directly from his experiences working in the emergency department at Oneida Health, where he had seen patients rush in with mild,

Samantha Ballas ’26 38

symptom-free hypertension—often frightened, but rarely in medical danger. “I wanted to help people understand what’s urgent and what’s not and to help improve my community’s health literacy on a topic that was highlighted both in my clinical experiences and in the local data,” he says. Infarinato’s article, later shared by proud relatives and neighbors across Madison and Oneida counties, was part of a new course in the Upstate Norton College of Medicine’s Rural Medical Scholars Program (RMSP) called Targeted Rural Health Education, or TRHE. The elective, launched in spring 2025, teaches medical students to write like journalists—translating complex medical knowledge into clear, accessible language for rural readers. Traditionally, medical students write for peers and professors. Their assignments are steeped in research citations, formal tone, and clinical precision. TRHE flips that model on its head. “Instead of writing for other doctors, our students are writing for farmers, teachers, and retirees—the people they see in their communities,” said Lauren Meyer, PhD, program director for Upstate’s Rural Medical Scholars Program. “Part of being a successful rural physician is community involvement. In small towns, everybody’s going to know you and look to you for guidance.” Meyer modeled the course after a similar program at the University of North Dakota, where medical students had UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

been writing public health articles for local papers for nearly a decade. After hearing about it at a conference, she partnered with Lauren Bavis, a Faculty Fellow at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, to bring the experience to Upstate. Bavis taught students how to “think like journalists,”pitching story ideas, interviewing local experts, and crafting concise, readable pieces. Through workshops and one-on-one feedback sessions, she helped the students strip away jargon and humanize their message. Each student in the pilot class chose a topic rooted in their clinical experiences. Infarinato focused on asymptomatic hypertension, inspired by his time at Oneida Health. Samantha Ballas ’26, who spent a rotation at Delaware Valley Hospital in Walton, New York, wrote “Time Is Brain: Recognize the Subtle Symptoms of a Stroke,” which was published on Syracuse.com. Another classmate, Nathan Barott ’26, wrote “Avoid the Emergency Department: Essential Chainsaw Safety Tips for Warren County Residents” for the Glens Falls Post Star. All of the articles are now archived on the New York State Association for Rural Health website, giving them a lasting home beyond the newspapers where they first appeared. For Ballas, who grew up in Connecticut and applied to Upstate’s Rural Medicine Education (RMED) track seeking a broader perspective on healthcare, the course rekindled an old passion.“I’ve always loved writing and missed it in medical school,” she says. “This class was a way to refuel that passion while contributing something tangible to the communities we serve.” Her article aimed to teach readers how to recognize the early signs of a stroke—a condition where minutes can mean the

Matthew Infarinato ’26 difference between recovery and permanent disability. “It was a great exercise in communicating with the general public,” Ballas says. “We spend so much of our careers talking to patients, not other doctors. Being able to clearly explain disease and care in plain language is a critical skill.” The biggest revelation for students was how closely good medicine mirrors good journalism. Both require curiosity, empathy, and the ability to listen. Students learned to identify the health issues most relevant to their regions by studying local community health assessments, the same data used by county health departments to prioritize resources. Then, with guidance from Bavis and Meyer, they turned those findings into stories that could change behavior. After submitting drafts, students revised through rounds of professionalstyle editing. They learned how to pitch their work to editors at local newspapers, respond to feedback, and refine their message for a general audience. “I had never written something meant for publication before,” says Infarinato. “However, Lauren was an incredible resource and really helped foster my passion for writing. Working together, I gained confidence weaving my personal experiences from the ER with compelling data into a narrative that felt grounded and relatable.”

“We have to reach out in approachable ways that makes medicine less intimidating and meet people where they are— even if that means starting with a newspaper column.” MATTHEW INFARINATO ’26

When he started getting messages from family friends and patients who had clipped the article from the paper, the impact hit home. “If even one person reads my article and gains more medical knowledge as a result, I feel I’ve made a meaningful impact,” he says. Though the course ends with a byline, Meyer says the real goal is cultivating lifelong communication skills. “The students tell me it’s helping them become better clinicians. When they sit with a patient and have to explain what’s happening in clear, compassionate language, that’s where you see the connection between writing and practice,” she says. Ballas agrees. “Given all the misinformation out there, it’s more important than ever for doctors to communicate effectively with the public,” she says. “Patients UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

often come in talking about something they read online or saw on social media. If we can contribute accurate, understandable information to that conversation, we’re doing real public service.” For many rural communities—where physician shortages and limited access to care remain persistent challenges—these articles may be the only form of preventive health education people encounter. That’s one reason Meyer hopes to expand TRHE to include more students and a wider range of topics in coming years. “We’re training future doctors to be health advocates,” she said. “They’re learning not only how to treat illness but also how to engage and educate.” After completing his series of articles, Infarinato decided to make plain-language health writing the focus of his RMSP capstone project. He’s already published a second editorial in the Rome Sentinel titled, “Your Heart Attack Didn’t Start Today: How Drinking Less Soda Can Keep You Out of the ER,” and is currently working on his next piece, “Alcohol: The Socially Acceptable Killer.” Meanwhile, Ballas is applying to neurology residency programs, still inspired by the idea that medical writing can change lives. “I hope to continue publishing,” she said. “Maybe even write a book someday.” For both students, and for the communities they serve, TRHE has become more than a course—it’s a conversation. “It’s about breaking down barriers,” Infarinato says. “Especially in rural areas, physicians have to find ways to bridge the gaps in distance, trust, and medical knowledge. We have to reach out in approachable ways that makes medicine less intimidating and meet people where they are—even if that means starting with a newspaper column.” 39

CLASS NOTES 1957

David B. Levine, of New York, NY, writes, “I am alive and well! The Dartmouth Alumni Magazine reported that I was deceased, and our class president alerted me of the error.”

1958

Rosanne Wille, PhD, the late wife of George B. Jacobs ’58

40

George B. Jacobs, of Cape Coral, FL, writes, “I am sorry to inform my classmates that my beloved wife, Dr. Rosanne Wille, passed away on October 2, 2024, after a life full of accomplishment. During her career, she was the chair of Acute Medical and Surgical Nursing at Rutgers University, the founding dean of the Lehman College of Nursing and Health Professions of City University of New York, and for more than 10 years served as university provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. While at Rutgers, she was a founder of both the American and International Societies of Neurosurgical Nurses. After retiring, she worked in community affairs at the Cape Coral Police Depart­ ment and chaired the Architectural Review Board of our community. She managed to be the mother of four sons, a breeder and trainer of champion German Shepherd dogs, and a commercial pilot with more than 5,000 pilot in command hours. She was active in community affairs and was awarded, among many tributes, the American Point of Light Award by President George Bush for a drug prevention program she developed with the

district attorney’s office in the New York City public schools. She was nominated for this award by Nancy Reagan. Rosanne’s Resur­ rection Mass was celebrated at the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Bokeelia, FL, a parish in which she served as a eucharistic minister and lector as well as a member of the finance council.”

