Alumni Notes

Richardson K. Noback, M.D. ’47 writes: “On June 4, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine hosted a gala to celebrate the 50th year of its innovative and successful six-year combined medical–baccalaureate program. Nine hundred attended. As its founding dean, I was among those honored. The bulk of attendees were graduates who came from all parts of the United States. Their careers document the success of the school’s academic plan, which was to introduce major changes in American medical education.”

Howard Lucas, M.D. ’51 is 97, healthy and retired as of January 2021. He writes that he had been a citrus grower until the citrus were killed by citrus greening disease (HLB). He is now growing 35 acres of avocados and is interested in whole food plant-based nutrition to control degenerative diseases with onset primarily after age 50, which was discussed in “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. While in medical school, he met his wife, Leone DeLelys, who was the assistant supervisor of the operating room and instructor in surgical nursing at the Cornell University-New York Hospital School of Nursing.

Donald P. Regula, M.D. ’55 is still living in upstate New York, enjoying his family and his 32nd year of retirement. He has four children (three who have retired), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He sends his best to all of his fellow classmates.

Jay N. Cohn, M.D. ’56 writes, “I have retired from the University of Minnesota Medical School and am now professor of medicine emeritus. Syma and I have moved full time to Sarasota, Fla., where we reside in the Sarasota Bay Club. Buoyed by the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology, I remain active in promoting the strategy of early detection of cardiovascular disease and aggressive treatment to slow its progression. Our three children are also successfully pursuing academic and professional careers in San Francisco, New Haven and Miami.”

Blake Cady, M.D. ’57 reports that he is “still alive and coping with health issues, as we all do. Primary focus now for me is global warming. I have 27 solar PV panels on the roof and solar hot water, white roof to reflect the sun; I tore up my asphalt driveway and replaced it with permeable gravel.” Dr. Cady sits on the board of local organization Climate Action Brookline, which pushes aggressive policies for Brookline, Mass. He tells us that he keeps up with surgical oncology issues on the web, but has no direct involvement now and no longer goes to meetings, having finally retired at age 82. He is a supporter of Medicare for all or a single-payer system, rather than any for-profit system. He shares that he is “in awe of incredible aspects of genetics in medicine and its applications.”

Bernie Siegel, M.D. ’57 tells us he “is waiting for medical education to become about caring for people and not treating disease, especially when mind-body medicine is so obvious and scientific now.”

Donald Taylor, M.D. ’57 is a fully retired radiologist living in a condo in Holliston, Mass., with wife Cherylann and yorkie Dylan. “Avid Celtics fan — I bleed green! Keep busy gardening, reading, etc. Have been in touch with my WCMC classmate-roommate Volker Brandt, M.D. ’57 who is also retired and living in Virginia. Our son, Adam, lives in Seattle and is a techie doing coding for a startup. Our daughter, Jennifer, is married to a Naval Officer and they and my granddaughter live in Ramona, Calif. Life is pretty quiet after 90!”

George E. Shambaugh III, M.D. ’58 writes, “I continue teaching endocrine fellows and residents as a member of the Emory voluntary faculty, and re-emphasize the continuing importance of history and physical exam in the endocrine outpatient clinic, where lab values and MRIs predominate. I will remember the teachings of David P. Barr and Elliot Hochstein and hope to have honored them. I grow cherries near Traverse City, Mich., and play the banjo, and assist my talented wife with creative cooking.”

Edward Wallach, M.D. ’58 was awarded the Suheil J. Muasher, M.D., Distinguished Service Award by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in October 2019. The award was presented by the president of the society, Dr. Peter Schlegel, the James J. Colt Professor of Urology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Robert Horne, M.D. ’60 writes that he retired at 89. His license is still active in Utah and California. He has six children, each of whom has pursued higher education; 20 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren. 

