the grapevine

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine FALL 2015 VOLUME 16, NUMBER 1 Change Change Change the world… One student at a time. When you fund a scholarship at NYU School of Medicine, you help our students learn how to care for patients and their families in ways that combine the finest traditions in medicine with the advances offered by modern technologies. You also support a school that attracts a truly gifted student body, one drawn by talented faculty, expanding facilities and superb patient-centered care. We’ve leapfrogged 13 places over the last five years in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of the nation’s Best Medical Schools, thanks to alumni like you. Join our community, and create your named scholarship today. To learn more about funding education, please contact Erica Campbell, director of Development, Education and Alumni Giving, at [email protected] or 212.404.3594. Sasha Nialla

nyulangone.org/give Alumni Weekend

Our alumni family celebrated NYU School of Medicine’s Alumni Weekend on Saturday, April 25. On a beautiful spring morning, the continuing medical education program presented advances in medicine and science by faculty and alumni, and awards were given to some of our most distinguished alumni.

he afternoon lunch was a time to relax and catch up with friends, while nostalgia tours led by current students brought back fond memories. The tours also gave alumni opportunities to see changes that have been made since their time as students. TThat evening, alumni and their guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner and hit the dance floor at the reunion ball, held at the Ritz- Carlton in Battery Park.

That morning featured fascinating Jill P. Buyon, MD, professor of medicine, presentations by eminent faculty. Jef D. director of the Division of Rheumatology, Boeke, PhD, professor of biochemistry and director of the Lupus Center at NYU and molecular pharmacology, opened Hospital for Joint Diseases, spoke about the morning with “Building “Getting Past the Heartbreak of Neonatal Chromosomes from Scratch.” Lupus: Perspectives from the Scientist, Dr. Boeke’s labs here and at Johns Clinician, and Patient.” She is an Hopkins, his previous affiliation, built the first completely internationally recognized rheumatologist and leading synthetic yeast chromosome in 2014, as reported in Nature translational physician investigator; her research focuses on and other publications. He came to our School, he’s bench to bedside studies in systemic lupus erythematosus, explained, to become director of our new Institute for Systems particularly on defining the mechanism by which Genetics, which leverages a systems approach to exploit the autoantibodies result in congenital heart block in the recent explosion of information about human biology and developing fetus and organ injury in adults with lupus. medicine. Dr. Boeke sees an unprecedented opportunity for Dr. Buyon is also an integral part of NYU Langone’s Colton breakthroughs in improving human health. Center for Autoimmunity, a year-old center that has capitalized on His distinguished career in molecular biology and our School’s particularly strong legacy in autoimmune disease. genetics research includes research on transposable elements She has published more than 200 papers, co-authored a book on (retrotransposons), yeast genomics, synthetic biology, and autoimmune diseases in women, and was editor of the compre- protein de-acetylation. He has published over 300 papers, hensive reference textbook Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. has been awarded nine patents, and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the National Academy of Science. The program continued with the annual awards ceremony. Jonathan E. Feig ’10, PhD ’09GSAS, received the Julia Jeffrey N. Weiser, MD, professor and Zelmanovich, MD ’97 Young Alumni recently appointed chair of our Award in recognition of his achievements Department of Microbiology (January in studies of transcription factors in the 2015), spoke about “Colonization: The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Key to Pneumococcal Pathogenesis and Dr. Feig received his BA in chemistry from Brooklyn Prevention.” An internationally College and completed a residency in internal medicine and recognized expert on the molecular basis a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Mount Sinai, where of infectious disease, Dr. Weiser hails from the University of he currently is a medical research scientist. His PhD thesis was Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, where he was completed under the tutelage of Edward A. Fisher ’75, PhD, professor of microbiology and pediatrics. the Leon H. Charney Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine. He is known for his extensive research on the underlying Dr. Feig revealed that altered electrical activation patterns, molecular mechanisms at work in the interactions between such as those that are seen with mechanical pacing of the host and pathogen, particularly those that affect the respiratory heart, change the expression of ion channel proteins that are tract. Dr. Weiser holds four patents and has published more responsible for electrically linking heart cells. Alterations in than 150 scientific papers. He is a fellow of the Infectious Disease these channel proteins, in turn, sensitize the heart cells to Society of America and the American Academy of Microbiology. further electrophysiologic changes. These findings help to explain the often deleterious interplay between heart failure

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 3 and altered electrical activation of the ventricles. Dr. Feig’s research ability is combined with a wonderful sense for the clinical relevance and practical implications of his research. is published by the He has received early recognition in a promising career: Office of Alumni Relations election to Phi Beta Kappa and designation as a Jonas Salk Scholar for Academic Achievement in Biomedical Research. New York University Martin Lipton, Esq. ’55LAW (Hon. ’00), Trudy Elbaum Gottesman was named Chairman, Board of Trustees as an honorary alumna of NYU School John Sexton, PhD, JD (Hon. ‘03), President of Medicine Class of 2015. Twenty-five David W. McLaughlin, PhD, Provost years ago, Mrs. Gottesman, a trustee of Robert Berne, PhD (Hon. ‘07), NYU Langone Medical Center, became Executive Vice President for Health a volunteer art therapist in the inpatient pediatrics unit of Tisch Hospital. She Debra A. LaMorte, Senior Vice President soon joined KiDS of NYU Langone as one of its earliest for Development and Alumni Relations members. Founded in 1991, KiDS of NYU Langone is an organization of parents, physicians, and friends who support NYU Langone Medical Center children’s services at NYU Langone Medical Center through Kenneth G. Langone, Chairman, Board of Trustees philanthropy, community service, and advocacy. Mrs. Robert I. Grossman, MD (Hon. ‘08), Gottesman now serves as KiDS’s vice chair. The Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO She and her husband, Robert Gottesman, have been exceptionally generous to NYU Langone’s pediatric Grace Ko, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Affairs programs and helped build our new KiDS Emergency Department. In 2013 they made a commitment to create the Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care at The Grapevine is published by NYU Langone. “Trudy gave the institute the name that was the Office of Alumni Relations. her mother’s, Sala, because it represents extraordinary Anthony J. Grieco ’63, BS ’60ARTS, resilience as well as the kindness and comfort her mother, a Associate Dean Holocaust survivor, gave her children,” said Dean Grossman. Thomas P. Hui ‘79, President 2015-2016 “It is the Sala Institute’s mission to provide those same Patricia Finerty, Senior Editor qualities to the children and families we serve by listening to those families and responding to them as full partners Nancy O. Rieger, Contributing Writer and Editor in the children’s care. The Sala Institute’s programs have Brad W. McLeland, Director of Alumni and enormous depth and reach and they are found across the Academic Events Medical Center where children are treated. These programs Erica J. Campbell, Director of Development, integrate parents into the care of their children whether it Education, and Alumni Giving is a bedside procedure like a spinal tap or a pre-operative family tour of the post-surgical unit the child will stay in. Send all correspondence and inquiries to: They give every pediatric patient a safe haven,” concluded NYU School of Medicine Dean Grossman. Office of Alumni Relations One Park Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016 Andrew S. Greenberg ’81 was honored Phone: (212) 263-5390 with the Solomon A. Berson Medical Fax: (212) 263-6690 E-mail: [email protected] Alumni Achievement Award in Basic Science. Dr. Greenberg is a co-discoverer Website: www.med.nyu.edu/alumni of the adipocyte protein, perilipin, and continues to be a leader in elucidating Cover photo: Susan F. Travis-Grossman ’65. the potential role of lipid droplet proteins in regulating cellular and systemic metabolism. He gave a presentation entitled, “From the Surface of the Intracellular Lipid Droplets to Disease States,” during the afternoon.

4 | FALL 2015 Dr. Greenberg received his BA in biology, cum laude, to the NIDDK of the NIH. He is a sought-after lecturer from Amherst College; completed residency in internal internationally. In addition to his research and clinical medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; activities, Dr. Pollak teaches medical students, residents, and and followed it with a fellowship at the diabetes branch of fellows. His scientific bibliography is extensive, and he was the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He became an expert in the section on membrane regulation at the NIH and then moved to Tufts, serving as William A. Frosch ’57 received the senior scientist and director of the laboratory of obesity Solomon A. Berson Medical Alumni and metabolism and as the Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Achievement Award in Health Science Professor of Metabolism and Nutrition. and spoke about “An Accidental Life” Dr. Greenberg’s laboratory studies the interaction (see page 6 for story). He is a psychiatrist between lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, obesity, and who is known for his expertise on topics inflammation in modulating tissue-specific and systemic ranging from psychopharmacology and metabolism with an emphasis on cell and animal models. drug abuse to obsessive-compulsive disorders and He has significant expertise in animal models of obesity and depression. Dr. Frosch has also served in leadership positions lipid and glucose metabolism. His scholarly achievements on national committees and task forces. and honors are extensive and include, for example, the He received his AB from Columbia College and completed Henry Christian Award for Excellence in Research from the a medical internship and psychiatry residency at Bellevue American Federation for Clinical Research. Hospital. Dr. Frosch moved on to psychoanalytic training at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute before joining the faculty at NYU School of Medicine, becoming professor of Martin R. Pollak ’88, an expert on psychiatry, an assistant dean, and director of psychiatry the genetic bases of kidney disease, graduate education. He moved to Cornell University Medical was honored with the Solomon A. College in 1975 as professor and vice chair of psychiatry. Berson Medical Alumni Achievement Dr. Frosch became medical director of the Payne Whitney Award in Clinical and Translational Clinic at Cornell as well as visiting professor at King’s College Science and accepted it at the London. In 2002, he received the designation of professor previous evening’s Medical Alumni emeritus at Cornell, and in 2009, he became a DeWitt Wallace Achievement Awards Dinner. Senior Scholar. The broad focus of Dr. Pollak’s research is to understand One of the early highlights of Dr. Frosch’s career was the genetic basis of kidney disease, specifically, to identify a study, completed with two other physicians, of the and understand genes involved in the development of adverse effects of LSD: “Untoward Reactions to Lysergic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Dr. Pollak has Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Resulting in Hospitalization” identified ACTN4, encodinga -actinin-4, as the cause of was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on disease in certain families. He has also identified a new December 2, 1965. The hallucinogenic drug was a symbol of FSGS gene, the formin family member INF2, where mutations the counterculture, and little was understood about it. cause a slowly progressive form of FSGS. Recently, he focused Dr. Frosch also has a special interest in the relationship increased attention on understanding the high rate of FSGS and of psychiatric illness to creativity. He has studied the life and hypertension-associated kidney disease in African Americans. music of Baroque composer George Frideric Handel and Dr. Pollak showed that two common coding sequence has written many published articles about the composer variants in the APOL1 gene confer both resistance to concerning the relationship between Handel’s personality trypanosoma infection (an African sleeping sickness agent) and his music. Dr. Frosch’s primary research has been and a 7- to 10-fold increased susceptibility to these forms of “creativity and manic-depressive disease,” in which he kidney disease. notes suggestive evidence of a relationship between manic- Dr. Pollak received his AB from Princeton, completed depressive disease and creativity in plastic arts, painting, residency in internal medicine at Columbia-Presbyterian sculpture, and music. Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital as well as a research fellowship and genetics postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard. Robert I. Grossman, MD (Hon. ’08), the Saul J. Farber Dean He is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and and CEO, concluded the morning program by updating chief of nephrology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical alumni on their alma mater. Photos from the day can be Center. Dr. Pollak is active on the national scene in leadership found on pages 15–16. Hope you will be able to join us at next roles in the American Society of Nephrology and as advisor year’s reunion on Saturday, April 16, 2016.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 5 An Accidental Life

William A. Frosch ’57, recipient of this year’s Solomon A. Berson Medical Alumni Achievement Award in Health Science and professor emeritus of psychiatry and DeWitt Wallace Senior Scholar at Weill Cornell Medical College, gave a presentation on Alumni Day. We present some edited excerpts below.