1961

September 18•19, 2026

1962

Steven A. Artz, of Charleston, WV, is professor of medicine at West Virginia University School of Medicine. “Dr. Lyons would have been proud,” he writes. “My three sons are academic doctors in California, Nevada, and New Jersey. I spend my time doing endocrine telemedicine for the rural hospitals in West Virginia. I would love to hear from classmates or residency mates (19631965). I am still in contact with Kenneth Kushner; we share a birthday.”

1963

Michael A. Kirsch, of Encino, CA, is in his ninth year of retirement. “Unfortunately, my wife Barbara passed away two years ago and is sorely missed. Fortunately, my three kids, seven grandkids, and two great grandkids are around so I look at

this time as a bonus round. If anybody wants to reminisce, I’m available.” Bruce Stewart, of Frostproof, FL, writes, “Life is good at 92 and would be much better if the current dictator and his minister of health were not in the picture. My wife Judy and I are healthy but learning to live with macular degeneration. We are addicted to cruising and have gone many places and have more planned. If you’re in Florida give a holler!”

1964

Edward Burak, of Englewood Cliffs, NJ, writes “I work remotely from my house, reading radiology images for Radnet. After spending 50 years as chief of radiology at Irvington General Hospital and running an imaging center in Milburn, NJ, we sold our imaging center in 2020. I am keeping active and still play tennis. My twin brother George ’64, and my son Jarett ’02, are both graduates. Jarett is a musculoskeletal radiologist with Northfield Imaging and lives in Roslyn, NJ. He has two children, a son, Sammy, and a daughter, Lola. My daughter Sabrina is a schoolteacher and lives in Paramont, NJ, and has two children, Tommy and Hannah. My brother George is a retired orthopedic surgeon and lives in Edgemont, NJ. He has a daughter and a son, Corey ’99, who is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at White Plains Hospital.”

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

1965

Robert A. Nover, of Bethesda, MD, retired from teaching and practice in child and adult psychiatry and psychoanalysis in 2024. “My wife Aimee, also a psychoanalyst, is retired,” he writes. “We recently celebrated our 62nd wedding anniversary. Our middle grandson will be attending Brown University Medical School this fall.” Lawrence F. Simon, of Pomona, NY, recently retired and is sorry he was unable to make the Reunion.

1966

September 18•19, 2026

Frank G. Yanowitz, of Salt Lake City, UT, finally decided to fully retire at 86, although he continues to teach and work on his website (ecg.utah.edu). “Life is Good!” he writes.

Frank G. Yanowitz ’66

CLASS NOTES

Rissa and Michael Ratner ’68 and Joan and Harvey Bucholtz ’68

1968

Harvey K. Bucholtz, of South Orange, NJ, and Joan celebrated Rissa and Michael Ratner’s 60th wedding anniversary in June. “A friendship that has lasted many wonderful years,” he writes. J. Patrick Lavery, of Kalamazoo, MI, retired from a long career in maternal fetal medicine.

1969

Jane L. Falkenstein and John T. McCarthy, of Rensselaer, NY, share that their class note should be entitled Oh No!!! “During summer 2025, we got very excited about going on a cruise to Alaska from Seattle the last week of August but at T-minus two days before we expected to ship ahoy, Jane tripped and fell in her office and broke her right hip. Instead, Jane underwent major surgery. She sailed thru her operation and made a full recovery and is getting great care

at home from her family, PT and OT,” they share. Kenneth Grundfast, of Boston, MA, writes, “We are all old now and most of us have retired. We got our medical education before there were computers, CT or MRI scans and before DNA mutations that cause various medical disorders were identified. For the most part, we are a very fortunate group. We got a superb medical education for minimal cost. Our faculty members earnestly

wanted to fill our brains with knowledge and teach us technical skills. We were treated with utmost respect and supported in every imaginable way. I am one of the few class members who is not fully retired. As I continue my part-time work as a Professor Emeritus at the Chobanian and Avedesian Boston University School of Medicine, I can see clearly how rapidly biomedical science is advancing and how astounding the advances in biotechnology are. What all of us received from SUNY Upstate is intangible but extraordinarily valuable. Essentially, we were educated through the largesse of New York state, enabling us to have successful, professionally rewarding careers and loads of personal satisfaction. It’s good to get old. As the years continue to pass, many parts of life are seen in perspective and I am even more grateful now than before for what I received at SUNY Upstate.”

1970

Alexander (Sandy) E. Kuehl, of Amelia Island, FL, writes, “Our reunion dinner celebrating our 55th was well attended with 23 classmates and guests at the Century Club; Upstate President Mantosh Dewan, MD, and Dean Lawrence Chin, MD, spoke with us. Alan Williams, our dinner chair, spoke and memorialized our 23 classmates that have passed away. We announced that the Class of 1970 Scholarship has been officially endowed with $100,000 in gifts and pledges. Paul Kupferberg, a major sponsor of the scholarship, was unable to join us, and Barry Greenberg was unable to attend due to an international cardiology conference in Korea, but asked to be remembered to all.” William D. Singer, of Newton, MA, and Sarah are celebrating their 60th anniversary in December. “Our grandson Sam has been recruited to play baseball at New York University.” Alan L. Williams, of Blaine, WA, shares, “Our 55th reunion weekend of September 19-20 went very well. The Medical Alumni Foundation office team led by Paul Norcross did a wonderful job of planning and executing an interesting and educational program. Eighty-five of our 104 classmates are still living. Attendees at the Saturday evening Century Club dinner included Jay Adcook, Mel Adler, Bert Crain, Stuart

Danker, Ron Dvorkin, Alan Kliger, Sandy Kuehl, Steve Lefkowitz, John Marangola, Pat Sheehan, Richard Sullivan, myself (dinner chair) and Mark Wolraich. On Friday, Mark received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his pioneering work in developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Classmates David Honold, John Albrigo and Tom Danzi attended other reunion events during the weekend. A nice feature of the Saturday dinner was the opportunity to interact with Upstate President Manosh Dewan and Dean Larry Chin. Also at dinner, Sandy Kuehl discussed the creation of a Class of 1970 Scholarship and indicated that more than $100,000 has already been donated or pledged for this purpose. Sandy asked attendees to think of what we would like the scholarship to promote. More on this topic in the future. Overall, a very successful class reunion.”

1971

September 18•19, 2026

1972

David N. Osser, of Needham, MA, is very excited about the publication of the second edition of his book Psychopharmacology Algorithms.

John T. McCarthy ’69 and Jane L. Falkenstein ’69

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

41

CLASS NOTES 1975

James A. Terzian, of Vestal, NY, is semi-retired, but still doing forensic pathology. “My son James ’07 is a radiologist in Syracuse. And grandson James is now six.”

1976

September 18•19, 2026

1977

Stephen C. Brigham, of Saint Michaels, MD, had a long career in diagnostic imaging that has evolved in retirement to the hobby of astrophotography. “Things are looking up!” he writes. Frank V. Messina, of Pensacola, FL, recently retired from critical care pulmonary practice after 42 years and more than 200,000 patients. Mark W. Zilkoski, of Wolf Point, MT, welcomed his first great-grandchild. “Azia Rain Ryan Zilkoski and her mom live with us,” he writes. “I am taking a yearlong contemplative medicine fellowship through The

Azia Rain Ryan Zilkoski, great-granddaughter of Mark W. Zilkoski ’77

42

New York Zen Center, and am loving it. I hope to be able to integrate it into the care here on the reservation. Hello to all from northeast Montana!”