William Hazzard, M.D. ’62 is currently an emeritus professor of internal medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. His address is 2733 Pilgrim Court, Winston-Salem, N.C., 27106. He has just published a memoir, “My Pilgrimaged Life as a Pioneer in Academic Gerontology.” If you’re interested in a copy, please respond with your full address, and he will send you one. He sends his best wishes to all of his Weill Cornell alumni from the class of 1962.

Sam Greenblatt, M.D. ’66 recently (finally!) published his lifetime’s magnum opus: “John Hughlings Jackson: Clinical Neurology, Evolution, and Victorian Brain Science,” Oxford University Press, 2022. He had been working on Hughlings Jackson since his senior undergraduate year as a history major (1960-1961).

Judith Axelrod, M.D. ’67 is enjoying retirement, granddaughters, tennis, travel, and attending Zoom conferences on medicine and infectious disease.

Frank Chisari, M.D. ’68 retired after 42 years as a viral immunologist at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif. He remains active as a consultant for vaccine and antiviral drug discovery, as a COVID adviser to his community, and as a mentor and manuscript reviewer in those areas. He and his wife, Linda, remain happily married 55 years after tying the knot. They enjoy the sunshine, coastal beauty and lifelong friends in Del Mar, Calif., and the seasonal changes and slower lifestyle at their retreat in Woodstock, Vt. They stay busy gardening, writing, reading, making music, volunteering, fly fishing, winemaking, exercising, and enjoying their children and grandchildren. Luckily, except for the usual ailments of aging, they are blessed with good health and enough energy to be tired and happy at the end of each day, ready for a good night’s sleep and looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

Ronald Rankin, M.D. ’68 was headed back up to north Idaho for the summer with plans to see friends and old colleagues. “Hard to believe I have grandkids in college but will see them as well.”

N. Reed Dunnick, M.D. ’69 was made an honorary member of the Chinese Radiologists Association.

Arthur Gerber, M.D. ’69 has retired and has been volunteering, reading and woodworking. He fondly remembers having classmate Kathy Foley, M.D. ’69 introduce him to his wife, Ruth.

Kenneth J. Kurtz, M.D. ’70 writes, “We recently hosted a scary party: After a splendid meal of spook-ghetti and hollow-weiners, the “Goblin Dance” started, but the skeleton had no-body to dance with.”

Roy M. Nuzzo, M.D. ’70 writes, “going full tilt in rehabilitation engineering and pediatric reconstructive surgery. Currently applying information theory (Shannon) to neurologic disability-caused repair.”

Eric Thomas, M.D. ’70 is planning a delayed bicycle trip to Switzerland for fall 2022 and reports that he switched to an electric bike three trips ago, which is great for longer trips. He is also planning to sell his dermatology practice and remain as medical director for at least five years. He tells us that his practice is one of only two practices that he is aware of in Connecticut that has ultrasound-guided superficial X-ray therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancers, and he is very happy with the results. Dr. Thomas sends his best wishes to all!

Bruce Smith, M.D. ’71 retired from medicine in January 2021. He still resides in northern Colorado and is enjoying the Rocky Mountains.

James S. Reilly, M.D. ’72 writes, “My wife, Barbara, and I are spending all summer in Ocean City, N.J. Close by lives Jim Husted, M.D. ’72 and his wife, Joan. Jim is an avid sailor and regularly sails in the Atlantic Ocean!”

Dennis J. Lutz, M.D. ’73 is still working after almost 50 years since graduation. He will soon complete his 36th year as chair of the Department of OB-GYN at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences and is the longest serving academic chair of OB-GYN in the country.

William Taylor, M.D. ’73 works part time in his North Carolina private practice with a panel of pain and addiction patients. The good news: not in prison, an occupational hazard thanks to regulatory policy. The bad news: can never retire, as no other practices seem to want patients with pain.

Paul Church, M.D. ’75 retired from urology practice four years ago and is taking up fly fishing.

