summer 2014

NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council News Vinod Malhotra, M.D. Receives Center Alumni Council’s 2013 Outstanding Service Award

On November 12, 2013, the NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council (CAC) enjoyed an evening of celebration and camaraderie at the annual Awards Dinner. During the event, the CAC honored Vinod Malhotra, M.B.B.S, M.D., F.A.C.A., with the 2013 Outstanding Service Award for his work in anesthesiology and dedication to the CAC. Dr. Malhotra is an internationally recog- nized anesthesiologist, known for anesthesia in urological surgery, regional anesthesia, edu- cation in anesthesiology, and operating room management. He began his career at New York Hospital in 1976 as a first-year resident and Left: Eugene Nowak, M.D., and Vinod Malhotra, M.D. Right, above: Eugene Nowak, M.D., Barry Shaktman, M.D., since his first appointment in 1979, has served Jolyn Sharpe Taylor, M.D., Vinod Malhotra, M.D. Right, below: New members of the Medical Center Circle, from left to right: Henry Spinelli, M.D., Sona Degann, M.D., Brian Landzberg, M.D., Mary Moran, Ph.D., Jerry Nagler, M.D. NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medical College in many leadership roles. Cur- rently, he is the Clinical Director of Operating Center Alumni Council. He continues to Awards to a member of the housestaff from Rooms and an Attending Anesthesiologist at be a driving force for the Center Alumni each department and the Chair of the House­ NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, Vice- Council in his current role as Chair of the staff Quality Council. Additionally, the CAC Chair for Clinical Affairs in Anesthesiology, Awards and Nominations Committee. Dr. honored six new Medical Center Circle Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, and Pro- Malhotra’s wife of 38 years, Vidya Malhotra, members for their philanthropic commitment fessor of Anesthesiology in Clinical Urology at M.D., and their daughter, Anjali, and her of $25,000 or more to NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical College. husband Neil Southward, were present at the Weill Cornell and Weill Cornell Medical Dr. Malhotra holds leadership positions in Awards Dinner. College. Since its creation in 2004, the Medical many professional societies and has served as Another highlight of the event was the Center Circle has brought in over $1 million in President of NewYork Weill Cornell Medical presentation of 24 Distinguished Housestaff support of the Institution. •

‘The Art of Perception: Rethinking How We See’ featuring Amy E. Herman, J.D.

“There’s more than meets the eye”: was subsequently adapted for law members and guests of the CAC enforcement professionals and applied this motto on September leaders in industry, education, 26, 2013. Amy Herman led the and finance. Ms. Herman’s humor, group through a session on “The storytelling and vivid imagery Art of Perception,” an analysis of engaged the audience, leaving works of art to improve percep- them with a refreshingly different tion and communication skills. perspective of the world. Follow- Ms. Herman originally designed ing her presentation, which took “The Art of Perception” to help place in Uris Auditorium, Ms. medical students improve their Herman socialized with members observation and communication and guests at the cocktail recep- Amy E. Herman, J.D. skills with patients. The program tion in Harkness Courtyard. •

NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council News [email protected] Summer 2014 1 Members’ News