1978

Robert Fulop, of Short Hills, NJ, shares that his daughter Julie gave birth to his third grandchild, Ethan Miles Lickstein, on September 7. “We are very happy,” he writes. Ethan’s father grew up in Syracuse and still has a large family living there.”

1979

Bruce A. Salzberg, of Atlanta, GA, retired in January to spend time with his family and to end a 42-year career in gastroenterology specializing in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients. His second grandchild, Amelia, was born to daughter Carli, and daughter Lindsay was married to Patrick. “My career in GI has been a long and successful journey in many ways since my time

at Upstate Medical University,” he writes.

1980

Alexander E. Weingarten, of Holliswood, NY, shares that his son Mark is a psychiatry resident at Mount Sinai in Manhattan, son Michael ’21 is a psychiatry resident at Yale, daughter Michelle is a thirdyear dental student at the Touro Valhalla campus, and daughter Marnie is a PhD candidate in psychology at Hofstra University. Joanna ZolkowskiWynne, of Fairfield, CT, is newly retired in 2025. “We are enjoying our four grandchildren, and I am rediscovering my joy in art,” she writes.

1981

September 18•19, 2026

Ronald C. Brodsky, of Norfolk, VA, shares, “Our son Saul and wife Adina are expecting their second child in February. They reside in Jerusalem where Saul is a

The family of Bruce A. Salzberg ’79

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Saul and Ronald C. Brodsky ’81

Torah scholar and professional Torah scribe. We’re welcoming our fourth grandchild to the family.”

1982

Kathleen (Katie) Bosch Baeverstad, of Empire MI, writes, “My husband and I welcomed our first grandchild, Emmett Michael Paul, born to our daughter and her husband. Our daughter was born when I was a fourth-year student at Upstate. I retired in 2022; my medical career was in the emergency department then working for a medical malpractice insurance company. I have written a children’s book, published on October 21, Mama Sugar Bear. The book is based on a real event in the town where we live in northern Michigan, adjacent to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In April 2024, a black bear broke into our community’s local chocolate shop, dragged a 50-pound bag of sugar out to the sidewalk (without disturbing anything else in

M E E T

O U R

B OARD

DENNIS DALY, MD ’83

A Tradition of Care and Commitment W

hen Dennis Daly, MD ’83, walks into his family medicine office in Camillus, New York, it’s not unusual for a patient to recognize his name. If it’s not his own longtime patient, they may be thinking of his father, Roger Daly, MD ’55, who had a long career as a beloved solo practitioner in Marcellus, New York. Before him, Daly’s grandfather, Dennis Daly, MD ’1901, practiced in Ellenberg Depot, New York, for more than 40 years, traveling by horse and carriage to deliver babies. Today, Dr. Daly’s own son, Ian Daly, MD ’11, practices alongside him, making the Dalys a remarkable four-generation Upstate family devoted to medicine and community. “I’ve been in the same practice location for almost 40 years,” Daly says. “I’m seeing second and third generations of patients—sometimes people whose grandparents were treated by my dad. That continuity is one of the most rewarding parts of family medicine.” Daly’s deep sense of continuity extends to his long service on the Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation Board, where he has spent nearly two decades championing scholarships and student support. His involvement began unexpectedly; after donating to the Foundation for 15 consecutive years, he received an invitation to a recognition dinner. “I hadn’t been keeping track,” he laughs. “But after that dinner, they started talking to me about joining the board—and they reeled me in.” Since then, Daly has served in every leadership role, including a term as president that concluded just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Through leadership transitions and accreditation challenges, he helped keep the organization focused on its mission: supporting medical students and sustaining a strong sense of alumni camaraderie. “The Alumni Foundation plays a critical role in helping young people who want to become physicians,” Daly says. “Medical school is expensive and demanding, and scholarships can make all the difference. We want students to have the freedom to choose the specialty that inspires them, not just the one that will help them pay off their loans.” Daly is quick to remind fellow alumni that Upstate Norton College of Medicine tuition, even as part of the SUNY system, is now only slightly less than that of many private schools. “The gap between state and private tuition isn’t what it used to be,” he notes. “And schools with larger endowments can offer much more in scholarships. So, if we want to attract the best students, we need to help level that playing field.” For Daly, giving back to Upstate is a natural extension of the values instilled by his father and grandfather. “Medicine is about relationships, helping people when they’re scared or sick, and being part of their lives

Dennis Daly, MD ’83

over time,” he says. “That same principle applies to supporting our students. If we can take away some of their financial stress, it helps them focus on becoming the best doctors they can be.” Although he still practices three days a week, Daly enjoys a balance that allows time with his wife, three grown children, and three granddaughters—all of whom live nearby. “I’m lucky they’re all local,” he says. “There’s always something going on: school events, sports, babysitting. It’s like being back in the days when our own kids were little.” He stays active running, biking, and skiing—his favorite sport—and reading medical journals and the occasional novel. But his commitment to Upstate remains constant. “I think alumni support is critical for the future of medicine,” Daly says. “If we can make it just a little easier for students to pursue their calling—especially in primary care—it benefits all of us.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Medical Alumni Foundation Board, please contact Paul Norcross, executive director, at norcrosp@upstate.edu.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

43

CLASS NOTES the shop), and ate the entire bag. This was captured on video and went viral. In my book, this is a mama bear with two hungry cubs who didn’t know that stealing is wrong. In the end, a national park ranger asks the bears to stick with berries, fish, and Michigan honey.”

Kathleen Bosch Baeverstad ’82

Kathleen Bosch Baeverstad ’82 and family

Joseph A. Smith, of Hillsborough, NJ, writes, “I continue to stay in family practice after 41 years working three fairly long days a week, but enjoy it still. I practice in Hillsborough, which is in central New Jersey. We have added two new granddaughters for a total of four granddaughters, ages four down to about four months. I’m also enjoying some traveling, including a cruise to Norway this summer and the Canadian Rockies separately.” Mark A. Rothschild, of Lady Lake, FL, continues working limited hours as a cardiologist at Citrus Cardiology Consultants in The Villages, FL, and spends half the year at his second home in Plymouth, MA. He also continues to enjoy travel photography with his

Smoky Mountains National Park sunset at Clingman’s Dome. Photograph by Mark Rothschild ’82

44

experiences documented on his website: www.mark rothschildphoto.com.

1983

Darryl A. Zuckerman, of Olivette, MO, and wife Aurora, welcomed their first grandchild, Daniel Hayden, in June. He continues working at Yale-New Haven Hospital as an interventional radiologist and was recently selected to serve on the board of trustees of the American Board of Radiology.