An old friend once accused me of geneticist Bernard Davis, who became suffering from an excess of contentment. chair of the Department of Pharmacology, I like to think that this is a result of the in time for our second year. happy chances and circumstances of Room was made in the third- my life rather than a character defect. year curriculum for elective time, and Certainly I started out lucky: I had student research was encouraged. I had good parents; they were hardworking, already tentatively decided on a career demanding that I do my best, but attentive, as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. supportive, and loving. Nonetheless, I felt that a hard science/wet I was also fortunate to grow up when lab research experience would be helpful. the New York City public schools were at I approached Dr. Davis, whose teaching their best. I attended PS 28, JHS 117, and had inspired me. He explained that he had DeWitt Clinton High School. I went on to already taken on too many students and study at Columbia College. sent me to Dr. Werner Maas. When I arrived at NYU Medical Dr. Maas opened a desk drawer School, we thought it was the beginning of and took out a folder labeled “possible its golden age. A new building would open medical student projects.” Among them in time for our second year. Building on was a project focused on unraveling the the excellence of researchers like Homer mechanism of a model of drug resistance: W. Smith and Severo Ochoa, the college Professors Davis and Maas had earlier recruited Lewis Thomas, who became isolated an e-coli mutant that was resistant chair of the Department of Pathology, and to the usual growth inhibition of wild

6 | FALL 2015 e-coli in a growth medium containing I began by working on a variety of When I left NYU at the end of d-serine. It remained to be discovered how projects: autonomic habituation to the 1974 to join Cornell as one of two vice- the mutant managed to do this. startle response, evaluation of patients’ chairmen in psychiatry, I had been here I spent weeks planting wild e-coli affect, prediction of response to particular over 21 years. At Cornell, I no longer had in a medium containing d-serine and, antipsychotics, and a comparison of time for formal research, but I continued by the end of my elective, had succeeded different ways of evaluating change of to publish clinical papers and reviews and in isolating a resistant mutant. Armed patient status as a result of treatment. encouraged other colleagues to publish as with this result, I was able to obtain I also worked closely with well. We restructured the Payne Whitney funding to continue the research during psychiatrists Dr. Edwin Robbins and Dr. Clinic, the hospital’s Westchester division, the summer. . . the mutant contained Marvin Stern, a founding member of the and both residencies. significantly less d-serine than the wild Bellevue Psychiatric Society, and our paper Shortly after arriving at Cornell, type, and it prevented the entrance of the appeared in The New England Journal I was asked to present at an American inhibitor into the cell. I presented our of Medicine (NEJM) in December 1965, Psychiatric Symposium on creativity and findings at a local meeting of the Society “Untoward Reactions to LSD Resulting mental illness: I was to focus on musical of Microbiologists. Professor Davis in Hospitalization.” We described three creativity. I continued to work on this presented them at a CIBA symposium on observed syndromes: the spontaneous question and became an expert on George drug resistance. reoccurrence of hallucinations, anxiety Frideric Handel’s moods, illnesses, and After an internship on the floors of attacks precipitated by ingesting LSD, and medical care. My conclusions were that the old Bellevue, I began my psychiatric precipitated psychotic reactions. there was no contemporaneous evidence of residency there. Dr. S. Bernard Wortis The NEJM wrote an editorial about his having suffered from manic-depressive was chairman of the Departments of our findings, and an article appeared in The disease (despite two papers that said that Psychiatry and Neurology. During my New York Times. Based on seven cases, we he had); that he was “normally neurotic”; second year, he asked me to find the cases were the world’s experts. I unexpectedly and that his palsy was most probably to illustrate his introductory lectures to found myself an expert in a field that had either a musician’s “overuse syndrome” or medical students. It required hours of not previously interested me. However I lead-induced gout or neuropathy. screening and then preparing brief clinical continued to work and publish in the field I’ve presented my findings to the summaries for him to have before he met as we acquired additional cases and studied Handel Gesellschaft (Society) in the the patients and decided which one to use drug use in schoolchildren. I began to house in which Handel was born and have for that week’s topic. travel to make lectures and presentations. written articles for The Musical Quarterly, Several times during the course he I acquired a National Institute of Mental the Handel-Jahrbuch, and the Gottinger had to be out of town, and he asked me Health grant. I collaborated with others Handel-Beitrage, as well as in the NEJM, to lecture instead. I apparently did this on a series of papers on LSD and The Journal of the American Medical to his satisfaction because he named me chromosomal damage. Association, The Journal of the Federation chief resident for my last year of training. Later, Dr. Arthur Zitrin, then director of American Societies for Experimental Soon after, Dr. Wortis was named dean of of the Bellevue Psychiatric Division, Biology, and the Journal of the Royal the Medical School, and he asked me to asked me to join him as assistant director. Society of Medicine. become his assistant dean. I told him that I I planned the sexual integration of the It was a colleague who made me thought that I should finish my psychiatric units; introduced rotational admission aware that an underlying theme of much training first. He concurred, and then we to the units, which helped dramatically of my published work was the complex agreed that I would do special projects for shorten length of stay; started a interplay of changing social forces and him during the year before moving into methadone maintenance program; and, the expression of psychopathology. the dean’s office. in collaboration with the Department of In retrospect, it seems that this is the Dr. Wortis had appointed the Medicine, started a geriatric program approach, the traditions, that I had absorbed physiologists John Cook and Saul Farber, focused on the immediate community. over the years here at NYU-Bellevue. who later became our School’s legendary Professor Alex Thomas was the next I’ve presented my story as though it dean, as assistants to the dean during my division director, and we wrote a new was only a series of accidents and lucky year in special projects. It was daunting to program for state approval of the planned chances. However, as a psychoanalyst, replace them. psychiatric beds in the new Bellevue. I know that this view of my life is my After several years, Saul Farber When the residency director left, I assumed personal myth, and that chance took on the dean position, and Dr. Wortis that role as well. I redesigned the program, and accident are only part returned to the Department of Psychiatry. wrote and printed its first brochure, and of my story. As Pasteur I followed Dr. Wortis back to the incorporated a paper, research or clinical, said: “… chance favors department as well. as a requirement of graduation. only the prepared mind.”

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 7 Congratulations to the Class of 2015!

Brent Austin Dibble ‘15, MBA ‘15STERN. Photo courtesy of NYU Bureau: Gallo

May 20 was an auspicious day for the members of the Class of 2015. That morning Brent Austin Dibble ’15, MBA ’15STERN not only graduated as one of NYU’s first dual MD/MBA degree candidates, but served as both the banner bearer for our medical school and student commencement speaker for the NYU All-University Commencement at Yankee Stadium. Dr. Dibble is the first medical student to deliver the university- Trustees and a Medical Center trustee; Robert I. Grossman, wide Commencement speech in 15 years. As he stood at the MD (Hon. ’08), the Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO; and Medical podium, Dr. Dibble shared how he and his classmates helped Center Trustee Jan T. Vilcek, MD, PhD (Hon. ’06), professor evacuate patients during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and of microbiology. provided continued assistance during the storm’s aftermath. Dr. Grieco welcomed the Class of 2015 into the ranks of He recalled that the students “saw past the difficulty, past the alumni and said, “You came to NYU School of Medicine molded danger of this crisis to recognize the opportunity that they had by your parents, family, friends, and experiences. Here, you to help save the institution that they cared for so deeply, and the underwent a magical transformation along the path to becoming patients who were counting on them to come to the rescue.” physicians. You follow the lead of illustrious alumni who have He urged his fellow graduates to take inspiration from advanced the art and science of medicine, medical education, those who have overcome challenging circumstances to and health care. Now it is your turn to improve the world.” “forge lives of opportunity out of struggle, and then dedicated • • • themselves to making life better for others.” While at NYU Langone Medical Center (NYULMC), Dr. Dr. Zalkin, who was chosen by her classmates to give the Dibble served as student council president, received the Saul valediction, recalled their White Coat Ceremony and first M. Minkoff Memorial Award for medical economics, and was a meeting her “future best friends.” two-time winner of the NYU President’s Service Award. He will She shared that she “knew that this class was intelligent and be staying at NYULMC for his emergency medicine residency driven, but on the night of Hurricane Sandy, I learned that they and was invited to join the Alumni Board of Governors. were compassionate and heroic as well. . . . There really are no words to explain the pride and respect that I felt for our class at • • • that time, and that I continue to feel to this day.” At that evening’s 173rd medical school graduation Dr. Zalkin concluded by requesting that her classmates ceremony held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, our students “remember why you wanted to become a doctor. We all chose celebrated their achievement with family and friends. They this path for a reason, and although there will undoubtedly were inspired by the speeches made by their class president be many tough times ahead, keep in mind why you chose this Dana Lee Zalkin ’15; Anthony J. Grieco ’63, BS ’60ARTS, incredible profession and the good that you can bring to this associate dean of alumni relations and academic events; world as part of it.” Martin Lipton, Esq. ’55LAW (Hon. ’00), chair of NYU Board of

8 | FALL 2015 • • • Dr. Grossman shared the most important things life has taught him and whittled them down to five categories. “The first lesson is: Aim high, have ‘big eyes,’ and don’t settle. Work as hard as you can, no ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda,’ no excuses. One of my tricks is to always tackle the most difficult things first.” Lesson number two: “Believe in yourself. It’s incredibly important not to be afraid and to have confidence in your abilities. . . . So give whatever it is your best shot. If you make a mistake, learn from it, try not to repeat it, and move on – no hand-wringing and no tears.” His third lesson is “Get over yourself. Humility is one of the Robert I. Grossman, MD (Hon. ‘08), Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO. most important attributes there is, . . . [it] is an endless source of strength, because it keeps you open to new ideas and gives you the benefit of other people’s wisdom.” Dean Grossman’s fourth lesson: “It’s really, really important to be kind to everyone, . . . you need to put yourself in other people’s shoes, so you understand why something might bother them when it doesn’t bother you or why something that might seem insignificant to you matters

Photo courtesy of NYU Bureau: Gallo tremendously to them, . . . be willing to share. I shared great cases, data, and presentations and all of those interactions enriched my career.” Dr. Grossman’s final lesson was “Don’t let the well run dry.” He advised, “You have to be sure, on a regular basis, to replenish your physical, intellectual, and spiritual resources. To keep your enthusiasm alive, figure out little things that make you happy.” He concluded by advising, “when the opportunity presents itself, take the moonshots!” • • • Dr. Vilcek, the keynote speaker, shared how he and his Anthony J. Grieco ‘63, BS ‘60ARTS, associate dean for alumni wife, art historian Marica Vilcek, emigrated to the United relations and academic events; and Dana Lee Zalkin ‘15, States in 1964 from Communist-ruled Czechoslovakia with few president of the Class of 2015. belongings. Dr. Vilcek began his career here shortly after his arrival and is still grateful for the opportunity. Dr. Vilcek and a colleague, Dr. Junning Lee, made a key discovery that led to the development of the anti-inflammatory drug Remicade. Dr. and Mrs. Vilcek subsequently and very generously donated over $146 million to NYU Langone Medical Center with over $24.7 million of it going to our medical school for merit scholarships and the renovation of the student dormitory, renamed in their honor, Jan T. and Marica F. Vilcek Residence Hall. In 2013 President Barack Obama honored Dr. Vilcek with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Dr. Vilcek received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from NYU at the 2015 All-University Commencement at Yankee Stadium. That evening Dr. Vilcek advised our graduates, “Do not be afraid to make unconventional career decisions. When you face a decision and you are not sure which way to go, follow your heart! Choose a career you love; choose a career you are suited for both intellectually and emotionally. Opportunities will follow.” Robert I. Grossman, MD (Hon. ‘08), Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO; Jan T. Vilcek, MD, PhD (Hon. ‘06), professor of After our new doctors received their diplomas and took the microbiology; and Martin Lipton, Esq., Law ‘55 (Hon. ‘00), Hippocratic Oath, they celebrated at a reception in Alice Tully Chair of NYU Board of Trustees. Hall with their guests. Congratulations and best wishes to all!

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 9 FLORIDA ALUMNI BRUNCH HONORING BERNARD SEIDENBERG ’47, BA ’44WSC FEBRUARY 8, 2015 BOCA BEACH CLUB, BOCA RATON, FLORIDA Photographer: Lou Santa Barbara

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1. Brunch honoree Bernard Seidenberg 5. Adrienne Baron Rosof, BS ’56Commerce; 8. Jane M. Neiman and her husband, ’47, BA ’44WSC, and his wife, Judith her husband, Bernard M. Rosof ’57; Josef H. Neiman ’51. Seidenberg. Robert S. Nagler ’84; his wife, Linda 9. Eugene L. Pollack ’55 and his wife, Nagler; and Howard A. Adler ’88. 2. Beverly Albert and S. Martin Harwin ’61. Stephanie Pollack. 6. Heather Clifford, Douglas H. Barlow ’89, 3. Howard E. Voss ’61 and Joseph S. Gage 10. Morris L. Jampol ’43D and Janet and Joseph T. Doyle ’89. ’82, ’78CAS. Landzberg. 7. Sidney Perlman ’56 and his wife, Adele 4. Roberta Gould, PhD; Diane Jaffin; her Maiman Perlman ’58, ’54WSC. husband, Herbert Jaffin ’57; and Manfred Blum ’57.

10 | FALL 2015 Herbert B. Radack ’54, ’51ARTS shared this photo from his Class of 10th Alumni Reunion Dinner on May 9, 1964, at the Plaza Hotel 1954 in New York City. Looks like a fun evening!