Tracy-Ann Moo, M.D., was presented Alvin N. Eden, M.D., is writing his Center and the Lewis Atterbury permanent collection. The Society with the American Association sixth book on child care, focusing on Stimson Professor and Chairman, now has 300 of Dr. Reidenberg’s of Breast Surgeons Scientific the prevention of childhood obesity. Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell photographs of Presentation Award for her research Dr. Eden has taught at Weill Cornell Medical College. street scenes, which feature people in the area of post-mastectomy for the past 20 years. working at their trades outdoors. radiation for breast cancer. Dr. Moo Guy N. Minoli, D.D.S., Assistant His most recent series of pictures is an Assistant Attending Surgeon, Stuart S. Kassan, M.D., Medical Attending Dentist at NewYork- donated to the Society focuses NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Director of the Infusion Center of Presbyterian/Weill Cornell has on street food trucks, carts, and Medical Center, and Assistant Denver and Chief Medical Officer of completed his service as Chair stands. Dr. Reidenberg is Professor of Professor of Surgery and Assistant Multispecialty Physician Partners, of The New York Section of the Pharmacology, Medicine and Public Program Director of Surgical has been named a Distinguished American College of Dentists (ACD). Health at Weill Cornell. Education, Weill Cornell Medical Clinical Professor of Medicine at the The ACD is the oldest honorary College. University of Colorado Denver School dental organization comprised Alfred L. Scherzer, M.D., Ed.D., Weill of Medicine. This is the highest award of the top 3% of dental leaders in Cornell House Staff 1963-1966, Palmer Q. Bessey, M.D., was named a clinical faculty member at Colorado the country. During his tenure as and Clinical Professor Emeritus of President of the American Burn University can achieve. He was also Chair, Guy initiated The Mentoring Pediatrics 1994, is a past President Association in April 2013. Under the recently elected as a Master of the Lecture Program, which encourages of the American Academy for leadership of Dr. Roger Yurt, the American College of Rheumatology. dental residents from the New York Cerebral Palsy and Developmental William Randolph Hearst Burn metropolitan area hospitals to teach Medicine, and since 2005 has served Center became the first and only Robert G. Lahita, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, and become future leaders of the as Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Burn Center in New York State to MACR, FRCP, Chairman of Medicine dental profession. If you are interested and Preventive Medicine at Stony receive verification by the American at Newark Beth Israel Medical in mentoring or in participating in Brook University School of Medicine. Burn Association and the American Center and Vice President of the program, please contact Guy at Dr. Scherzer’s recent awards include: College of Surgeons. This prestigious Barnabas Health, was elected 2013 [email protected]. The Golden Apple Award of Health designation distinguishes the Burn Rheumatologist of the Year by the Volunteers Overseas (HVO) and the Center as a center of excellence, Arthritis Foundation of New Jersey. Two high school classmates with Lifetime Achievement Award of the providing the highest quality care Dr. Lahita was a Weill Cornell House NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell American Academy for Cerebral Palsy for burn patients and meeting the Officer from 1973–1976. ties had a recent reunion while and Developmental Medicine. demanding and high standards set wintering in Florida. Thomas F. by the ABA. Dr. Bessey is Attending Fabrizio Michelassi, M.D., was named O’Brien, Jr., M.D., Internal Medicine Henry A. Solomon, M.D., FACP, FACC, Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian/ President-Elect of the Society for the HS ’61, and John S. Madaras, M.D., has just rejoined the full-time staff of Weill Cornell and Professor of Surgery Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Dr. Cornell University Medical College ’57, the American College of Cardiology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Michelassi was also named Vice Chair graduated together from St. Francis (ACC) as Senior Medical Advisor, of the Board of Governors of the Xavier in New York City in 1949. having served the ACC as Consultant Owen K. Davis, M.D., was elected Vice American College of Surgeons and for the past two years. He is also President of the American Society for Vice Chair of the Advisory Council for Michael A. Perelman, Ph.D., was Chair of the ACC Professional and Reproductive Medicine for 2013-2014 General Surgery. In November 2013, at named Editor in Chief of Springer’s Corporate Consortium. Dr. Solomon and will become President in 2015. the 10th Annual Congress of the New newly relaunched Current Sexual is Clinical Associate Professor of Dr. Davis is Professor of Reproductive Jersey Italian and Italian American Health Reports, which is an online Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Medicine and Obstetrics and Heritage Commission, Dr. Michelassi journal available at www.springer Weill Cornell. Gynecology at the Ronald O. gave a keynote lecture on Italian .com. Additionally, Michael’s chapter Perelman and Claudia Cohen Nobel Laureates. Dr. Michelassi on the “History of Sexual Medicine” William E. Wagner, M.D., fellow Center for Reproductive Medicine at is Surgeon-in-Chief, NewYork- was just published in The APA 1989-1991/Assistant Attending NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Volume II, Handbook of Sexuality and Director of High Risk Obstetrics and Psychology. Dr. Perelman is currently Critical Care Division, Maternal Fetal a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/ Reproductive Medicine, and Urology, Weill Cornell 1992-1994, was chosen Weill Cornell Medical College. He is as one of the Best Doctors for Women We want to hear from you! also the Co-Director of the Human in Minnesota with special expertise Sexuality Program at NewYork- in the surgical management of Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. Michael abnormal placentation and critical We invite you to send us your news. Tell us about can be reached at: perelman@ care obstetrics. your recent achievements, retirements, or any earthlink.net. Roger Yurt, M.D., became an announcements that you would like to share with Alfons Pomp, M.D., was the Honorary Medical Officer of the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Fire Department of New York your colleagues. Please send news you would like Clinical Care Award from the Society City at a ceremony hosted by Fire to share to [email protected]. of American Gastrointestinal and Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano Endoscopic Surgeons. Dr. Pomp is and his fire chiefs in December Attending Surgeon at NewYork- 2013. Dr. Yurt is Chief of Burns, Presbyterian/Weill Cornell and Critical Care, and Trauma and Also, to ensure you receive event announcements Chief of GI Metabolic and Bariatric attending surgeon at the New York and updates, please be sure to update your Surgery and the Leon C. Hirsch Presbyterian/Weill Cornell, Vice Professor of Surgery. Chairman of the Department of contact information by using the enclosed reply Surgery, and Director of the William Marcus M. Reidenberg, M.D., donated Randolph Hearst Burn Center. form, visiting us online or sending an email to 80 of his original photographic prints He is the Johnson and Johnson [email protected]. to the New-York Historical Society Distinguished Professor of Surgery in January 2014 for their Museum’s at Weill Cornell Medical College. •

2 Summer 2014 NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell weill.cornell.edu/about-us/cac.html 2014 Fundraising Initiative Each year, the CAC takes on a fundraising project to support outstanding programs at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. This year the CAC Board of Trustees encourages members to support the initiatives below that help to enhance patient care.