1985

Mickey R. Lebowitz, and wife Anne moved to San Diego, CA, in July after 44 fabulous years in Syracuse to be closer to their children and three granddaughters. His second book, The EQ Prescription: Put Yourself First to Thrive in Healthcare, was published in October, a follow-up to his first book, Losing My Patience (eq4health�care.com, Amazon.com). “I missed seeing former classmates and friends

at Reunion. I hope you all are well and have enjoyed, or continue to enjoy, your professional careers,” he writes. Martin Fried, of Asbury Park, NJ, is beginning a virtual consultation nutrition practice at healthdaysllc.com. He will also conduct webinars on nutrition and can be found teaching on passionclass.co (under the search term nutrition).

1986

Catherine Mahoney, MD, MPH, HS’ 25, and Teresa J. Karcnik-Mahoney ’88

1987

Teresa J. KarcnikMahoney, of Middletown, NY, shares, “It is hard to believe that both of my daughters and I are now Upstate Alumni! Mary T. Mahoney ’23 and Cath­ erine Mahoney, HS ’25, from the internal medicine residency program at Upstate. I traveled to Syracuse in June for her graduation dinner and enjoyed meeting her colleagues and mentors and found time to enjoy dining in the city while we were there.”

September 18•19, 2026

Rosemarie Lombardi Conigliaro, of Oyster Bay, NY, retired in August after 35 years of academic primary care at five academic institutions. “Plans include exercise, reading, and improving my Italian for staying at our retirement villa in Puglia, Italy! Ciao!” she writes.

Mickey R. Lebowitz ’85 (far left) and family

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

1988

Will ’29 son of Regina Torelli ’88

Regina “Gina” Torelli, of Natick, MA, writes, “I am so very proud of my son Will ’29. My fond memories of my time at Upstate, lifelong friendships and an excellent education have so greatly enriched my life. I am so excited for Will’s turn.” Richard Ostreicher, of Hakalau, HI, is living on the Big Island of Hawaii after a 30-plus-year career teaching and practicing dermatology in California and Hawaii.

1989

Pamela L. Foresman and Brian S. Brundage, of Auburn, NY, completed America’s Great Loop in June. “We were on board our 41-foot boat for 7,600 miles and 397 nights. We boated in Canada, Georgian Bay, Lake Michigan, then through Chicago and into the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee rivers to Mobile,” they write. “We spent winters in Florida and came north on the Intercoastal waterway through Georgia, the Carolinas, the Chesa­ peake, New Jersey, New York City, and the Hudson

My son Brandon and his fiancée, Renata Mukai, MD, are engaged with a 2026 wedding planned. He is chief internal medicine resident currently applying for endocrinology fellowships and she is finishing her OB/GYN residency, both at the University of Illinois in Chicago.”

The Gateway Arch, visited by Pamela Foresman ’89 and Brian Brundage ’89

to the Erie Canal and back to our home in the Finger Lakes near Syracuse (the center of the universe)! What’s next? No idea.” Stephen R. Weinman, of New Paltz, NY, shares, “This August I visited Provincetown, and in between massive amounts of lobster rolls and beer, got together with Larry Greenwald ’89. He was a great host and inspiration to not retire with the first wave. This spring, Pam Foresman ’89 and Brian Brundage ’89 docked their yacht in Marlboro and we got together for dinner. They are retired (first wavers) and have gone to sea, which I suppose is better than out to pasture.

I continue to work halftime or so at FirstCare and await the reemergence of diseases we learned about and promptly forgot that should emerge as vaccinations phase out.”

1991

September 18•19, 2026

1993

Janice A. Bedell, New Hartford, NY, is a radiologist who is a long-term locum tenens at Upstate University Hospital at Community, in Syracuse. “I am proud to be working for my alma mater, part of

Renata Mukai, MD, and Brandon Bedell, MD, son of Janice A. Bedell ’93

this prestigious University with a wonderful staff and fellow attendings,” she writes. “I’ve been here for 13 years, as a long-term locums, I’ve loved the job so much. I’m very proud of my children. Brandon Bedell, MD, is an internal medicine physician; Jared Bedell, JD, a lawyer for Solomon and Cromwell in New York City, and daughter Laura Bedell is a real estate investor for Branjen Realty, working side-by-side with her dad, Robert Bedell, president and owner of Branjen Realty. She is also a dog groomer on weekends for Shaggy Chic Salon.

Stephen R. Weinman ’89 and Larry Greenwald ’89

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Stephanie S. DeBuck, of Freeville, NY, will soon retire from orthopedic practice in Ithaca. “It’s been great fun and very rewarding taking care of a wonderful community with wonderful partners,” she writes. “I am retiring so I can pursue my interest in art and spend time with my brand-new grandson Oliver. I am so proud of my son Ben, who owns a restaurant, my daughter Emma, who is Oliver’s mom, and Sam, who is working as an orthopedic tech and attending nursing school. Hi to everyone! Look me up if you pass near Ithaca.”

Oliver, grandson of Stephanie S. DeBuck ’93, HS ’98

1994

Lisa R. Berger, of Jericho, NY, is entering 29 years in internal medicine practice

45

CLASS NOTES on Long Island for PRINE Health. “I am married to Jeff Berger, MD, a gastroenterologist. Son Brian is a sophomore at Cornell studying business. During my time off, I visit my sister Lynn Berger-Morrissey ’95 and Tom Morrissey ’95 in Delray Beach, FL.”

Sciences, at the University of Buffalo and was recently named the inaugural Kevin and Janet Gibbons Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery in May.

Russell Wenacur, of East Greenbush, NY, started a new role in May as the chief medical officer for the center for disability services in Albany, NY.

Sarah E. Matt, of Fayette­ ville, NY, writes “My book, The Borderless Healthcare Revolution, will be published by Wiley in December 2025. Drawing on my journey from surgeon to technology strategist, the book introduces The Five Pillars of Access: a framework for fixing our broken systems. It is a practical guide to building a future where technology and intentional policy design make quality healthcare truly accessible for everyone. I hope you will look for it.”

1995

Carolyn L. Danzi Marasco, of Wesley Chapel, FL, has worked for BayCare Health System for 24 years and is currently associate program director for BayCare Health Systems Pediatric Residency Program in Tampa, FL, and director of the residency outpatient clinic.

1996

September 18•19, 2026

September 18•19, 2026

Rebecca L. Bagdonas, of New York, NY, hosted the inaugural Resident Welcome Party for Upstate alumni starting residency in the New York City area. Angela Gupta, Anjlee Panjwani, Robyn Xiao, Jewel Estrella, and William Borchert, all from the Upstate class of 46

Rebecca L. Bagdonas ’02, Angela Gupta, Anjlee Panjwani, Robyn B. Xiao, and Jewel D. Estrella, and William E. Borchert, all class of 2025, with Skip Lockwood, assistant director of the Medical Alumni Foundation

2025 gathered for connection, conversation, and community at Rebecca’s home. They had an opportunity to share experiences about life after medical school, hear from an established alum, and relax in a home atmosphere. Rebecca plans to have more of these events to provide support and mentorship to alums throughout their residency journey.