Florida Alumni Leadership Awardee Bernard Seidenberg ’47, BA ’44WSC

Dr. Bernard Seidenberg was recently recog- and led to Dr. Seidenberg’s nomination for Nobel Prize nized with the Florida Alumni Leadership consideration. Since then he has published nearly 50 Award for outstanding achievements in peer-reviewed scientific articles. transplant surgery and teaching. Dr. Seidenberg’s early career included a teaching This fine thoracic surgeon was the fellowship in head and neck cancer at NYU, followed first to perform successful autogenous by a surgery residency with specializing training in tissue transplantation, a procedure that thoracic surgery at Montefiore Hospital. He became was detailed, in 1959, in the Annals of surgery chief at Montefiore and an associate professor Surgery. The article, “Immediate Reconstruction at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Seidenberg of the Cervical Esophagus,” detailed Dr. Seidenberg’s moved to Miami in 1971 becoming an associate innovation. He treated cancer of the upper esophagus professor of surgery at University of Miami. He became by taking a segment of the small intestine, the jejunum, a beloved professor, receiving numerous “Teacher of isolating it and then transplanting it to the cervical the Year” awards. esophagus. Dr. Seidenberg then revascularized the area Dr. Seidenberg is also a member of NYU Langone with remarkably prescient microsurgical techniques. Medical Center’s John Revere Society, which recognizes His pioneering work predicted these techniques’ individuals who have generously included planned gifts utility in the advancement of transplantation surgery to our School in their estate plans.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 11 DELTA CHAPTER OF NEW YORK 93RD ANNUAL ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA INSTALLATION DINNER TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2015 THE WATER CLUB Photographer: Jay Brady

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1. Class of 2015 Student Members. Standing: Barbaro. Not present: Julia Ann Roberts 7. Steven L. Galetta, MD, chair of Neurology, Max D. Schlesinger; Stephen William and Frederick Deechen Tsai, PhD ’14GSAS, and Irene Shapiro ’43D, BA ’41WSC. Lewellis, PhD ’13GSAS, MS ’11GSAS; MS ’11GSAS. 8. Lisa Kasher; her husband, Jeffrey Kaitlyn Dugan; Nazir Savji; Lauren Grae 2. Arthur A. Winer ’13; Eugene R. Gillman Kasher; and her daughter, Lauren Grae Santiesteban; Scott Allan Roof; Morgan ’76, BA ’72ARTS; his daughter, Jennifer Santiesteban ’15. Alexa Finkel; Stephen Thomas Armenti, A. Gillman ’15, MS ’15MED; and his wife, PhD ’13GSAS; Alexandra Elpiniki Livanos, 9. Nazir Savji ’15; his guest, Afia Genfi; his Ilana D. Lustig, MD. PhD ’14GSAS; Rebecca Blair Boas, MBA mother, Azmina Savji; and his brother, ’15STERN; Yan Jiang; Amanda Claire 3. Caleb Joseph Doyle-Burr ’15 and his Raheem Savji. grandmother, Eugenie F. Doyle, MD. Hambrecht; Timothy Yen; Jennifer 10. Alumni Member Steven R. Goldstein A. Gillman, MS ’15MED; Melissa Ann 4. Anand Mahajan, MD; his daughter, Asha ’75; Councilor Linda R. Tewksbury LoPresti; and John Paul Haskoor. Seated: Marie Mahajan ’15; and his wife, Suzanne ’90; Outstanding Teacher Michael C. Jordan Chase Wengrod, PhD ’13GSAS, Mahajan. Brabeck, MD, FACP; Faculty Member MS ’12GSAS; Asha Marie Mahajan; Caleb Jane P. Ko, MD; Secretary-Treasurer Lynn 5. Victoria Hsi and Timothy Yen ’15. Joseph Doyle-Burr; Susanna Katherine M. Buckvar-Keltz ’91; Alumni Member Jeurling; Jared P. Beller; Lauren Elizabeth 6. George Dugan; his wife, Susan Dugan; Sondra R. Zabar ’91; and Saul J. Farber Brown; Matthew Aaron Haber; Joanna his daughter, AOA President Kaitlyn Dean and CEO Robert I. Grossman, MD C. Miller; Nadia Jafar; and Marissa Ann Dugan ’15; and Alexander Ibrahim. (Hon. ’08).

12 | FALL 2015 1.

MATCH DAY FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 RIVERPARK, NEW YORK CITY Photographer: Jay Brady

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1. Bridget Rita Mueller ’15 and her 4. Susanna Katherine Jeurling ’15 and 7. Aaron Brandt ’15, Kelsey Goodbary, and 23-month-old son, Gavin. family. Scott Neuhalfen.

2. Spencer Allen Deese-Laurent ’15, Carolyn 5. Kevin O’Connor, Chana L. Rich ’15, and 8. Chinonyerem Uzoamaka Okoro ‘15, Rachel Kanter ’15, Anna Megane Kim ’15, Alyssa D. Rios ’15. Uzoma Anele, Brent Gilbert, and Lauren Alyson Gorun ’15, Anita K. Mudan ’15, Elizabeth Brown ‘15. 6. Nnenna Ijeoma Nwogu ’15 and Natasha and Alexandra Plichta ’15. D. Ramsey ’16. 9. Darien M. Sutton-Ramsey ’15, MBA 3. Amanda Claire Hambrecht ’15 and Lauren ’15STERN, and Monique Foster, PhD Grae Santiesteban ’15. ’15GSAS.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 13 MEDICAL ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS DINNER APRIL 24, 2015 THE WATER CLUB Photographer: Jay Brady

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1.  Sarah Gottesman; her mother, Trudy 4. Elizabeth Sharpless, PhD, and her 7. Evan Stein ’04, PhD ’03GSAS, MS Elbaum Gottesman, Honorary Alumna in husband, Bruce I. Bogart, PhD ’66GSAS, ’00GSAS, and his wife, Jennifer A. Stein the Class of 2015; and her father, Robert Hon. ’02. ’04, PhD ’02GSAS, MS ’00GSAS. W. Gottesman. 5. Martin J. Blaser ’73; Kurt Hirschhorn 8. Jedd D. Wolchok ’94, PhD ’93GSAS, MS 2. Benjamin Tycko ’84; his wife, Carol Tycko; ’54, MS ’58MED, ’50WSC; and his wife, ’91GSAS, and his wife, Karen E. Popkin, and Martin R. Pollak ’88, the Solomon Rochelle Hirschhorn ’57. MA ’97STEINHARDT. A. Berson Medical Alumni Achievement 6. Rita Feig; her son, Jonathan E. Feig ’10, 9. Jill Fisher and her husband, Edward A. Awardee in Clinical and Translational PhD ’09GSAS, the Julia Zelmanovich, Fisher ’75, PhD. Science. MD ’97 Young Alumni Awardee; Dana 10. Renata Maas, Arthur Zitrin ’45, and 3. Tracy L. Breen ’97 and her husband, Zelmanovich; and her husband, Avishay Werner K. Maas, PhD. Jason D’Amore, MD. Zelmanovich.

14 | FALL 2015 ALUMNI DAY APRIL 25, 2015 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Photographer: Jay Brady

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1. Seated: Fatima Abdallah, Lillian Weiss, 4. Seated: Andrew A. Burger ’70, Paul G. 8. Seated: Myra Horwitz Kaufman BS her husband, Alvah M. Weiss ’41, and Deutsch ’70, Paul M. Ehrlich ’70, and ’56STERN; her husband, George A. Joseph H. Press ’41, ’37WSC. Howard M. Miller ’70. Standing: Margo Kaufman ’56; Geraldine Reichel; her Standing: Rita L. Orkin, Lisa Carol Spring, Mazur Schleman ’70, BA ’66WSC, and husband, Joseph Reichel ’56, BA ’52ARTS; Doris Lee Spring, and Patricia A. Press. Stephen A. Falk ’70. Frederick F. Becker ’56; and Michael A. Rosenbluth ’56. Standing: Harvey 2. Seated: Prem C. Chatpar ’80, ’76CAS; 5. Seated: Ronald Chapnick ’55, BA B. Bezahler ’56, ’52ARTS; Herbert J. Patricia E. Rok; and her husband, Walter ’51ARTS; Sandra K. DeGraff; her Steinberg ’56; Martin R. Liebowitz ’56; Mary J. Rok ’80. Standing: James A. Roth ’80; husband, Arthur C. DeGraff, Jr. ’55; Ira Steinberg; Rosalyn Rosenbluth; and her Francie L. Goldstein ’80; Mitchell I. Conn J. Laufer ’53, BA ’48WSC; and Abraham husband, Jack Rosenbluth ’56. ’80; Jeffrey H. Graf ’80, ’76CAS; and Bernstein ’53, ’48ARTS. Standing: Sonia Ronald W. Kristan ’80, BA ’76CAS. Chapnick, Charlotte Rappaport Colp 9. Seated: Herbert A. Goldfarb ’60, Charles ’55, Norman M. Canter ’55, Kenlynn H. Debrovner ’60, H. Paul Gabriel ’60, and 3. Seated: Abraham Sokol, MD; Bruce M. Schroeder, and Estelle Bernstein. Robert G. Lerner ’60, ’56ARTS. Standing: Hyman ’68; Cheryl S. Kaufmann ’72; Carol Edelstein Weichert ’61, Joseph and Norbert Roberts, Jr. ’71. Standing: 6. Pamela Solomon; her husband, Ira D. Feldschuh ’61, Sander H. Mendelson ’60, Robyn H. Deutsch-Sokol ’74; Tina Hyman; Solomon ’95; and Stephen L. Fischer ’99. Adina Mendelson, Marlys H. Witte ’60, and Howard Z. Streicher ’71; his son, Nicholas 7. Susan Schwartz Gottesman ’85, Philip Ernest D. Abeles ’60. S. Streicher ’15; and Robert A. Press ’71, J. Marion ’85, MS ’89WAG; and Julia F. PhD ’73GSAS. 10. The Class of 1965. Chang-Lin ’85.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 15

ALUMNI REUNION BALL APRIL 25, 2015 THE RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, BATTERY PARK, NEW YORK CITY Photographer: Jay Brady

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1. Seated: Helen Lerner; her husband, 4. Jennifer Lublin ’95; Michael Ross ’95; Standing: Donato Perretta ’10; Sherry Robert G. Lerner ’60, ’56ARTS; Marlys Rajiv V. Kinkhabwala ’95 and his wife, Patone; Jonathan E. Feig ’10, PhD H. Witte ’60; and Fran Abeles. Standing: Priti Kinkhabwala. ’09GSAS; Martin Kopec ’10, BA ’05CAS; Stanley S. Marcus ’60; Ruth B. Marcus; Meghan McShea; and Vincent Ruiz ’10. 5. Seated: Luis C. Zapata ’10, BA ’06CAS; Charles H. Debrovner ’60; his wife, Patricia Rose O’Rourke Tompkins ’10; her husband, 7. Bonnie M. Wolf Greenwald ’97 and her Debrovner; Herbert A. Goldfarb ’60; his Jonathan Tompkins; Mansi R. Shah ’10, BA husband, Joshua A. Greenwald ’95. wife, Beverly Goldfarb; Barbara Feldschuh; ’06CAS; and Nimit Saraiya, MD. Standing: her husband, Joseph Feldschuh ’61; Adina 8. Robert M. Flitman ’65; his wife, Sheila Tracy B. Sabbah, BA ’06CAS; Rita Feig; her Mendelson; Sander H. Mendelson ’60; and C. Flitman ’65; Myra E. Zelson; and her son, Jonathan E. Feig ’10, PhD ’09GSAS; Ernest D. Abeles ’60. husband, Joseph H. Zelson ’65. and her daughter, Jessica L. Feig ’15, PhD 2. Charles Butler ’10 and Megan Caron. ’14GSAS, MS ’12GSAS. 9. Paulette Mondschein and Kenneth Garrett ’75. 3. Cora Roth and her husband, Sheldon 6. Seated: Charles Butler ’10; Megan Caron; Roth ’65. Daniel Bassiri-Tehrani ’10; Christian J. 10. The Class of 1975. Zaino ’10, BA ’06CAS; Joanna Genco; and Erin F. Fitzgerald ’10.

16 | FALL 2015 STUDENTS AND PARENTS RECEPTION AND TOUR OF THE NEW YORK SIMULATION CENTER FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES (NYSIM) MAY 5, 2015 NYSIM CENTER, BELLEVUE HOSPITAL CENTER, NEW YORK CITY Photographer: Alan Barnett

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1. Nora Pascual; her husband, Wency 4. Justin B. Feit ’18; his mother, Ellen S. Feit 7. Lynn M. Buckvar-Keltz ’91, associate Pascual; and her niece, Vilma Charubhumi. ’91; and his father, Andrew Feit, MD. dean for student affairs; Rajkishen Narayanan ’18, MS ’14GSAS, BA ’11CAS; 2. Frank Fallon; his daughter, Julia M. Fallon 5. Stuart A. Feintuch, DDS; his son, Joshua Justin T. Worthing ’18; Lauren J. Seo ’18; ’18; his wife, Ann Fallon; and Samantha G. Feintuch ’18, BA ’13CAS; his son, Jeremy Narayanan K. Narayanan, PhD; and his Maliha ’18. Feintuch ’18, BA ’13CAS; and his wife, Fran wife, Bhagavathi A. Narayanan, PhD. Z. Feintuch, PhD. 3. Rena S. Brand ’83, president of the 8. Anthony H. Zou ’18; his father, Shengping Parents Association; Anthony J. Grieco 6. Dana Croll and her husband, James Croll. Zou, MD; and Grace M. Ng, associate ’63, BS ’60ARTS, associate dean for alumni nursing director of NYSIM. relations and academic events; Elizabeth H. Greenwald ’18; and her father, Bruce M. Greenwald ’82.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 17

DINNER DANCE IN HONOR OF THE CLASS OF 2015 TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015 GOTHAM HALL, NEW YORK CITY Photographer: Jay Brady

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1. Laura Elaina Benton ’15, Collin 3. Julia A. Meyer, PhD ’14GSAS, MS 6. Sonya Shelli Dasharathy ‘15, Brooks R. McConnell, Pritha Subramanyam ’15, and ’11GSAS, and Stephen William Lewellis Crowe ‘16, and Kinneri Mehta ‘15. Marissa Ann Barbaro ’15. ’15, PhD ’13GSAS, MS ’11GSAS. 7. Alexander Ibrahim; his fiancée, Kaitlyn 2. Stephen William Lewellis ’15, PhD 4. Bryan Rosen, Liana Angela Senaldi ’15, Dugan ’15; Karen Chiu ’15; and Edith ’13GSAS, MS ’11GSAS; Julia A. Meyer, Aaron Burakoff; Julie Dana Flom ’15, Bracho-Sanchez ’16. PhD ’14GSAS, MS ’11GSAS; Andrew Bridget Rita Mueller ’15, Jeremy Adler, 8. Julia Ann Roberts ’15 and her fiancé, Boyd; Arlene Kohler; Stephen Arthur and Rebecca May Lazarus ’15. Prateesh Maheshwari. Rawlings ’15, PhD ’13GSAS, MS ’11GSAS; 5. Ksenia Gnedeva, Ashley Lau, Neelesh Emily Chan ’15, PhD ’13GSAS; Kenneth Rastogi ’15, Avital Ludomirsky ’16, Nazir L. Ho, PhD ’12GSAS; Roselle M. Vittorino Savji ’15, Karen Chiu ’15, and Afia Genfi. ’13; and Stephen Thomas Armenti ’15, PhD ’13GSAS.