The Housestaff Quality Council (HQC) was created The Child Life Program is one of the oldest of its kind in 2008 to take the lead in efforts to improve the qual- in the United States. The program helps ease the fears ity and safety of clinical care. The HQC is comprised of children facing emergency visits, hospital stays, and of representatives from each department’s residency and ambulatory surgeries/treatments by offering support and fellowship programs, representatives from senior admin- guidance to pediatric patients, their parents, and siblings, istration, and physician and nursing leaders. The Coun- as well as children who are dealing with a loved one being cil’s goals include decreasing and/or minimizing adverse treated at the Hospital. Working to create a vital sense events, assisting in compliance with Hospital policies of normalcy for patients and their families, the program and procedures, measuring outcomes, and determining provides therapeutic play with arts and crafts, writing, best practices. An example of an HQC initiative was the reading, and recreational games in special playrooms at the Patient Safety Awareness Campaign, which focused on the Hospital. A music therapist augments the program with potential for medical errors surrounding the potency and instrument playing to improve children’s expressive com- dosing of hydromorphone versus morphine. The HQC is munication and to facilitate patient rehabilitation goals also working to address other key items such as improving through movement games. The Child Life Program also communications regarding interdisciplinary consultations organizes family-friendly activities including clown visits, and protecting confidential patient information in today’s pet therapy, and an Artist-in-Residence Program. setting of increased use of electronic media.

Please consider making a gift to the CAC in support of the Child Life Program and the Housestaff Quality Council. To make a gift, use the response and return envelope included with this newsletter, or make a check payable to New York-Presbyterian Fund, Inc. and send to: NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Center Alumni Council, 525 East 68th Street, Box 123, New York, New York, 10065. Please call (646) 317-7418 for more information.

NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council News [email protected] Summer 2014 3 Upcoming Events

Fall Event Featuring re you ready to explore the outer share personal insights and perspectives of his Kenneth Kamler, M.D. limits of medicine? Join Kenneth adventures with you! Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 Kamler, M.D. as he uncovers the Dr. Kamler is an orthopedic microsurgeon Griffis Faculty Club Aphysiological and psychological effects of who trained at the former Columbia Presby- extreme environments. Dr. Kamler has prac- terian Medical Center. He is a Director of the ticed extreme medicine in some of the most legendary Explorers Club, and a consultant for remote regions on Earth. He has been on six NASA and National Geographic Adventure. expeditions to as expedition Dr. Kamler has received many awards and is doctor and climber, treated a bear bite in the listed in New York magazine’s “Best Doctors.” Arctic and a frostbite in the Antarctic, set Dr. Kamler is the author of two books, Doctor fractures in the , cared for scuba divers on Everest and Surviving the Extremes: What in the Galapagos, and performed surgery in Happens to the Body and Mind at the Limits the Amazon rainforest. Dr. Kamler has flown of Human Endurance. He has appeared on in zero gravity aboard NASA’s DC-9 “Vomit numerous network television news and talk Comet,” testing robots for eventual use in shows and was featured in specials on the emergency surgery on the International Space National Geographic, Discovery, and History Station or on . Now, Dr. Kamler will channels. Mark your calendars! •

2014 Distinguished Achievement Award Nominations in memoriam The CAC Awards Committee invites you to submit nominations for our Distinguished Achievement Award, which will be presented The Center Alumni Council would like to during the CAC Award Dinner on November 13, 2014. Criteria for express sorrow at the passing of the following the award includes a physician who: colleagues and friends: • spent at least two years as a house officer or faculty member at Evelyn J. Basile, M.D. the Medical Center; Las Cruces, NM; July 26, 2013; Pediatrics

• developed a distinguished career at another institution and John M. Beal, M.D. Valdosta, GA; June 3, 2013; General Surgery is a graduate of a medical college other than Weill Cornell Medical College. George W. Hambrick, Jr., M.D. Charlottesville, VA; December 10, 2013; Dermatology You may submit the names of qualified candidates along with their contact information and a brief biography via email, fax, or mail to Sidney F. Kahn, M.D., F.A.C.S. La Mirada, CA; November 4, 2013; General Surgery the contact information below. We look forward to honoring the selected recipient at the upcoming CAC Awards Dinner. David T. Mininberg, M.D. New York, NY; July 22, 2013; Public Health; Urology Leonard L. Ross, Ph.D. NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council Philadelphia, PA; May 10, 2013; Anatomy; Office of Development Medical Administration 525 East 68th Street, Box 123 Leonard H. Schuyler, M.D. New York, NY 10065 Hackensack, NJ; May 10, 2013; Internal Medicine Phone: (646) 317-7418 Helga A. Windhager, M.D. Fax: (212) 832-0139 Tenafly, NJ; August 7, 2013; Pathology Email: [email protected] To learn more, visit us at weill.cornell.edu/about-us/cac.html

4 Summer 2014 NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell weill.cornell.edu/about-us/cac.html