2006

September 18•19, 2026

2001

2002

2008

Tanisha Arora, of Edison, NJ, was elected to serve as president of the New Jersey chapter of the American College of Emergency Medicine (ACEP) for 20252026. She will lead important advocacy efforts and plans to champion initiatives focused on advocating for emergency physicians, enhancing patient-centered care, and strengthening quality and safety in emergency departments statewide. Elizabeth K. Nelsen, of North Sutton, NH,

has joined DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, as a pediatrician in the section of child development. She also holds an appointment as an associate professor of pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH. Previously she was a general academic pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and Upstate Medical University in Syracuse for 15 years. Renee M. Reynolds, of Orchard Park, NY, is clinical associate professor of neurosurgery in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical

Renee Reynolds ’06, second from left, receiving her award

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

CLASS NOTES SARAH FABIANO, MD ’10

Enhancing Prehospital Emergency Care W

hen an emergency unfolds—on a highway, at a football stadium, or in a living room—what happens before a patient ever reaches the hospital can determine everything that follows. For Sarah Fabiano, MD ’10, that critical “prehospital” window has become both her passion and her professional calling. Dr. Fabiano has emerged as a national leader in prehospital medicine, bridging the worlds of emergency care, education, and research. As medical control Sarah Fabiano, MD ’10 physician for Clemson University Fire and EMS and medical director of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), she shapes how emergency responders across the country deliver lifesaving care long before a patient ever sees a doctor. “I’ve always been drawn to the intersection between emergency medicine and education,” Fabiano says. “Working with prehospital providers, the people who are truly on the front lines, is what I’m tailored toward.” Fabiano’s path to medicine began with a master’s degree in physical therapy from D’Youville University. Although she loved working hands-on with patients, she found herself wanting to do more. That instinct led her to medical school at Upstate. Fabiano credits great support from her advisor, Barry Berg, PhD, and the mentorship of Richard Cantor, MD ’76, and Mitchell Brody, MD, in the Emergency Department. She excelled academically and was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha as a junior and received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award as a senior. After completing an emergency residency at the University of Rochester, Fabiano moved to Greenville, South Carolina, drawn by a role that combined academic and community medicine—and by the chance to escape Upstate New York winters. In Greenville, Fabiano found her niche, becoming deeply involved in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), eventually earning board certification in both Emergency Medicine and EMS Medicine—a dual distinction achieved by only a small fraction of physicians nationwide. Today, her work spans air, ground, and stadium-based EMS systems. As medical control physician for Clemson University Fire and EMS, she oversees emergency care for the university community, including the massive crowds that fill Memorial Stadium each football weekend. Under her leadership, the program has evolved beyond traditional first aid. “We’re treating more people on-site instead of automatically transferring them to the hospital,” she says. “It’s safer for patients and more efficient for the system.” Her influence extends well beyond campus. Through her role with JEMS, Fabiano ensures the publication’s medical accuracy and relevance while mentoring EMS providers nationwide through podcasts, webinars, and conference presentations. She also co-hosts “911 in the 864,” a

popular podcast where she and a colleague dissect real-world cases and explore the latest developments in prehospital care. Fabiano’s own research focuses on closing critical gaps in early diagnosis and emergency response. One project trains EMS providers to perform a simple finger-to-nose test to identify posterior circulation strokes—a type often missed by standard screening tools. “These strokes are tricky and frequently overlooked,” she says. “We want to give prehospital providers tools that make a difference in the first few minutes of care.” The project has grown into a multi-agency initiative with plans to present findings to the American Heart Association. Another initiative tackles the issue of 911 system overload. Through a countywide grant-funded program, Fabiano and her team are piloting an alternative response model that routes non-emergency 911 calls—such as minor illnesses or injuries—to community paramedics and nurse practitioners rather than hospital emergency departments. “People are calling 911 for the same reason they go to the ER— because they don’t have access to primary care,” Fabiano says. “If we can meet them where they are and connect them to the right resources, we can improve outcomes for everyone.” Even with multiple leadership roles, Fabiano continues to practice clinically three to four days a week across several hospitals, including a Level I trauma center. Her commitment has earned her South Carolina’s Medical Director of the Year award twice, as well as fellowship honors from both the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine. She’s also an educator at heart, mentoring EMTs, paramedics, residents, and medical students. “There’s nothing more rewarding than watching someone you’ve trained apply their knowledge in a real emergency,” she says. “That’s what keeps me going.” —Renée Gearhart Levy

Dr. Fabiano conducts training with EMS personnel.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

47

CLASS NOTES MPH

2011

Bridget (Lenkiewicz) Volz was honored as a Central New York 40 under Forty award recipient in November 2025 by the CNY Business Journal. She was recognized for her contributions to local public health through her decade of service at the Onondaga County Health Department. In her current role as the health department’s epidemiologist, she leads the

September 18•19, 2026

2016

September 18•19, 2026

2018

Joseph Chin, of Fresno, CA, is an attending at Kaiser Permanente in Clovis, in physical medicine and rehabilitation/sports medicine.

Karen I. Cyndari, of Coralville, IA, was the June recipient of a K08 through NIAMS with a project focusing on immune regulation in the setting of Lyme arthritis. “I promptly cracked open the good stuff. Fingers crossed for all my colleagues still struggling through federal changes— truly living in interesting times,” she writes. Matthew M. Fanous, of Mahopac, NY, is happy to share news of his engagement to Marina Boulos. “I am very excited and blessed to start a new chapter in my life with Marina,” he writes.

Adelaide Rae Li and Logan Ren Li, twins of Jonathon Li ’19

RESIDENTS

Andrew Tisser, of Clarence, NY, and emergency medicine residency class of 2017, shares a new venture that he co-founded: Franks & Dranks, a gourmet hot dog and cocktail tasting kit that ships nationwide. The company brings people together in a playful way with a premium food and drink experience and makes for a memorable alternative to traditional gifts. “Anyone interested in more information please visit franksanddranks.com,” he writes.

ANA GIL STUDIOS

2019

Franks & Dranks, a new venture by Andrew Tisser, HS ’17

Jonathan Li, of South­ ington, CT, welcomed twin newborns on July 17, Logan Ren Li and Adelaide Rae Li.

Marina Boulos and Matthew M. Fanous ’19

48

development of Onondaga County’s Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan, which guides how local public health priorities are set.