18 | FALL 2015 GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE CLASS OF 2015 WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 ALICE TULLY HALL, LINCOLN CENTER, NEW YORK CITY Photographer: Alan Barnett

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1. Scott Allan Roof ’15, Nityanand P. Miskin 4. Dana Lee Zalkin ’15 and Andrew B. 8. Shian Liu ’15 and Areeba Setara Sadiq ’15. ’15, Jared P. Beller ’15, and Joshua A. Greenberg ’15. 9. Johnny M. Valencia, MSG; his daughter, Scheinerman ’15. 5. Alyssa D. Rios ’15, Nicholas Samuel Ashley Lara Valencia ’15; and his wife, 2. Melissa Ann LoPresti ’15, Shazia Rahman Streicher ’15, and Natasha Rastogi ’13. Leesa L. Valencia. ’15, Sareena Susan George ’15, and 6. Rebecca Fein ’15; her father, Robert P. Fein 10. Uchenna Okoro; his brother, Chikezie Areeba Setara Sadiq ’15. ’79; her brother, Adam Fein ’07; and her Okoro; his mother, Theresa Okoro; his 3. Brent Austin Dibble ’15, MBA ’15STERN; sister-in-law, Jordana Goren Fein ’08. brother, Chinonyerem Uzoamaka Okoro Jessica Heidenberg Heyer ’15; Matthew ’15; his father, Benjamin Okoro; and his 7. Kinneri Mehta ’15 and Aaron Matthew Aaron Haber ’15; and Amanda Evelyn brother, Chibuzor Okoro. Brandt ’15. Klinger ’15.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 19 Have You Heard? 1950s the Health Sciences F. Edward Hébert Sherwood A. Baxt ’66 attended a dinner School of Medicine (USUHS) on in January to honor his classmate Felicia Leonard Flom ’50, BS ’47ARTS, December 31, 2014. The chairmanship B. Axelrod ’66. He shares, “I went to adjunct assistant professor of of the Department of Pathology was the familial dysautonomia dinner at the ophthalmology at our School, named in his honor for his 33 years of Pierre in New York City last night. It was presented his Ebola-killing technology leadership of the department. to honor Felicia who was ‘retiring’ (ha). to the preliminary Google Solve for X’s The evening was as thrilling as it was global initiative in New York on January 1960s emotional. I was always aware of her 7. The initiative is a worldwide talent position as a leader in the field of this search for visionary ideas utilizing Marlys H. Witte disease but never the full extent. She science and/or technology to address ’60 is professor is not just a national but an international huge problems affecting millions, even of surgery at superstar in patient care and research for billions, of people. the University familial dysautonomia. I consider myself Dr. Flom proposes that certain of Arizona and a worker bee, and we were there last viruses such as Ebola and, potentially, director of Q-Cubed, night to honor a queen bee. So many of HIV are highly susceptible to and the University our class have become true national and vulnerable to destruction if closely of Arizona College of Medicine’s perhaps international standouts. What a exposed to photo-radiation by photons Curriculum on Medical Ignorance. joy it is to feel part of it.” from Ultraviolet “C” rays (“UV-C”) Q-cubed, or Questions, Questioning, in the electromagnetic spectrum and Questioners, encompasses the Douglas R. Lowy ’68, our 1992 Berson (~ 238nm range), and, serendipitously, central features of inquiry-based Award winner, was awarded the second this can be accomplished with two learning and discovery. Q-Cubed also annual Harrington Prize for Innovation devices now readily available and sponsors semiannual conferences and in Medicine this year. Dr. Lowy is an manufactured universally, i.e., dialysis facilitates interaction among apprentice oncologist and researcher who is chief units and photo-radiating UV-C rods questioners in the Summer Institute on of the Laboratory of Cellular Oncology (germicidal). Medical Ignorance (SIMI) program for and deputy director of the National high school students, Medical Student Cancer Institute. The Harrington Prize David T. Nash ’53, ’50WSC presented Research Program (MSRP) programs for for Innovation in Medicine, established a four-part lecture series on “Reducing college freshmen, and “professional” by the Harrington Discovery Institute at Cardiovascular Disease Risks, Living questioners working in medical research. University Hospitals Case Medical Center Longer and Better” at the Boynton in Cleveland, Ohio, and the American Beach Jewish Community Center. Harvey Dosik ’63, a hematologist, Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), is He previously spoke on advances was among 54 physicians elected a $20,000 honorarium that recognizes a in neuroscience at the Society of as Masters in Internal Medicine by physician-scientist who has successfully Four Arts in Florida. The author of the American College of Physicians navigated the path to advance discovery hundreds of publications, Dr. Nash (ACP) and was inducted at its April 30 into clinical application. published an article in 2014 on “Myths convocation in Boston. Dr. Dosik is a Dr. Lowy received the prize in about Gluten Toxicity” in both The professor of medicine at Weill Cornell recognition of his key discoveries that American Journal of Cardiology and Medical College led to development of the human Baylor University Medical Center’s and chair emeritus papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent Proceedings. Dr. Nash has also of the Department cancer. The vaccine, developed by Dr. recently been a consultant for a new of Medicine Lowy (in collaboration with Merck and antiangina drug. at New York GlaxoSmithKline) and approved by the Methodist Hospital FDA in 2006, was the first licensed Arnold Starr ’57 has been elected in Brooklyn, vaccine to prevent cancer by guarding an honorary member of the American New York, where he remains the against the sexually transmitted Academy of Neurology based on his program director of the residency infection that causes the disease. It is meritorious contributions to the field of training program. He is an NIH-funded estimated that the HPV vaccine can neurology. Fewer than 60 people have researcher with more than 150 original afford close to 100 percent protection been given this honor. scientific publications and was the from many targeted HPV cancer principal investigator for the Brooklyn types, particularly the most commonly Robert M. Friedman ’58 retired from Center of an NIH-funded “Cooperative caused cervical cancers as well as the Uniformed Services University of Study of Sickle Cell Disease.” other cancers. Dr. Lowy’s research also

20 | FALL 2015 Have You Heard?

paves the way for on Childhood Poverty and directs the for 30 years and is co-chairman of other advances in APA Research Scholars Program. He the Department of Anesthesiology at HPV-related cancer is a member of the American Pediatric Cedars-Sinai. prevention. Society as well as a fellow in the New He delivered the York Academy of Medicine. Herbert J. Krantman ’74 got in touch Harrington Prize Dr. Dreyer says, “Between a fifth and to express his “sincere thanks for the Lecture on April a quarter of children are living below the education I received at NYU in the 24 at the 2015 ASCI/AAP joint meeting federal poverty level, but really almost classrooms, labs, at Bellevue, and in in Chicago. Dr. Lowy’s career includes half of children are living in poverty or the University Hospital; from the basic work as a research associate in the near poverty. They’re the poorest group science teaching staff, from the medical Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National in our society, much poorer than adults staff in the various disciplines, and from Institute of Allergy and Infectious or seniors. There should also be a real my fellow students.” He recently retired Diseases at the NIH, from 1970 to focus on early childhood.” from Clalit Medical Services in Israel 1973. He trained in internal medicine at where he had been practicing pediatrics Stanford University and dermatology at Mark H. Podwal ’70 recently designed and pediatric allergy and clinical Yale University and started his laboratory the Don Giovanni poster for the immunology since 1991. at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Metropolitan Opera in New York 1975. In addition to his own research, City. In the spring of 2014, there was Joyce D. Fingeroth ’77 is now Dr. Lowy is a leader in promoting public an exhibition of 42 of his new paintings professor of medicine at the University health issues related to HPV-associated and drawings at the Terezin Ghetto of Massachusetts Medical School. diseases in developing nations. He is Museum in Prague, Czech Republic. an effective advocate for sustainable, Lloyd D. Lense ’77 received the comprehensive cervical cancer control Arthur S. Agatston ’73 and Warren Department of Medicine Teacher in the developing world. R. Janowitz ’72, ’68ENG and their Educator Award and the Stony Brook Agatston calcium score were featured Medicine Division of Cardiology Mentor 1970s in the November/December 2014 issue of the Year Award in June at Stony of Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Brook University School of Medicine. Benard P. Dreyer Tomography. Created in 1990, the ’70, medical director reliable Agatston score is the single 1980s of pediatrics at most used method to quantify coronary Bellevue Hospital artery calcium. Gary M. Bloomgarden ’80 is now Center and a clinical professor of neurosurgery at veteran clinical Martin J. Blaser ’73, the Muriel G. University of Texas Southwestern leader at NYU and George W. Singer Professor of Medical Center. Langone Medical Center, became Translational Medicine, professor in president-elect of the American the Department of Microbiology, and George V. Lombardi, Jr. ’80 was Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on January director of the the keynote speaker at the May 16 1. Dr. Dreyer serves as director of the Human Microbiome graduation ceremony at Mount Saint Division of Developmental-Behavioral Program at NYU Mary College in Newburgh, New Pediatrics and is a pediatric hospitalist at Langone Medical York. He also received the honorary NYU Langone and Bellevue, where he Center, was degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. started the Pediatric Hospitalist Service. named one of Time Dr. Lombardi is a noted expert in the In addition to his newest role within the magazine’s 100 treatment of infectious diseases and is AAP, Dr. Dreyer serves as co-chair of the Most Influential People in the World credited with saving the life of Mother Public Policy and Advocacy Committee in April. Teresa when she was suffering from of the AAP New York District II and was an infection and fever in 1989. recently appointed to the Executive Julian A. Gold ’74 Committee of the new provisional is currently serving Steven Stylianos ’83 is a pediatric Section on LGBT Health and Wellness. as mayor of Beverly surgeon who in 1993 assembled Due to his efforts, the AAP has adopted Hills, California. the 52-person operating room poverty and child health as a strategic Dr. Gold has been team that successfully separated priority. Dr. Dreyer chairs the Academic a board-certified conjoined female twins at Columbia- Pediatric Association (APA) Task Force anesthesiologist Presbyterian’s Babies Hospital. In

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 21 Have You Heard?

November 2013, one of the twins Winery, as reported in The New York Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons returned to that medical center to give Times. The bride is a Manhattan-based Center for Interstitial Lung Disease at birth to a healthy baby boy. She is the choreographer who has recently the University of Pittsburgh Medical fourth known conjoined twin in history worked in Chicago with the cast of the Center. Dr. Kass joined the University of to give birth after a surgical separation musical Beaches and in New York City Pittsburgh in 2010 to investigate basic and Dr. Stylianos was by her side in the on The Odyssey, cellular and molecular mechanisms delivery room for the joyous occasion. which ran in underlying the pathogenesis of September at the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) within Joan C. Wojak ’83 was inducted as Delacorte Theater the Simmons Center. a fellow in the American College of in Central Park. He has published numerous studies Radiology (ACR) in May at a formal She was also the and reviews in the pathogenesis of IPF, convocation ceremony during the ACR choreographer on with selection as a Pulmonary Fibrosis 2015 meeting in Washington, DC. Dr. the Broadway show Foundation Research Scholar in 2011 Wojak is a radiologist and former Waiting for Godot. She has danced in and a PACCM Translational Scholar in medical director of radiology at Our Lady 14 Broadway musicals, including Fosse 2014. A new NIH R01 award to study of Lourdes Regional Medical Center and Movin’ Out. She is a graduate of the transcription factor, twist1, in IPF in Lafayette, Louisiana. She is clinical the Juilliard School. The groom is a pathogenesis, independently funds associate professor of radiology at LSU neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in Dr. Kass. He is also a co-investigator School of Medicine in New Orleans and Manhattan, where he is also the director on another R01, and he serves as the former medical director of radiology at of the Center for Neuromodulation. He site PI and co-PI on multiple industry- Heart Hospital of Lafayette. received his undergraduate degree from sponsored clinical trials. the University of Pennsylvania. Robert M. Aaronson ’88 is the 2000s American College of Physicians (ACP) Michael LoCurcio ’97, associate governor for Arizona. professor of medicine at our School, Ross F. Liebman received the Leonard J. Tow ‘03 and Anh Tran are 1990s Humanism in Medicine Faculty Award proud to announce in May. This award is given by the the birth of a baby Sander R. Dubovy ’92, professor of graduating class to the faculty member boy, Paxton Tran ophthalmology and pathology at the who best exemplifies the qualities Liebman. He was Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the of integrity, excellence, compassion, born on December University of Miami’s Miller School of altruism, respect, empathy, and 29, 2014, in Mountain View, California. Medicine, has been appointed to the service. Dr. LoCurcio also served as He was 20 inches long and weighed 7 Victor T. Curtin Chair in Ophthalmology. a candidates’ marshal at the Class of pounds, 9 ounces. Board certified in both ophthalmology 2015 graduation ceremony. and anatomic pathology, he is the Michael J. Lombino ’03 was director of the Florida Lions Ocular Ivan Oransky ’98 and the blog he appointed as chief of radiology at Bronx Pathology Laboratory, an endowed, co-founded, Retraction Watch, which Lebanon Hospital, Bronx, New York. specialty-specific diagnostic and reports on retractions of scientific Dr. Lombino completed a residency in research laboratory. He serves as papers, were recently featured in The diagnostic radiology and a fellowship medical director of the Florida Lions New York Times. Last year Retraction in musculoskeletal radiology at VCU Eye Bank and cares for patients with Watch won a $400,000 grant from the Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia. diseases of the macula, retina, and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur He lives in Scarsdale, New York, with vitreous, including age-related macular Foundation. Dr. Oransky serves as an his wife, Mary, and their two children, degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and editor and is also editorial director of Lauren (age 4) and Joseph (age 2). retinal vascular disease. MedPage Today, a CME-accredited medical news service. Abby M. Green ’07 married Nathan Andrew S. Dunn ’92 has been named Singh, MD, on November 1, 2014, in the American College of Physicians Daniel J. Kass ’99 is now assistant Healdsburg, California, as reported in (ACP) Chair of the Board of Governors. professor of medicine at the University The New York Times. The bride is a of Pittsburgh, in the Division of pediatric oncologist on the staff of the Brian H. Kopell ’96 married Lorin Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Latarro on June 14 at the Brooklyn Medicine (PACCM), and director of the received her undergraduate degree from

22 | FALL 2015 Have You Heard?