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

Bridget (Lenkiewicz) Volz, MPH

IN MEMORIAM 1947

SHIRLEY FERGUSON RAYPORT, of Canton, MA, died September 17 at 102. She was a pioneering neuropsychiatrist, educator, and advocate for integrated, patient-centered care. Born in Syracuse, Dr. Ferguson Rayport was a gifted violinist and initially aspired to a career in music before turning to medicine, earning her BA from Syracuse University in 1944 and her MD from Syracuse University (now SUNY Upstate Medical University), one of three women in her class. She trained in psychiatry at the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, KY (1951–53), where she embraced an emerging brain-based approach to psychiatry, and at McGill University in Montreal (1954–55), where she studied innovative treatments for mental illness and the behavioral dimensions of epilepsy. In 1950, she met neurosurgeon Mark Rayport, MD, whom she married six months later. In the 1960’s, they initiated an integrated team approach to the treatment of epilepsy at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In the 1970’s, they became founding members of the Epilepsy Comprehensive Center at the Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences). They developed a multidisciplinary “whole patient” model that integrated neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and social work—an approach that earned national and international recognition and advanced understanding of the mind–brain relationship. Ferguson Rayport was a respected leader in neuropsychiatry and a devoted teacher. As director of the Medical College Unit at the Toledo Mental Health Center (1971–82), she championed interdisciplinary and creative therapies and was known for reminding students that “beneath every psychiatric symptom is a human being striving for meaning and dignity.” Following her husband’s death in 2003, she established the Mark Rayport and Shirley Ferguson Rayport Fellowship in Epilepsy Surgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute. She continued to publish actively into her 90s, co-authoring articles and a book on epilepsy and the mind–brain relationship. Ferguson Rayport is survived by three children, five grandchildren, and a greatgrandchild. She will be remembered for her intellect, compassion, and enduring influence on generations of physicians and patients alike.

1950

PAUL G. GEISS, of North Redington Beach, FL, died June 15. Dr. Geiss was a Navy lieutenant in World War II and the Korean War. He also received a lay pastoral degree from The Athenaeum of Ohio. He spent his career practicing as an internist and as a cardiologist in the

Cincinnati area, was a member of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine, and served as a jail chaplain at the Hamilton County Justice Center. He was devoted to his Catholic faith. Geiss was survived by his wife Claire; daughters Paula, Gail, Lori, and Jennifer; sons Gary, Jeffery, David, Donald, Griffin, and Neal; and 23 grandchildren.

1952

NORMAN R. LOOMIS, of Ontario, NY, died November 8. Dr. Loomis attended Oberlin College, his studies interrupted by service in the U.S. Navy, graduating in 1948. He earned his medical degree from Syracuse University (now Upstate Medical University) in 1952 and completed his internship and residency at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, in 1954. That same year, he moved to Ontario, NY, where he met his future bride, Laura “Jinny” Russell. They married in 1956, and he quickly became the trusted hometown doctor. Loomis was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Ontario-Walworth Rotary Club. He chaired the Family Medicine Department at Rochester General Hospital, served as president of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians, was a physician at the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympics, and participated in the 1998 Heart to Heart Medical Airlift in Siberia. He lived a life caring for others, serving his community, living his faith, loving his family, and loving life. Loomis was predeceased by his daughter, Lynne. He was survived by his wife, Jinny; daughter Jane; son Richard; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Dr. N.R. Loomis Family Medicine Scholarship at Upstate Norton College of Medicine, Upstate Medical Alumni Foundation, Suite 1510 Setnor Academic Bldg., 750 E. Adams St. Syracuse, NY 13210.

1953

ROBERT T. BURAN, of Plattsburgh, NY, died September 18. Dr. Buran served his country enlisting in the U.S. Navy as a seaman first class. He studied radar repair and received electrical engineering training. He was honorably discharged in 1946. After earning his medical degree, he had a rotating internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Syracuse, a one-year pathology residency at Upstate Medical University, and a three-year residency at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. In 1958, he became board certified in radiology and moved to Plattsburgh, where he established Associates in Radiology and worked as a radiologist at Champlain Valley Hospital, and later at CVPH Medical Center until his retirement in 1999. Buran founded the CVPH School of Radiologic Technology, which UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

has trained untold numbers of x-ray technologist and is a legacy that continues to this day. He also received special recognition from his peers by being awarded a fellowship in the American College of Radiology. Buran was survived by his sons, Robert, James, Jeffrey, and David.

1960

MARK GREENSPAN, of Virginia Beach, VA, died August 5, 2024. Dr. Greenspan was a distinguished physician and attorney. He served his country as a ship’s doctor in the U.S. Navy and moved to Norfolk in 1962. Following his naval service, he completed surgical residency at Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, returning to Norfolk again in 1968. He spent more than 35 years as a renowned local surgeon. He served members of the community who otherwise could not afford surgical care, many traveling great distances to see him. During the 1980s, he was one of two surgeons willing to operate on AIDS patients in all Southeastern Virginia. He testified before the Senate committee to help Sentara Norfolk General get funding for its first Nightingale Helicopter and was instrumental in the creation of Hampton Roads’ first trauma center. Greenspan’s passions were medicine, medical ethics and medical education. He served as chief of surgery at DePaul Hospital and helped to draft ethics standards for the medical community. He graduated from William & Mary Law School at age 65 after retiring in his early 60s. He spent his last professional decade practicing law before the Vaccine Injury Court in Washington, DC. Greenspan was survived by his wife, Betty; former wife Ethel-Raye, and their children Jeffrey, Amy-Ann, and John-Jay; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and family.

1961

DONALD R. TULLOCH, of Rochester, NY, died July 3. Dr. Tulloch was an intern and resident at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. He later moved to Skaneateles, NY, where he opened his practice in family medicine. He was the kindest, most caring, and compassionate man who touched the lives of many over the years. He served the community in family practice for 40 years, making house calls until the day he retired. He was survived by his wife, Maureen; children Kathleen, Christine, Thomas, Laureen, and Jonathan; 13 grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.

49

IN MEMORIAM 1962

JEANETTE STURGES LAMB (SCHOON­ MAKER), of Louisa, VA, died April 8. Dr. Schoonmaker was one of only two female students in her medical school class. She completed her internship and residencies at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Menninger School of Psychiatry, and Upstate Medical University. Her medical career included work in private practice, state hospitals, community mental health clinics, and adolescent treatment programs. She also taught medical students and completed a fellowship in environmental medicine. Schoonmaker was survived by her daughter, Amy; sons Matthew and Daniel; and two grandchildren.

1965

JOSEPH T. BLACK, of Clayton, NY, died June 17. Dr. Black began his training at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in 1965 and served as a doctor in the U.S. Air Force and later joined the private practice of Levy, Berg, and Weiss as a neurologist. He was a longtime teacher in the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine and led the neurology resident morning report for 15 years, training hundreds of physicians in the art and science of neurology. Black was survived by his wife, Julie; son Hugh; two grandsons; two stepsons and one nephew. RICHARD PAUL KRADEL, of Fayetteville, AR, died June 5. Dr. Kradel was an OB/GYN who moved to Fort Smith in 1973 and together with his wife Eileen brought innovations such as prepared childbirth, natural childbirth, and father participation in deliveries. He practiced for more than 40 years and delivered well over 1,000 babies at St. Edwards (now Mercy) Hospital. He was highly respected for his skill as a physician; his greatest traits in that role were compassion, empathy, and the ability to listen. He believed that being someone’s doctor was a privilege. Kradel was survived by his wife, Eileen; daughter Katrina; sons Joseph and Jeffrey; son-in-law Peter; and five grandchildren.

1969

THOMAS ELLIOTT ROOT, of Portland, OR, died October 27, 2024. Dr. Root completed his medical training at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago along with two years of military service at Great Lakes Naval Base. For more than 40 years, he worked as an infectious disease physician in Rockford, IL, where he cared for countless patients and became a respected member of the medical community. He was 50

associate professor emeritus at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford and was recipient of numerous teaching awards. Root was survived by his wife, Carole, and family.