Tufts University. The groom is a second- L. Carlos Zapata ’10, BA ’06CAS Olivia R. Richardson ’15 married year resident in internal medicine was elected Young Physician Section Christopher J. Khouri at the at the Hospital of the University of Councilor of the Medical Society of Bridgehampton Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He the State of New York (MSSNY) at its Presbyterian graduated from Haverford College 209th House of Delegates meeting in Church in and received a medical degree and a Saratoga Springs, New York, on May 2. Bridgehampton, master’s degree in translational research He will be representing all the young New York, on from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. physicians in New York. Dr. Zapata is May 30, as Green shares, “The wedding was more an emergency medicine physician at reported in The fun than I’ve ever had and I’m lucky to Nassau University Medical Center in New York Times. have married (in my opinion) the best East Meadow, Long Island, New York, The bride began her internship in July man in the world. . . . I spend 90% of and Long Island Jewish Medical Center at NYU Langone Medical Center. She my time in a basic science lab studying in Queens, New York. He serves on graduated cum laude from Georgetown. genome instability in the context of viral the Government Affairs Committee of Her father, Stephen B. Richardson, infections. . . . There is a great NYU med the New York Chapter of the American MD, Fell Endocrinology ’78, is an community in Philly and I get to connect College of Emergency Physicians and endocrinologist and associate professor with former classmates frequently.” on the MSSNY Delegation to the AMA of medicine at our School. The groom Young Physician Section Assembly. He is an associate in the investment Brad D. Birenberg ’08 married Arielle also serves as assistant treasurer of banking unit of JPMorgan Chase in New Katz on March 22 at Oheka Castle in the Medical Society of the County York, graduated from the University of Huntington, New York. The bride is an of Queens. Pennsylvania, and earned an MBA at associate at the Gladstone Companies New York University. in McLean, Vir- Mark J. Gage ’11, BA ’07CAS married ginia, where she Lily Mundy on September 6, 2014, Daniel J. Sartori ’15 married Marissa specializes in real at Kontokosta L. Schaffer, JD, on May 31 at the estate acquisi- Winery, on Cleveland Botanical Garden, as reported tions. She gradu- beautiful Long in The New York Times. The couple ated from Emory Island Sound in met at Swarthmore College, from University. The Greenport, New which they graduated. The bride is an groom is an anesthesiologist at Holy York. Dr. Gage is associate in the real estate department Cross Anesthesia Associates in Silver the son of Patricia of the New York law firm Paul, Weiss, Spring, Maryland. He got his undergrad- P. Gage, PhD ’88STEINHARDT, MA Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. She uate degree from Emory University. ’79STEINHARDT and Joseph S. Gage received a law degree from Columbia ’82, ’78CAS. University. The groom received his 2010s medical degree with honors in May and Joshua A. Farhadian ’13 married began his internship in internal medicine Christian J. Zaino ’10, BA ’06CAS Lindsay M. Blane, JD, on March 7 at NYU Langone Medical Center in July. updated us on his busy 2014. “I am in at Capitale, an event space in New my fourth year of orthopaedic surgery York City. The bride works in Port Faculty residency at Downstate/Kings County – Washington as a lawyer for Publishers only one and a half years left, then Clearing House. She graduated and Marcel Tuchman, MD, the survivor off to a hand surgery fellowship. . . . received a law degree from the of four death camps, was one of 200 Orthopaedics continues to be an University at Buffalo. The groom is survivors who returned to Auschwitz- exceptional choice – I very much enjoy a first-year dermatology resident Birkenau, the Polish Nazi death camp what I do.” In April 2014, Dr. Zaino at NYU Langone Medical Center, where 1.1 million people perished, 70 presented one of the 25 papers by Bellevue Hospital, and the Manhattan years after its liberation by the Soviets residents and fellows at the New York Veterans Affairs on January 27, 1945. He participated Society for Surgery of the Hand at Hospital. He in the ceremony to pay “tribute to the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York received his victims whose voices had been silenced City, and he won first prize. In May 2015, undergraduate in gas chambers and crematoria. It is Dr. Zaino landed at one of his top choices degree from the our solemn duty and must serve as a – University of Chicago – for a hand University of warning that it will never happen again; surgery fellowship. Pennsylvania. an indelible stain on civilization.”

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 23 Passings 1940s Dr. Rushia enjoyed playing the ob-gyn practice in Teaneck, a practice trumpet in his youth, later the flute and that would continue successfully for 48 Jerome Dubowy ’41, ’37ARTS on piccolo, and finally, in his retirement, years. He was associate director of ob- November 30, 2014, at age 98, as the baritone trumpet and tuba. He gyn at Hackensack University Medical reported in The New York Times. Born enjoyed listening to and sharing a Center for several years, as well as in New York City, Dr. Dubowy served in variety of music. an attending physician at Holy Name the U.S. Army Medical Corps in World He was a good Hospital in Teaneck. Dr. Bookstaver was War II and was stationed throughout whistler, exuberant an excellent amateur photographer who the Pacific Theater. Following the singer, and won many prizes and was a licensed war, he trained as a radiologist and harmonica player. pilot. He was also an avid skier up until practiced full time until the age of 92, Woodworking the age of 84. He is survived by his two most recently at Brooklyn Hospital was also a favorite children and five grandchildren. Center. Dr. Dubowy enjoyed work, hobby. He and his wife, Mary Anna travel, and his family. He is survived by Loughridge, MD, spent much of their Herman N. Eisen ’43M, BA ’39ARTS his beloved wife of 72 years, Evelyn postretirement time working at and on November 2, 2014, at age 96 as Dubowy, three sons, six grandchildren, enjoying the Charlottesville Senior reported by his wife, Natalie Aronson- and four great-grandchildren. Center. Dr. Rushia served as treasurer Eisen. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. and helped with fundraising for the Eisen became interested in science Edwin L. Rushia ’42 on August 22, new center. He was involved with when a high school chemistry class 2013, at age 96 as reported by his landscaping the grounds and developing helped shape his perception of the world daughter, Mary L. Fowler. Born in Lake the rose garden. He was a member of as a collection of atoms and molecules. City, Iowa, Dr. Rushia grew up on a the Second Wind Band and enjoyed After graduating from our School, he farm and graduated from Iowa State participating in center musicals. The worked as an assistant in the pathology College with a BS in industrial science Rushias also loved to travel with groups department at Columbia University and bacteriology. After medical school, from the senior center. Dr. Rushia is before returning to NYU for his he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for World survived by his wife of 64 years, five residency. Dr. Eisen had a two-year NIH War II and interned at Brooklyn Naval children, and five grandchildren. fellowship and researched sulfonamide- Hospital. He then went to Washington, induced antibodies while at NYU. DC, where he qualified for deep sea Paul I. Bookstaver ’43M on March 29 He then worked briefly at the Sloan diving and was assigned to submarine at age 94, as reported in The Record. Kettering Institute before returning to medicine on the tender Sperry in Born in New York City, he moved with NYU as associate professor of industrial the Pacific. He served a five-year his family to Teaneck, New Jersey, medicine from 1947 to 1955. enlistment, receiving an honorable when he was nine, and he spent the He studied immune reactions of discharge from the navy. Dr. Rushia rest of his life there. He attended both the skin and showed that chemicals then completed his residency, training at elementary and high school in Teaneck capable of forming covalent bonds the University of Iowa in anesthesiology. and was very active in the Boy Scouts, to skin proteins could cause an itchy He began his civilian professional life achieving Eagle Scout status. Dr. rash. In 1955, Dr. Eisen joined the with the University of Arkansas in Little Bookstaver obtained his undergraduate faculty at Washington University in Rock in 1949. He created their first degree at Columbia University and after St. Louis, serving as professor of anesthesia department, acted as its medical school entered the United medicine in the Division of Dermatology chairman, and was a professor. From States Navy as a medical officer, serving before moving to the Department of 1951 until 1967, he was professor of for a total four and a half years during Microbiology to serve as chair from anesthesiology at the Medical College World War II and afterwards. During the 1961 to 1973. While there, Dr. Eisen of Georgia in Augusta. From 1967 until war, he served one and a half years in published groundbreaking research in 1970, he taught at Emory University the Pacific Theater and was in combat which he described affinity maturation: in Atlanta and was chief of service. duty for five invasions – Saipan, Peleliu, the process by which activated B Dr. Rushia taught and practiced at the Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, and Iwo Jima. cells produce antibodies with an University of Virginia in Charlottesville Dr. Bookstaver received five battle stars. increasingly higher affinity for invading from 1970 until 1975. He was in private Afterwards he completed a residency in pathogens after infection. This process practice at Martha Jefferson Hospital obstetrics and gynecology at Lutheran is fundamental to the development of in Charlottesville from 1975 until 1984 Medical Center in Brooklyn, New potent immune responses. and was chief of service in 1983 before York. (Lutheran recently became NYU Dr. Eisen joined the faculty of MIT in retiring in 1984. Lutheran.) In 1950, he started his own 1973 as a professor in the Department

24 | FALL 2015 Passings of Biology in their including the Behring-Heidelberger woodcut pieces, many of which are new Center for Award from the American Association on permanent exhibition at the United Cancer Research of Immunologists, an Outstanding States Courthouse in lower Manhattan (now the Koch Investigator Award from the National and in the United States Supreme Institute for Cancer Institute, and the Lifetime Service Court. Dr. Siffert is survived by his two Integrative Cancer Award from the American Association of children and three grandchildren. Research). He Immunologists, of which he served as studied how cancer cells evade the president from 1968 to 1969. This kind, Louis Fishman ’46 in January 2008, body’s natural immune response in mice generous man is survived by his wife, as reported by his daughter, Barbara with myeloma tumors, screening their their five children, and 12 grandchildren. Fishman. She says that “being a associated proteins. He found that if graduate of the NYU School of Medicine he used myeloma proteins from one Robert S. Siffert ’43M, BA ’39ARTS and having trained at Bellevue were mouse to immunize other mice from the on February 18 at age 96, as reported sources of his greatest pride and same strain, they were resistant when in The New York Times. Dr. Siffert pleasure. He loved his work in medicine challenged with cancer cells. served as captain and flight surgeon in more than I can say and his belief that Dr. Eisen and his laboratory went the U.S. Army Air Force in World War there could be no better training for a on to study how CD8 T cells develop II, flying the “hump” between China, physician than at Bellevue was firm.” into cytotoxic, or “killer,” T cells and Burma, and India, and received four Dr. Fishman practiced medicine for long-lived memory T cells. Therapeutic Battle Stars. He was an internationally more than 50 years in Hightstown, New vaccines that exploit CD8 responses acclaimed orthopaedic surgeon whose Jersey. He is survived by three children. have not yet been developed for human career at Mount Sinai Hospital and Icahn populations; existing immunotherapies School of Medicine in New York City Norman S. Jaffe ’46, BA ’44WSC on rely on helper T cells and other spanned five decades, beginning with February 3 at age 90, as reported in the immune cells, and they do not mount his residency in orthopaedics. Miami Herald. Born in Brooklyn, New the same aggressive offense against Dr. Siffert was the youngest and York, Dr. Jaffe graduated from Boys targets. Dr. Eisen was working to longest-serving chair of the Department High School. He was an internationally understand and overcome the barriers of Orthopedics at Mount Sinai acclaimed eye surgeon who was joined to creating effective CD8 vaccines, Hospital, serving for 26 years. After his in his practice by three of his sons. and his research on the subject retirement in 2000, he maintained the Dr. Jaffe was considered America’s was of particular importance to the rank of distinguished service professor. pioneer lens implant surgeon for advancement of cancer immunology. He was also the senior orthopaedic patients with cataracts. Dr. Eisen retired from MIT in 1989, but consultant for the Department of Health The author of 13 textbooks, he as professor emeritus of biology, he of New York City from 1952 to 1960. published 238 scientific papers in peer- maintained an active laboratory and In 1970, he founded the Pediatric reviewed medical journals. His book continued to research, publish, and Orthopaedic Club of New York. Cataract Surgery and Its Complications advise students and postdocs until his A popular visiting professor and has had six editions and has been passing. Dr. Eisen spent 41 years at lecturer across the country and the read by more ophthalmologists on MIT, during which he taught, mentored, world, he authored nearly 200 articles the subject of cataract surgery than and collaborated with thousands of and chapters as well as four books in any other book in the history of students, faculty members, and staff. his field. He performed many medical ophthalmology. He performed his first A giant in the field of immunology service missions abroad working with lens implant operation on December with many seminal discoveries, Dr. Care-Medico on monthlong medical 4, 1967, and taught the technique to Eisen authored the immunology section service missions teaching and delivering Miami ophthalmologists and later to of an influential 1970s textbook on medical care in developing countries, thousands nationally and internationally. microbiology for medical students including Tunisia, Kenya, Indonesia, Dr. Jaffe introduced lens implant and the influential textbook, General Afghanistan, Peru, and Haiti. He received surgery to the People’s Republic of Immunology, in 1990. He was elected numerous awards, including the Arthritis China in 1988 when he and three of his to the American Academy of Arts and Foundation Lifetime Achievement sons performed 23 lens implantations Sciences in 1965, the National Academy Award, the Mount Sinai Hospital Jacobi before an audience of 500 Chinese of Sciences in 1969, and the Institute Medallion, and the Richman Award for ophthalmologists. He was the leader of Medicine of the National Academies Humanism and Ethics. among eye surgeons who fought in 1974. He received numerous other He was also recognized as a to make the operation a favorable awards and honors throughout his career, skilled artist who crafted intricate alternative to older methods of cataract