1970

WALTER F. ERSTON, of Charlotte, NC, died February 25. Dr. Erston joined the U.S. Army transportation corps in 1960 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1961. He earned a promotion to captain before being honorably discharged from active duty on December 3, 1962, and continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1970. In 1989, he was appointed a major in the Vermont Air National Guard. He was licensed by the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1971 and completed his residency in radiology at Rochester General Hospital, where he served as chief resident. In 1974, he received certification in diagnostic radiology from the American Board of Radiology and became a member of the American College of Radiology. After residency, he took a job as a radiologist at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, NY. In 1981, he and his family moved to St. Albans, VT, where he spearheaded the radiology department in the local hospital. He was a pioneer in the use of mammography for early breast cancer detection in a time when routine mammograms were not the norm. In 1989, he traveled the country with locums tenens positions at various hospitals. He also obtained his commercial pilot’s license, serving private clients and transporting cargo. Erston was survived by his daughter, Hillary; son Eric; two grandsons; and stepchildren Julie, David and John.

1971

JOHN W. GOLLATZ, of Ashburn, VA, died July 17, 2023. Dr. Gollatz moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where he practiced urology for more than 30 years. He was a talented surgeon, widely known for his wonderful, warm bedside manner. He was beloved by his patients and hospital colleagues. Gollatz was survived by his wife, Catherine; children Brian and Christine; and eight grandchildren.

1972

F. DAVID ROLLO, of San Jose, CA, died October 21, 2022. Dr. Rollo continued research in nuclear medicine after earning his degree. He was accepted at UC San Francisco, where he taught and published articles on nuclear medicine physics, instrumentation and agents. After five years at UCSF, he was offered a position as dean of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

He was later recruited by Humana Hospital as senior vice president for medical affairs and chief medical officer. In 1966, he joined Philips Medical Systems as their international chief medical officer, where he was responsible for research, development, and quality of medical equipment developed and sold by Philips. In 2006, he was recruited by CellPoint in San Mateo, CA, to serve as president and chief technology officer. In collaboration with MD Anderson, he developed the first molecular imaging agent that could be used for diagnosing, staging, and treating all cancer types, as well as early diagnosis of heart attacks. Rollo was survived by his wife, Linda; and son Alex.

1973

DANIEL C. ELLISON, of Glenfield, NY, died September 28. Dr. Ellison completed his medical internship and residency at the University of Connecticut and became a general surgeon. He completed an externship at Lewis County General Hospital in summer 1972. In 1978, he returned to Lowville and began surgical practice. He was a member of the Lewis County Medical Society, a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, a fellow the American College of Surgeons, and assistant clinical professor of surgery at Upstate Medical University. He always wanted his patients to feel heard and truly cared for. Ellison was survived by his wife, Susan; daughters Mary, Kathryn and Anne; and seven grandchildren.

1975

JAMES A. DISPENZA, of Liverpool, NY, died July 25. Dr. Dispenza practiced medicine in his adopted community of Syracuse for more than four decades. He was known as an empathetic, tireless, and compassionate physician who loved his patients and his calling, and he whistled on his way to work every day. Dispenza was survived by his wife, Donna; daughters Mary and Laurie; son James; and eight grandchildren.

1976

LAWRENCE B. GROSS, of Somerset, NJ, died January 27, 2019. He was director of Robert Wood Johnson’s Continuing Medical Education program, had been medical director of the Central New Jersey Jewish Home, and made a significant contribution to geriatric care. He owned Quailbrook Family Physicians in Somerset and was sole practitioner there for more than 30 years. Gross was survived by his wife Linda; son Michael; daughter Carrie; and three granddaughters.

REMEMBERING DAVID DUGGAN, MD ’79

A Doctor’s Doctor

DAVID B. DUGGAN, MD ’79, former dean of the Norton College of Medicine, died October 1. Dr. Duggan grew up in Dewitt, New York, the son of a doctor and a nurse. During medical school at Upstate, he was attracted by the diagnostic encounters of internal medicine. “I enjoyed the problem-solving challenges,” he once told the Alumni Journal, and was steered to hematology/oncology by mentors whose example he wanted to emulate: William J. Williams, MD, Arlan Gottlieb, MD, Bob Comis, MD, and Frank Oski, MD. After earning his MD, Duggan went to Boston to train at the New England Medical Center, completing residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology/oncology. He met his future wife his very first day. Although it was several years before Duggan and Lynn Cleary, MD, became a couple, they were married in 1985 and the same month moved to Central New York to begin careers at Upstate. Duggan joined the faculty at Upstate Medical University as a member of the Department of Internal Medicine and the division of hematology/oncology. He specialized in the care of patients with lymphoma and breast cancer, engaged in clinical research, and enjoyed teaching students, residents, and fellows, receiving multiple teaching awards over his career. He served in leadership roles nationally with the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, and published studies that advanced the care of patients with lymphoma and breast cancer. Although he never set out to have a career in administration, he said yes when asked to chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Upstate in 1993. That led to nearly 16 years at the helm of the department before serving as quality officer for University Hospital, then associate vice president for clinical affairs. In 2011, he was named interim dean of the College of Medicine after the Liaison Committee on Medical Education put the College of Medicine on probation. His calm leadership while steering the school back on track made a positive impression and he was named dean in 2013. Then President David R. Smith, MD, referred to Duggan as “a leader, who, as an

1980

TIMOTHY I. SHOEN, of Saratoga Springs, NY, died August 10. Dr. Shoen completed an internship at the University of Tennessee Medical Center of Knoxville. He completed his residency in emergency medicine through the University of Massachusetts residency program in 1985 and was board certified in emergency medicine. He worked in many hospital settings throughout his career and settled in Saratoga Springs, where he later was co-founder of the Saratoga Emergency Physicians (SEP) group. He was a part of SEP from 1989 through 2000. He served as chief medical officer at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, NY, from 1995 to 2014. After retirement, he stayed active in the medical community by focusing his

alumnus, understands the importance of upholding the rich tradition of a solid academic medical program that is leading the way in educating physicians for our communities.” He served in that role until 2016 and then returned to active clinical hematology/oncology practice. Duggan is remembered for always finding a way to connect with his patients and their families, through a shared hobby, mutual friend, or favorite corner of Upstate New York. As a leader, he appreciated excellence and understood strengths and vulnerabilities of people. He was kind, supported colleagues unconditionally, and could make hard decisions when needed. During his career, he published dozens of peer-reviewed manuscripts, most dealing with clinical care of patients with breast cancer and lymphomas. He served as president of the Onondaga County Medical Society and held leadership positions with the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the American College of Physicians (ACP). Duggan was elected a Master of the ACP, an honor bestowed upon only a small group of highly distinguished physicians each year, selected from among ACP fellows, and was promoted to the rank of SUNY Distinguished Service Professor, the highest rank the State University of New York can bestow on faculty. Duggan found his career treating cancer patients deeply gratifying. “Translating complicated disease to someone when their life is at stake is both challenging and rewarding,” he said in 2013. Sadly, he died from complications of leukemia and lymphoma. Duggan’s greatest joy was spending time with family. He was survived by his wife, Lynn; daughter Abigail; sons Joseph and Samuel; one grandson; one granddaughter on the way; and several other family members.

attention on patient safety and healthcare quality. He earned a master of science degree in healthcare quality and safety from Thomas Jefferson University. Shoen was survived by his daughters, Kara and Megan; and one granddaughter.