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 25 Passings

surgery. As president of the American of New York. from the Korean and Vietnam Wars Intra-Ocular Implant Society, now The founding and established the first neurosurgical known as the American Society of dean of Brown capability at the Arab Legion Base Cataract and Refractive Surgery, he University’s Hospital in Amman, Jordan. was able to convince the profession medical Dr. Brittis received many medals and the Food & Drug Administration school, this and commendations for his devoted of the benefits of this procedure, thus neuropathologist service and exemplary performance of improving the quality of life of millions. was a prolific writer, artist, and duty, including the Legion of Merit, the Dr. Jaffe was on the staff of the intellectual and a leading figure in National Defense Service Medal with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the American medicine. Oak Leaf Cluster, the United Nations University of Miami School of Medicine He founded the Home and Hospice Service Medal, the Army of Occupation since its inception and held the rank Care of Rhode Island and served on its Medal (Japan), the Korean Service of professor for many years. He board. He was a leader in global public Medal, and the Army Commendation performed more than 40,000 cataract health, especially in developing nations. Medal. In 1971, Dr. Brittis returned to operations during his career, most at The author of more than a dozen books civilian life and practiced neurosurgery in the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute-Anne and some 400 articles for medical Bronxville and Yonkers, New York, and Bates Leach Eye Hospital, part of the journals, Dr. Aronson was also a weekly elsewhere in the New York Metropolitan University of Miami/Miller School of columnist for The Providence Journal for area until his retirement in 2008. Medicine, where he also served on many years, writing about a broad range He was a man of integrity, deep the governing board. He served on the of medical and scientific topics. Christian faith, and strong moral values, board of the Greater Miami Jewish At age 60, after retiring as dean of which made him a perfect, empathetic Federation for many years and was the Alpert Medical School of Brown healer. In 1973, he received the Enrico chairman of the Foundation of Jewish University, Dr. Aronson enrolled at Fermi Award for his accomplishments Philanthropies for four years. He was Harvard University’s School of Public and community service. A true also president of the Bass Museum in Health and earned a master’s degree. renaissance man, Dr. Brittis had a Miami Beach. This caring, humble, and helpful man is great appreciation for the arts, science, The American Academy of Ophthal- survived by his wife, Gale Aronson, two and history. Gifted artistically and mology expressed its appreciation and daughters, five grandchildren, and six scholastically, he played the trumpet and welcomed him as the guest of honor at great-grandchildren. violin and was a great draftsman, sculptor, its annual meeting in San Francisco in and artist. He will be most remembered 1997. Dr. Jaffe was honored by many Richard A. Broderick ’47, as reported for his gentle, kind, sweet disposition; American and international medical so- by his wife, Doris I. Broderick. warm spirit; and the true love he showed cieties. He was awarded a great honor to his family and in 2003 when he was inducted into the Anthony L. Brittis ’48, ’44WSC on patients. Dr. Brittis Ophthalmology Hall of Fame. May 29 at age 92, as reported in The is survived by his Dr. Jaffe served in the U.S. Army for Journal News. Born and raised in wife of 60 years, one year during World War II and two Yonkers, New York, Dr. Brittis was the Marianna Perry years during the Korean War, holding the oldest of five boys in his family and Brittis, and their rank of captain. He was on the track team attended NYU as an undergraduate two children. at NYU and played professional baseball on a full college scholarship. He was in the Triple-A International League. He double board certified in physical Jerome A. Cantor ’48 on February 17 hiked the trails of the Rockies for 40 medicine and rehabilitation and at age 90, as reported by his daughter, years, played tennis and golf until the neurosurgery, and he worked closely Susan J. Cantor ’82. Born and raised end, and was a staunch supporter of the with Dr. Howard A. Rusk, the founder in Bradley Beach, New Jersey, Dr. arts. Dr. Jaffe is survived by his second of rehabilitation medicine. Cantor graduated from the University wife, Anne Laurence, five children, two Dr. Brittis entered the U.S. Army of Pennsylvania, attended our medical stepsons, nine grandchildren, and five Medical Corps in 1948, serving his school as a member of the Naval step-grandchildren. country in many leadership and Reserve during World War II, and diplomatic positions until his retirement served as a physician in the U.S. Air Stanley M. Aronson ’47 on January in 1970 as a full colonel. During Force during the Korean Conflict. Dr. 28 at age 92, as reported by Walter J. his military tenure, he established Cantor practiced medicine in Millburn, Rok ’80. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. rehabilitation and neurosurgical centers New Jersey, for over 50 years, retiring Aronson was a graduate of City College for the treatment of the wounded in 2010. He served as president of the

26 | FALL 2015 Passings medical staff at Overlook Hospital in Leonard M. Hirsch ’53 on May 27, was dedicated to humane and effective 1976 and 1977. 2012, at age 85, as reported by Anthony medical care for the organically mentally Youth sports and sportsmanship J. Grieco ’63, BS ’60ARTS. Born in ill (decreased mental function not due were very important to him. Among the Bronx, New York, Dr. Hirsch was to a psychiatric illness) in Berkshire his many involvements, he was a co- an obstetrician and gynecologist and County, especially treating them with founder of the Millburn-Short Hills Youth lived the last 18 years of his life in Vero respect and dignity. He served as Soccer program and a longtime coach Beach, Florida. Dr. Hirsch is survived by medical director of Berkshire Mental and manager in the Millburn-Short Hills two children, three grandchildren, and Health Center from 1990 to 1998 and Little League, continuing many years one great-grandchild. also served as a staff psychiatrist. He beyond his own sons’ participation founded the Berkshire Mental Health and guiding and mentoring so many Stuart H. Bartle Review, which became the Berkshire children. His kindness, wisdom, and ’54 on March 26 at Mental Health Journal. He also compassion were an inspiration to all. age 90, as reported consulted for Gould Farm, a residential Dr. Cantor is survived by his wife, Susan by Roselyn Kolodny therapeutic community, and served on Levenson Cantor, five children, and five ’63. Born in New their board. In May 2014, Dr. Bartle was granddaughters. York City, Dr. Bartle inducted into the Berkshire Medical was educated at Center Honor Roll. 1950s Pomfret School in Connecticut and Dr. Bartle was fond of baseball, Harvard University. After high school, sailing, music, the harmonica, dancing, Arthur Perell ’50 on January 17, Dr. Bartle was drafted into the U.S. and the fastest way to do things. A as reported by his classmate Jacob Army’s 78th Infantry Division, serving lifelong amateur athlete, he played Weissman ’50. from 1943 to 1946 during the Battle of baseball, softball, touch football, and the Bulge and the occupation of Berlin. squash in college. He also enjoyed Perry Berg ’51, BS ’47WSC on He was awarded a Purple Heart and a skiing, running, isometric exercise, and February 23, as reported by Anthony Bronze Star, among other medals. tennis and competed in sailboat races J. Grieco ’63, BS ’60ARTS. Dr. Berg Dr. Bartle completed a residency in till age 87. A modest man who rarely completed internal medicine training internal medicine at Bellevue Hospital spoke of his many accomplishments, at NYU/Bellevue, having been chief and a fellowship in cardiology at Lenox Dr. Bartle was known for his kindness, resident of the IV Division at Bellevue Hill Hospital in New York City. As an quick wit, and enthusiasm for life. Dr. Hospital. A U.S. Air Force flight surgeon instructor and assistant professor of Bartle is survived by his beloved wife of during the Korean Conflict, he practiced medicine and surgery at the University 65 years, Barbara Bartle, four children, medicine in New York City for over of Virginia School of Medicine in and 11 grandchildren. 60 years. He served on the Board of Charlottesville, Virginia, from 1959 to Directors of the New York County 1967, he participated in pioneering Ariel Distenfeld ’57, BA ’53WSC on Society of Internal Medicine and was cardiology research, assisting in some of April 13, as reported by his daughter, a member of the Medical Peer Review the world’s first cardiac catheterizations. Suzan Crabb ’86. Born in Israel, Dr. Subcommittee at the NYU Medical From 1967 to 1968, Dr. Bartle was a Distenfeld both served and was Center before retiring. resident in psychiatry at Massachusetts injured in its war of independence. A Dr. Berg was clinical professor of General Hospital and held an appoint- hematologist and clinical professor medicine at our School and a highly ment at Harvard Medical School. He of medicine at NYU, he spent many respected teacher of medical students practiced psychiatry in private practice in years in private practice, was former and residents for 60 years. His family, Manhattan from 1968 to 1986 while also medical director of Cabrini Hospice, patients, and friends endowed the attending and teaching at Mount Sinai and published several peer-reviewed Alumni Digital Library of the NYU School Hospital. Dr. Bartle taught psychiatry articles. He met his first wife, Joy of Medicine in his honor. He was a from 1986 to 1988 in Harare, Zimbabwe, Distenfeld, when he was brought over founding member of Concorde Medical where he became interested in severe from Israel as a wounded soldier to Group and served as treasurer of the mental illness. have surgery at NYU. He spent his Society of Alumni of Bellevue Hospital. After returning from Africa, Dr. Bartle whole adult life at NYU as a student, Dr. Berg particularly will be remembered and his wife moved permanently to resident, fellow, and staff member. for his unwavering advocacy for his the Berkshires. He was on staff at Dr. Crabb says her father’s blood “ran patients. Dr. Berg is survived by his Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, purple.” Dr. Distenfeld is survived by wife, Sandra M. Berg, three children, Massachusetts, for 24 years, from 1988 his loving wife, Harriet Friedes, three and seven grandchildren. to 2012. The remainder of his career children, and four grandchildren.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 27 Passings

Solomon Liebowitz ’57, ’53ARTS on Dr. Walden was board certified in Dr. Nachbar published numerous March 14 at age 83, as reported in The obstetrics and gynecology and became articles in peer-reviewed, computer- New York Times. Born in the Bronx, an associate clinical professor at Weil related journals, and he was a sought- New York, Dr. Liebowitz attended Cornell Medical College. His ob/gyn after speaker, always enthusiastic Bronx Science High School and NYU on practice spanned five decades. He about sharing his knowledge and scholarship. He became a captain and felt that having the same physician wisdom. Among the many honors he medic in the United States Air Force throughout a pregnancy provides received were the Irma T. Hirshl Trust and was stationed in London during the the best level of care. He always sat Career Scientist Award, the Sackler Berlin “no fly channel.” His residency through labor with his patients. Distinguished Lecturer Award from at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, Dr. Walden’s work was his passion, Tel Aviv University, NYU School of where he was dedicated to patients, and his patients adored him. It was not Medicine’s Distinguished Teacher staff, alumni, and colleagues, began a unusual for a patient from 30 years prior Award, and NYU’s All-University career that defined Dr. Liebowitz as an to approach him in a restaurant or on Distinguished Teaching Award. extraordinary, well-respected, loved, and the street and greet him with a story Dr. Nachbar created a nurturing edu- leading ophthalmologist in his field. He about how wonderful he was helping cational environment that encouraged is survived by his beloved wife, Susan her through her labor and delivery. exploration and inventiveness. He show- Liebowitz, their two daughters, and During his career, he delivered over ered colleagues with compassion, kind- three grandchildren. 5,000 babies, and as he always liked ness, and support and mentored count- to say with a sparkle in his eye, “and less students and faculty. Dr. Nachbar Jack Braunwald ’58 on May 26, 2014, I never dropped one.” Dr. Walden is is survived by his wife, Felice Aull, PhD, at age 80 as reported by his classmate survived by his beloved wife of 63 MA ’01GSAS, adjunct associate profes- Gerald A. Gellin ’58. Born in Vienna, years, Elinor Klotz Walden, their two sor of medicine at our School, and their Austria, Dr. Braunwald completed his children, and five grandchildren. daughter. A memorial service was held internship and residency at Bellevue at our School on June 17. Hospital Center and a fellowship 1960s in hematology at Brigham Hospital Daniel L. Wachtel ’62 on March 10 at in Boston. Dr. Braunwald practiced Martin S. Nachbar ’62 in May at age age 77, as reported in Courier News. hematology at Kaiser Sunset in Los 78, as reported by the Saul J. Farber Born in New York City, Dr. Wachtel Angeles for 42 years. Dean and CEO Robert I. Grossman, MD was a graduate of the Ethical Culture (Hon. ’08). Dr. Nachbar was a research Fieldston School and Union College. He William D. Walden ’59 on April 3 at associate professor of microbiology and served as a captain in the U.S. Army the age of 85, as reported in The New medicine, director of NYU Langone’s Medical Corps during the Vietnam War. York Times. Born in Vienna, he and Advanced Educational Systems, and He began his ophthalmology practice his family moved to England after the co-founder of the Consortium on in Bound Brook, New Jersey, in 1970. Anschluss. By the time he was 18, both Medical Education and Technology. He In practice for of his parents had passed away, and was a member of the Department of over 53 years, he supported himself while attending Microbiology for over 50 years. he was affiliated University of California Los Angeles by Initially his research interests focused with Robert taking on boarders in his house. on leptin in food, Wood Johnson Shortly after graduation, he was but his interests University Hospital accepted to Officer Candidate School gradually changed Somerset in in the U.S. Navy. After training, he took and he was one Somerville, New Jersey. a commission and shipped off to Korea of the first faculty Dr. Wachtel was a member of Temple as a line officer on a hospital ship in members to Beth-El in Hillsborough and an active Inchon Bay. Upon his return, Dr. Walden explore the use member of the Azure/Masada Masonic began his medical education at Temple of computers in medical education. Dr. Free and Accepted Masons in Cranford. University while still an officer in the Nachbar established the Hippocrates In his spare time, he enjoyed celebrating navy. When his commission ended, he Project – Computers and Communication music and the arts. Dr. Wachtel is moved to New York and transferred to Technologies in Medical Education, survived by his two daughters, three our School. He interned at Beth Israel which includes simulation, animation, grandsons, and a great-grandson. Hospital and completed his residency 3D-modeling, and digital technology, back Donations in his memory may be in obstetrics and gynecology at Weil in 1987. His leadership guided the creation made to NYU Langone Medical Center, Cornell Medical College. of the field of educational informatics. Department of Ophthalmology.

28 | FALL 2015 Passings

Edward Zach Schaye ’65 on May 6 A member of multiple professional After entering private practice, Dr. at age 75, as reported by his daughter, societies, including the Aesthetic Offit was a pioneer in understanding the Verity E. Schaye ’08. Dr. Schaye Society for Plastic Surgery and the psychological basis of human sexuality. received his undergraduate degree from American Society of Plastic and She defined the emerging field of Princeton University, completed his Reconstructive Surgery, he was a sex therapy in scholarly books and internship at Beth Israel Medical Center, founding member and president of popular columns and articles in national and did his residency in psychiatry the Connecticut Society for Plastic magazines at NYU Bellevue Hospital. He was Surgeons. A self-taught photographer including board certified in and golfer, he was also an avid Glamour, Vogue, psychiatry and was movie and music lover and a foodie. and Self. Dr. on the faculty at Dr. Benjamin also painted model Offit wrote three Columbia University Napoleonic soldiers and, with his wife, books. In 1977, from 1975 to 1979. Susannah, loved to travel. The Sexual Self Dr. Schaye He and his wife fell in love with the was a critical success, described was in private Bitterroot Valley of Montana during a as “wonderful, strewn with wit and practice with his wife, Shirley Schaye, long-postponed honeymoon, and insight” by The New York Times. PhD, and was a member of the immediately shared a vision of their The New Republic magazine dubbed American Society of Psychoanalytic future. They built a log home in Conner Dr. Offit the “Montaigne of human Physicians (ASPP) New York Chapter. and finally became full-time Montanans sexuality.” She followed with Night He provided psychopharmacology and when Dr. Benjamin retired in 2005. He Thoughts: Reflections of a Sex Therapist psychodynamic psychotherapy for embraced Montana with his typical in 1981 and a novel, Virtual Love, anxiety, panic disorders, depression, gusto, learning about its history and in 1994. This fictional account of a adult ADD, and other disorders. Dr. wildlife, exploring its byways. He transcontinental e-mail romance was Schaye is survived by his wife, two especially loved to be outdoors, and startling, both for its erotic intensity and children, and two grandchildren. every day was an opportunity to the author’s prescience in depicting the embrace his favorite activities: hunting, impact of the Internet on how people Jeffrey L. Benjamin ’67 on March 25 fishing, gardening, shooting, cross- live, love, and communicate. at age 74, as reported in the Stamford country skiing, biking, or hiking. Dr. Dr. Offit leaves behind a legion of Advocate. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Benjamin is survived by his wife, their grateful patients, adoring colleagues and he attended Erasmus Hall High School, three children, and two granddaughters. friends, and a deeply loving and loved where he enjoyed family. Her life was a masterwork of art, both science Avodah K. Offit ’67 on January 27 science, and passion. She is survived and literature at age 83, as reported by Loren W. by her husband and collaborator, Sidney and became Greene ’75, MA ’12GSAS. A lifelong Offit, two sons, and five grandchildren. fluent in French. New Yorker, Dr. Offit received her He graduated name, signifying “work” in the Hebrew Saul G. Agus ’68 in April, as reported from Princeton language, as both an identity and an by his classmate, Chaim B. Reich ’68. University with the class of 1963. instruction. She dedicated her adult life Dr. Agus completed his internship and During the Vietnam War, he rose to to helping her patients as a respected residency at Massachusetts General the rank of lieutenant commander in and accomplished psychiatrist and her Hospital in Boston and his fellowship in the U.S. Navy, and was assigned as family as a devoted and loving mother gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital head surgeon on its pioneering research and wife. in New York City. He was affiliated with team for organ transplantation at the After graduating Phi Beta Kappa Mount Sinai Hospital and maintained a Naval Medical Research Institute in from Hunter College, marrying Sidney private practice. Dr. Agus is survived by Bethesda, Maryland. After his military Offit, a young novelist, in 1952, and his wife, Marcelle, and four children. service, Dr. Benjamin returned to NYU raising two sons to school age, Dr. Offit Langone Medical Center, where he enrolled in our School. She completed Irene B. Pineda-Stiber, MD, HS Ob/ completed seven years of training an internship at Lenox Hill Hospital and Gyn ’68, former clinical assistant in general surgery, then plastic and her residency at the Payne Whitney professor of obstetrics and gynecology reconstructive surgery. In 1976, he Psychiatric Clinic of New York Hospital, at our School, on June 13, as reported opened his private practice specializing where she subsequently joined the by David L. Keefe, MD, Stanley H. in reconstructive surgery, cosmetic staff and became a professor at Cornell Kaplan Professor and Chairman of surgery, and hand surgery. University Medical College. Obstetrics and Gynecology. On faculty

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 29 Passings

for 46 years, until her retirement in one son, two stepchildren, and four centers on our campus. It has a very 2012, Dr. Pineda-Stiber is survived by grandchildren. He was predeceased by active program in MS research, clinical her husband, Andrew J. Stiber, MD, his first wife, Anya Wajnberg Barkin. trials, and wellness programs for former clinical associate professor of patients. Dr. Herbert also promoted obstetrics and gynecology at our School, Jeanne A. Epstein Myles, MD, the establishment of comprehensive two sons, and four grandchildren. former clinical assistant professor of MS centers at Helen Hayes Hospital in medicine, on March 26 at age 92, as Haverstraw, New York, and St. Barnabas Charles G. Hazzi, MD, HS Medicine reported by The New York Times. Born Medical Center in Livingston, New ’69, Fell Gastroenterology ’69, clinical in Jersey City, New Jersey, Dr. Epstein Jersey. professor of medicine at our School and Myles received her BS from Douglass In 1993, he established the inpatient a member of our faculty for 48 years, College and her MD from the neurorehabilitation unit at NYU on March 28 at age 89, as reported Medical College of Pennsylvania. An Langone’s Hospital for Joint Diseases in The New York Times. Dr. Hazzi endocrinologist, she was in practice (HJD). The unit, under his leadership was a graduate of Cairo University’s with her husband, Martin B. Myles, for nearly a decade, received the Kas Al Ainy School of Medicine. He MD, and was a member of the clinical coveted Commission on Accreditation loved to teach and will be missed by faculty of our School for 47 years, of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) former colleagues and students. He from 1958 to 2005. She was also a accreditation and went on to be was predeceased by his beloved wife, staff physician at the Margaret Sanger recertified on three occasions with Jacqueline Hazzi. Research Bureau. Later in her career accolades. she served as medical director of the Dr. Herbert’s clinical work focused Faculty Passings Middletown Community Health Center on refining the use of approved MS in Middletown, New York. Dr. Epstein treatments, and he received the Leonard Barkin, MD, ’50ARTS, former Myles was a highly intelligent, witty, Research Award of the National clinical professor of psychiatry (1980 to and strong-minded woman who loved Association of Rehabilitation Facilities 2012) at our School, on May 9 at age 84, reading, nature, travel, fishing, and The (NARF) for the study of Desmopressin as reported in The New York Times. Dr. New York Times crossword puzzle. Acetate Tablets (DDAVP) for Barkin grew up in the Bronx, New York, She was devoted to her family and nocturia. Under his leadership, the MS and attended the Bronx High School friends and is survived by her husband Center participated in a wide variety of of Science. He studied at NYU for his and daughter. national and international multicenter undergraduate degree and then went on clinical trials. He and his team also took to State University of New York (SUNY) Joseph Herbert, MD, professor of great interest in the creation of global Downstate College of Medicine. neurology and director of the Medical patient registries and databases. Dr. Barkin was a psychiatrist in the Center’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) A founding member of the New York U.S. Air Force, stationed outside of Comprehensive Care Center, in January, State MS Consortium Database, Dr. Tokyo. He then returned to New York as reported by the Saul J. Farber Dean Herbert also served on the steering and finished his training at Albert and CEO Robert I. Grossman, MD committee for the MSBase Global Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx. (Hon. ’08). Born in South Africa, Dr. Registry, which is maintained in His psychoanalytic training was at Herbert immigrated with his family Australia. In 2014, Dr. Herbert was SUNY Downstate Medical Center in to Israel, where he graduated from promoted to professor of neurology in Brooklyn. At the time of his death, Dr. Hadassa Medical School and served recognition of his leadership and many Barkin was practicing psychiatry in New as a physician in the Israel Defense academic achievements. York City and was Forces. He moved to the United States Dr. Herbert guided the MS Care a training analyst to pursue a neuropathology fellowship Center brilliantly for the past two at the Institute for at Harvard Medical School and then decades as a model for others to Psychoanalytic undertook neuropathologic research follow; his empathy and humanity Education. He was at Columbia University. His work on were treasured by thousands of an avid reader of transthyretin expression in choroid patients as well as by his colleagues. The New York plexus won him the S. Weil Mitchell His creative and relentless pursuit of Times, a devotee award for young researchers from the every therapeutic option, boundless of sports radio, and lover of the theatre, American Academy of Neurology. intellectual curiosity, and love of opera, classical music, art, travel, and Dr. Herbert and his team created teaching were a continuous inspiration his country pool. Dr. Barkin is survived one of the world’s first comprehensive to all who were fortunate to be a part by his wife, Jacqueline Dryfoos, and internationally recognized MS of Dr. Herbert’s legacy. Dr. Herbert is

30 | FALL 2015 Passings survived by his wife, Bette, their six Dr. Potter’s first posts included Edinburgh University. Dr. Potter was an children, and six grandchildren. positions as resident surgeon at the accomplished classical pianist, a talent Scottish capital’s Leith Hospital and and lifelong interest he inherited from Ralph Lusskin, MD on January 17 at medical registrar and research fellow his mother. He played by ear, without age 87, as reported by his daughter, in the rheumatic diseases unit at the formal training, and during the Second Shari I. Lusskin ’86. A brilliant physician Northern General in Edinburgh. In 1952 World War he wrote the musical score for who graduated from Columbia College he joined the medical branch of the the 1940s short film And So Goodbye, of Physicians and Surgeons at age 21, Royal Air Force, where he became made in Cowdenbeath. The producer’s Dr. Lusskin served as an orthopedic squadron leader in charge of the medical son, Robin Mitchell, turned the story of surgeon on the USS Relief during division, RAF Hospital, Padgate, in his quest to find the film, and those who the Korean War and retired from the Cheshire. Returning to Edinburgh in made and starred in it, into an award- U.S. Naval Reserves as a lieutenant 1954, Dr. Potter spent the bulk of the winning documentary in which Dr. Potter commander. Born and raised in New next eight years as a research fellow at was featured. Dr. Potter also continued York City, he was the eldest son of two the Northern General, except for a two- to paint, and his other interests included orthopaedic surgeons. year spell in research at the NYU School stamp collecting and corresponding with Dr. Lusskin trained generations of of Medicine’s pathology department, friends and family whose birthdays and physicians during his 58-year tenure as a supported by grants from the United anniversaries he always marked with a clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery States Public Health Service and the letter. The recipient of his last piece of at NYU. He was also devoted to and John Polachek Foundation in New York. writing was his three-year-old great- respected by his patients. Dr. Lusskin By 1962 he was back in America, granddaughter. Dr. Potter was is survived by his devoted wife of 56 having immigrated to White Plains, New predeceased by his second wife, years, Phyllis Lusskin, two daughters, York. The following year, his wife and Catherine (Rena) Matthews and is and four grandchildren. three children joined him and he spent survived by his three children, Dr. Jane almost 20 years in the United States, Potter, Dorothy A. Andriole ’80, BA Jacobus L. Potter, MB,ChB, former working in various roles including for the ’76CAS, and James Potter; three associate dean of our School and Health Research Council of the City of grandsons; and one great-granddaughter. our Post-Graduate Medical School, New York and as an associate professor the precursor to Continuing Medical and associate dean at our School. Nicholas A. Tzimas, MD, clinical Education (CME), from 1967-1980, Dr. Potter made a considerable professor of orthopaedic surgery, on May 9 at age contribution to the medical research on May 29 at age 87. A graduate of 90 as reported community there through his involve- Athens University, Dr. Tzimas came to by his daughter, ment with a number of New York City the United States by boat in 1955 with Jane Potter, PhD metropolitan area organizations: as a $125 in his pocket. A brilliant children’s ’78GSAS, MA member of the medical and scientific orthopaedic surgeon who had patients ’77GSAS, BA committee of the Arthritis Foundation; from all over the world, Dr. Tzimas was ’73ARTS. Always as associate coordinator of the New appointed to our known as Jack, Dr. Potter was born in York Metropolitan Regional Medical faculty in 1961 and Cardenden, Fife, Scotland. He attended Program and vice chair of its regional trained generations Beath High School, Cowdenbeath, advisory group; and as chairman of the of physicians at our and obtained his medical degree committee for an Independent Health School. He was at Edinburgh University. An NYU Systems Agency. During the 1970s, he knighted by the associate professor as well as a was also a physician/consultant for the Italian government, talented artist, he had originally hoped city’s Veterans Administration Hospital was a knight of Saint Andrew in the to go to art school. But his mother’s and a consultant at New York Infirmary. Greek Orthodox Church, and was a sudden death from a heart attack He served as president of the Medical member of the Leadership 100, an when he was a teenager prompted his Library Center and was elected a fellow endowment fund of the Greek Orthodox decision to study medicine. Dr. Potter of the American College of Physicians. Archdiocese in New York. Dr. Tzimas is specialized in rheumatic disease and In 1981, two years after the death of survived by his two daughters. arthritis, produced numerous papers his wife, Elizabeth M. Potter, MB,ChB, and publications, and counted among former instructor in clinical medicine at his co-authors a Nobel Prize winner. our School, Dr. Potter returned to He was elected a fellow of the Royal Scotland, taking up the post of executive College of Physicians in Edinburgh. dean of the Faculty of Medicine at