2015

MICHAEL C. STORONSKY, of Fairport, NY, died July 19. Dr. Storonsky completed his internship year at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse and completed a residency and fellowship in dermatology at University of Connecticut. During his final semester of residency, when many people were sequestered home during the COVID-19

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

pandemic, he was asked to assist an attending physician with life threatening skin cancer surgeries. During that time, he was exposed to patients with COVID, and as a result, was subsequently diagnosed with propriospinal myoclonus, a neurologic disorder that periodically affected his ability to sleep and caused seizures. Stornosky stayed at UConn for the next five years as an attending physician and assistant professor, health permitting, where he saw more than 10,000 patients and trained residents and medical students. He also was responsible for counseling medical students seeking to be accepted in dermatology residency programs. Storonsky was survived by his parents, Michael and Linda; sister Natasha; nephew Stephen; niece Natalie; and family.

51

IN MEMORIAM Residents

MICHAEL BRAMS, of Cardiff by the Sea, CA, died August 30. Dr. Brams graduated from University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He trained as a pediatrician at Upstate from 1973 to 1976 and was chief resident. He joined the Public Health Service Corps for two years in the Mojave Desert, which he followed with a nephrology fellowship at Scripps and then returned to the Mojave Desert to practice pediatrics for 42 years with fellow Upstate resident, Joe Maloney. He retired seven years ago to Cardiff, CA. Brams was survived by his wife, Janis; daughters Rebecca and Laura; and five grandchildren. WILLIAM ALBERT KERN, JR., of Smith Mountain Lake, VA, died January 20, 2023. Dr. Kern attended University of Rochester School of Medicine. In 1956, he began his post-graduate medical training in Minneapolis, MN, and then moved to Fairfax, VA, where he served as a captain in the U.S. Army and worked as a medical officer at Fort Myer. Next came Upstate Medical University, where he finished his residency in internal medicine. In 1962, he moved to Greece, NY, where he lived for 34 years. Kern established a busy solo internal medicine practice and worked out of his home office for 30 years as a talented and caring physician. He retired in 1992, and in 1995, started a new phase working as a locum tenens physician, working until age 84. Kern was survived by his children, Jenny, Emily and John; and nine grandchildren. LAWRENCE LITTELL, of Trenton, MI, died May 12. Dr. Littell was a proud U.S. Marine veteran. He was survived by his daughters, Jeanette and Loreen; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. HORACE MURDOCK, JR., of Houston, TX, died February 23, 2017. Dr. Murdock attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. He completed his general surgery internship in Chicago, IL, in 1973 and general surgery residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, TX, in 1977. In 1979, he completed his vascular fellowship in Mineola, NY

52

and his thoracic and cardiovascular surgery fellowship at Upstate Medical University in 1981. In 1982, he returned to Nashville and completed a cardiac surgery fellowship. He settled in Houston and established his practice at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was a lifelong student of surgery and loved being in the operating room, where he saved countless lives. Murdock was survived by his wife, Sylvia; sons David, Brian and Colin; and daughter Lauren. LEWIS MARK SLATER, of Howell, NJ, died August 21, 2022. Dr. Slater attended University of Vermont Medical School. He completed his internship at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Staten Island, followed by a residency in internal medicine at Upstate Medical University. He also completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Rochester College of Medicine and Dentistry. Slater was a former professor of medicine and pathology in the department of medicine at the UCI School of Medicine. He joined UCI in 1975 as a physician scientist and served as a practicing hematology/oncology sub-specialist and ran an active research laboratory. Slater was survived by his wife, Grace; children, and grandchildren. DANIEL A. TATPATI, of Wichita, KS, died September 25, 2023. Dr. Tatpati was a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon and was founder of Guadalupe Clinic. He was survived by his wife, Olga; daughters Krupa and Sheila; son Abraham; and nine grandchildren.

FACULTY

RICHARD R. GACEK, of Worcester, MA, died September 5. Dr. Gacek received his medical degree from SUNY Buffalo and completed an internship at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo. After his internship he completed a research fellowship at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD. During his fellowship, he served in the U.S. Navy. Following his research fellowship, he started residency at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, and completed

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI JOURNAL | WINTER 2025

his residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston. He published numerous articles and books and focused much of his time on understanding Meniere’s disease. His research provided a deep legacy to the medical community and his reputation as an engaging and wise lecturer made him a sought-after speaker across the world. He was a member of the International Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngolcium Amicitiae Sacrum and was past president of the Triological Society and the American Otological Society. Earlier in his career, Gacek was an associate surgeon at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston and an associate professor in otolaryn­ gology at Harvard Medical School. After Harvard, he became professor and chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at UMass Medical School, followed by professor and chairman at Upstate Medical University. He then was a professor of otolaryngology at the University of South Alabama, Mobile, followed by his last stop as a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He published his last book, Meniere’s Disease: Myth and Reality in 2020 at the age of 90. Gacek was survived by his wife, Elaine; children Mary, Mark, Richard and Catherine; and seven grandchildren. PHILIP HOLTZAPPLE, of Jamesville, NY, died September 29. Dr. Holtzapple was an emeritus professor of medicine at Upstate Medical University and dedicated himself to the work and people of the Department of Gastroenterology. He was a physician, teacher, and mentor touching the lives of many. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Holtzapple was survived by his wife, Della Mae; daughters Ali and Gretchen; and five grandchildren.

CAREER ADVISORY NETWORK J

OIN OUR ONLINE CAREER ADVISORY NETWORK and become a physician mentor to Norton College of Medicine students. The Network gives current medical students the opportunity to connect with alumni, resident alumni, and local physicians. Whether you are a new resident who would like to share advice on the transition after commencement, or an experienced and established physician interested in connecting and recruiting medical students, your advice is invaluable. Mentors will be included in our secure online Career Advisory Mentor Directory. Sign up or update your information online at medalumni.upstate. edu/career-mentor The CAREER ADVISORY NETWORKING DINNER EVENT brings this initiative to life. Medical students can speak about their interests with current mentors over a casual dinner. The next dinner is coming in Spring 2026!

UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI FOUNDATION SUNY Upstate Medical University Setnor Academic Building, Suite 1510 750 E. Adams St. Syracuse, New York 13210

Save the Date: Reunion Weekend 2026! UPSTATE MEDICAL ALUMNI FOUNDATION NORTON COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

151st Reunion Weekend SEPTEMBER 18 – 19, 2026

CLASSES OF 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016 Whether you graduated a decade or half-century ago, coming back together with your classmates for Reunion has special significance. Be sure to check out all of our Reunion pages for details on your upcoming Reunion! medalumni.upstate.edu/reunion

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

SYRACUSE NY PERMIT #994