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 31 Doc’s

Legacy Photo provided by Gordon Straka Ralph S. French ‘46 was an avid fisherman.

ince 2011, the NYU School of Medicine has received a full of lovely people. That’s why Ralph and his mother liked it Ssizable annual distribution from the Ralph S. French there. They lived in a typical cottage, and he helped anyone Charitable Foundation to support research that may lead to that would call on him. He did some local doctoring for some discoveries that change the way we treat disease and save people because they could not afford to pay.” millions of lives. Dr. French became affectionately known as “Doc” around Our School receives these annual grants because of the the island, and he continued to maintain his medical license foresight and generosity of an individual, Ralph S. French, MD, right up until his passing, explains James Alderman, a CPA who a member of the NYU School of Medicine (SOM) Class of 1946. knew Dr. French for almost 30 years. What most people did not Dr. French, who passed away in March 2009 at the know about Ralph, says Mr. Alderman, is that he was wealthy. age of 89, was, by all accounts, a special man. The only “Ralph was very frugal,” says his cousin Gordy Straka, child of Herbert and Louise French, Dr. French grew up in “except for when it came to going out to dinner. That was one northern New Jersey and attended Columbia University of his favorite things. He would take all of us out to dinner and before matriculating to NYU SOM. He then moved on to wouldn’t blink an eye at the tab. He was generous that way.” Georgetown University, where he continued his studies Dr. French’s budget-conscious ways extended to the beat- through fellowships before entering the U.S. Navy. Dr. French up cars he drove, some with holes in the floor, and the simple, served for several years before moving to California to set up inexpensive clothes he wore. “If you were to meet Ralph his medical practice. on a park bench,” says Mr. Alderman, “you wouldn’t have His life changed soon after that, however, when his father imagined that he had anything. If he saw something he liked, became ill with cancer in the 1950s. Dr. French was very close he bought it. If there was something he wanted to do, he’d do to both his parents, and he brought his father to the Mayo it, regardless of the cost. But he was not a big spender.” Clinic, explains a cousin, Georgeanne “Susie” Williams. But When Dr. French traveled north from Florida to visit his Herbert French did not survive the disease. cousins in the Midwest, where he indulged his passions for This experience weighed heavily on Dr. French, say family hunting and fishing, he did so not by plane, but by car. members. He was frustrated that medicine could not do “He enjoyed tantalizing us with those [old] things,” says more to save his father’s life. After Herbert’s death, Dr. French Mrs. Williams. “I remember one big old boat of a car, a Buick. moved permanently to Anna Maria Island, off Sarasota, One day he was on his way up here for Thanksgiving, and he Florida, where his parents had been spending much of their didn’t show up. We were concerned because he’d usually pop time, to live with his mother. in by 5 p.m.” “The island was very quaint at the time,” explains Mrs. What had happened, explains Mrs. Williams, is that Dr. Williams. “Very quiet, low-key, and there were little cottages French’s car had broken down in a tiny Wisconsin town. It was

32 | FALL 2015 late. A local man towed the car to his own home and invited interesting things in his life,” says Mr. Alderman. “Money was Dr. French to Thanksgiving dinner so that Dr. French wouldn’t never a big issue for him, but at a certain point he began to be alone. The man later fixed the car, and Dr. French drove on give serious thought as to what he would do with it.” and had a second holiday meal when he got to his cousins’ Dr. French discussed two objectives, explains Mr. home. From that point on, Ralph’s annual Thanksgiving visit Alderman. He wanted to do something for his family included two dinners, one at the home of the Wisconsin members, his cousins; and he wanted to establish a family, and a second one with his cousins. foundation to support select organizations with which he and/ That experience was typical for a man who made friends or his parents had associations. “Over four or five years we’d sit easily and enjoyed their company and who down periodically, get something would quietly help someone in need. Mr. down on paper, and then Ralph would Straka recalls Dr. French’s joy and humor. Today the Ralph S. mull it over,” says Mr. Alderman. “Ralph just loved to tell jokes,” says Mr. Dr. French was quiet about Straka. “He could go into character when he French Charitable his intentions with his cousins. told them; he was very funny.” “Ralph didn’t really talk about it Dr. French also loved dogs, says Mr. Foundation honors [philanthropy] with us,” says Mr. Straka. “Ralph always carried around a the memory of Dr. Straka. “He was just a giving, a very pocketful of Milk Bone dog biscuits—he wonderful and giving person.” called them cookies. He would feed all the French and his parents Today the Ralph S. French local dogs.” Charitable Foundation honors Mr. Straka recalls the way Dr. French by supporting various the memory of Dr. French and brought prized Florida oranges northward institutions with annual his parents by supporting various on his road trips. They were gifts for his institutions with annual distributions. extended family, and he made sure his distributions. Dr. Dr. French directed that a substantial cargo survived the journey in pristine percentage of the foundation’s condition. “I’m talking 15 boxes of French directed that a annual income go toward our SOM oranges,” says Mr. Straka. “If the weather substantial percentage and another university. got cold, he would unload them from his The distributions to NYU SOM car and bring them into the cabin where of the foundation’s have seeded research on a variety he’d been staying to keep them warm. of projects, some of them relating And when he left that cabin, he’d reload annual income go to prostate cancer, melanoma, the car – that’s a lot of weight to carry back toward our SOM and immunology, and genomics. The and forth. Those oranges, though, they largest impact thus far has been were delicious.” another university. a distribution to bladder cancer Dr. French’s personal life included research by Xue-Ru Wu, MD, which several wedding engagements, says helped Dr. Wu and his NYU SOM Mrs. Williams, but he decided to remain colleagues successfully apply for a single. Bachelorhood, however, did not stop Dr. French from $9 million National Institutes of Health grant for collaborative becoming what she describes as the consummate family man. research on this disease. “No one had more of a family than Ralph, no one,” she Dr. French also put faith in his trustees, which include says. “We loved it when he and his mother would come up some of his cousins, to allocate a percentage of the here [to Minnesota]. My folks, when we were kids, would foundation’s income to other organizations that, in the words always get us down to Anna Maria for those perfect holidays. of the foundation, “educate and empower individuals to help When I later went to the island with my own children, as did themselves and others in need.” It is an honor that they say Gordy, Ralph would take the kids out on the Gulf to where they take quite seriously. there are sandbars at certain times of year, where you can We remember our alumnus, Dr. French, and the lasting stand up. Ralph also liked to go down to the Rod & Reel Pier impact his generous legacy will continue to have on the NYU and help the kids bait their lines. He’d educate them about the School of Medicine. If you are interested in learning how different types of fish.” you can create your own legacy at our School, please contact When Dr. French reached his 70s, he began to talk to Marilyn Van Houten, senior director, Office of Development his accountant, Mr. Alderman, about his estate plan. “Ralph & Alumni Affairs, at [email protected] or was such an interesting and likable guy; he’d done a lot of (212) 404-3653.

The Alumni Newsletter of NYU School of Medicine | 33 The Bard N.Y.U. Medical School in Him Reunion at 55 Years It was 1948 We could hardly wait Arthur Ancowitz ’48 is founder and president of the Stroke Foundation, New York, which is supporting Without a doubt a research project on stroke prevention at NYU We wanted out Langone under the aegis of Caroline S. Baum, MD, We all would be free the Diane and Arthur Belfer Professor of Geriatric Not just you or me Medicine and director, Division of Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Ancowitz is also the Other things to do author of several books on stroke and its prevention. No more NYU He has also tried his hand at poetry, and a collection We all reckoned of his poems was published last year in the book, Internship beckoned The Bard in Me. We share two of them here. We would get our MD’s at last Hard exams were past We had learned to cope With a stethoscope We were able to use a knee hammer Why Does the Stuff We Keep Without raising a clamor Mean So Much to Us Fifty-five years ago we knew a heck of a lot Some relevant to our future, some not

Like a squirrel’s search for acorns to save From mister to a real doctor in four short years To papers, junk, jewelry, magazines, Done with some blood, sweat and fears and mementos we are a slave Our gaits changed from a walk to a swagger We figure someday we will be in need As if we just hit a mighty four bagger Of a book, paper, or magazine to reread It was for real Memories are frequently thus evoked Quite a deal Like flames from embers that are stoked We were on our way Do you remember that wonderful concert or play It was a great day You saved the playbill until this day For fifty-five years we followed our urge Papers that were fresh and all the rage There were ups and downs in this surge Are now brittle and yellowed by age Time was slow at first Other papers once thought to bear a treasure Then passed with a burst Now give us scant pleasure It wasn’t easy being here tonight But saving it, like having a pirate captain’s map and guide Those here, have done all right We somehow felt very good inside Mulholland, Tillet, Eichna, Von Glahn, Did you ever save coins or keys in a very safe place and many others When you forgot where they were, boy, did you lose face Were a faculty of unrelated brothers

My mother asked me once, twice or more They are memories of the past Do you want these books or cards by the score They will live with us as long as we last

She threw them out much to my regret Murray Burton, Alan Dumont, These baseball cards are now hard to get and Arthur Fox deserve praise They did their best our classmates to raise They are valued in thousand and sometimes zillions To think, I had a collection of millions Let’s resolve to meet again Five years hence and until then Whether it’s treasure or junk there’s a debate Until the debate is settled, save it, do not hesitate Let enjoyment and good health Provide your real wealth

34 | FALL 2015 A Family Affair For the Baxts, the NYU School of Medicine is Family

aida Baxt, MD, and Sherwood “Woody” Baxt, MD, very substantial commitment to establish a scholarship Smet at the NYU School of Medicine, from which in Saida’s name through an outright gift and within their they graduated in 1966. As Woody tells it, “I was hanging estate plan. around the student lounge to look for dates for my friends—and someone put their hands over my eyes and “Saida and I feel strongly that you can’t have the focus said, ‘Guess who?’ It was Saida. I said, ‘get dressed, we’re that you should have when you’re graduating from school going to a party.’” with so much debt,” says Woody. “These scholarships are so important; the students shouldn’t have to figure “Two hours later, we were engaged,” says Saida. She is out how to spend the rest of their lives paying off debt.” a dermatologist, Woody is a plastic surgeon, and with their daughter, dermatologist Rebecca Baxt, MD, they The Baxts also appreciate the richness of their experi- treat patients at their practice, Baxt Cosmedical, in ences at the School. “We were surrounded by faculty Paramus, New Jersey. Rebecca is who were at the cusp of making also an associate professor in the major decisions in medicine,” says Ronald O. Perelman Department Saida. “[Nobel Laureate] Dr. Severo of Dermatology at NYU Langone Ochoa was at the school. I was also Medical Center. just one of 11 women in the class. It was a different time.” NYU School of Medicine remains an integral part of Saida’s and “It was all about the people, such a Woody’s lives, from the decades- fantastic group of people, especially long friendships they share with our classmates” says Woody. “And classmates to the reunions they that’s why we’ve stayed in touch have helped organize. The couple and remained involved. Giving to has consistently contributed to the NYU School of Medicine is scholarship funds at the School perpetuating the same feeling we and recently decided to make a had as students.”

Saida and Woody Baxt, physicians and philanthropists who graduated from NYU School of Medicine in 1966, with their dog Leo on the dairy farm they own in New York State.

To learn more about making your planned gift to NYU School of Medicine, please contact Marilyn Van Houten at 212.404.3653 or [email protected] nyulangone.org/give Office of Alumni Relations NYU School of Medicine One Park Avenue, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016

New Alumni Directory for 2016!

We’re working to produce our next directory in celebration of our School’s 175th Anniversary. We will contact you in the coming months to update your records.

ALUMNI ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMS 2015-2016

For information on the following events, please e-mail [email protected] or call 212-263-5498.

OCTOBER 2015 FEBRUARY 2016 25/Sunday 7/Sunday Washington, DC, Alumni Lunch Florida Alumni Brunch honoring Benard P. Dreyer ’70 honoring Bernard M. Rosof ‘57 12 noon-2 p.m., Marriott Marquis, Washington, DC 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Cathedral Room, Boca Raton Resort and Club JANUARY 2016 7/Thursday APRIL 2016 Board of Governors Meeting 16/Saturday 6-8 p.m., Smilow MultiPurpose Meeting Room, Alumni Day NYU Langone Medical Center NYU School of Medicine, New York City Alumni Reunion Ball 7 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, New York City