Milagros Gonzalez, M.D. ’75 reports that she and her husband, Keith Bracht, finally went on a trip to Egypt in April 2022. They visited Cairo, Luxor, Esna, Aswan and Abu Simbel. She tells us: “It was fantastic seeing the pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. What a wonderful vacation we had in Egypt.”

Steve Bass, M.D. ’76 sends greetings and shares that he and his wife, Nancy, are enjoying their almost complete retirement. He continues to work in infection control/epidemiology and Nancy continues to be a realtor. They have three wonderful grandchildren, the product of their two marvelous children, and divide their time between Cleveland and Lake Chautauqua (home to the Chautauqua Institution). Dr. Bass is teaching at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He became emeritus and was honored to be the first recipient of the Pinnacle Award from the Cleveland Clinic community hospital where he practiced for 39 years. He tells us he is learning jazz piano and plays in a band (no performances yet) and that “life has been good.”

Donald Belsito, M.D. ’76 welcomed his first grandchild into the world on Aug. 16, 2021. Ethan Miles Jost weighed in at 7 pounds and was 19 ¼ inches and has been growing rapidly since then. Don looks forward to his next phase as “Nonno.”

Edward “Ted” Gundy, M.D. ’76 retired in 2020 from Westmed Medical Group, an orthopedic practice of which he was original founder in 1996. Dr. Gundy lives in Essex, Conn., with Donna, his wife of 53 years. He enjoys piano, guitar, singing, cooking, carpentry and his seven grandchildren.

Bill Packard, M.D. ’76 reports, “I’m still alive and well. My partner, Charles, and I were in Hawaii for January and February. We plan to return next winter. I’m very busy playing the flute in my chamber music group, Basically Baroque, and I have a new baby grand piano that I love playing. I’m still trying to keep current my ability to speak French, Italian and Spanish. It’s not easy!”

Lynda Rosenfeld, M.D. ’76 writes that it is hard for her to believe that she has been an emerita professor of medicine and pediatrics at Yale for over a year. She continues to teach, both at Yale and at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine of Quinnipiac University. She will be honored with a “Named Giants of Yale Cardiovascular Medicine Lectureship,” which she finds especially humbling.

G. Andy Miller, M.D. ’77 is enjoying quieter days in the Pacific Northwest with grandkids, dabbling in art, swimming, some slower mixed doubles tennis and cooking. He sends warm wishes to many!

Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. ’78 recently added a new role as the executive vice president and provost of the University of Nebraska system, as well as chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is trying to make a difference every day!

Thomas J. O’Dowd, M.D. ’79 reports that he was happy to see William J. Schickler III, M.D. ’79; Steven K. Luminais, M.D. ’79; and Kathryn “Betsy” Kindwall Luminais, M.D. ’80 this past holiday season despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “My wife, Nancy (Cornell University School of Nursing ’77), and I had to curtail our holiday plans because we both contracted COVID-19!”

Ellen Cohen, M.D. ’80 is now living full time in Burlington, Vt., having retired from a career in general internal medicine and graduate medical education after losing her husband to cancer in March 2021. She writes that she is happy to see anyone who makes their way to beautiful northern New England. 

Barnaby F. Starr, M.D. ’82 is greatly enjoying retirement after a busy career running a private general pediatrics practice. He sends best wishes to all of his classmates.

Elena Lister, M.D. ’82 has a book called “Giving Hope: Conversations with Children about Illness, Death and Loss” coming out in August from Penguin Random House. More information about Dr. Lister and her book can be found on her website: elenalistermd.com.

Robert London, M.D. ’82 retired from clinical anesthesiology in April 2021 and is thoroughly enjoying the predictability, lack of stress and sleeping-in that come with retirement. He does not miss the layers of personal protective equipment worn in the last months of working during COVID! Dr. London has transitioned from the Florida Board of Medicine and accepted an appointment to the board of directors of the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association. He is a consultant in the area of medical product development, something he enjoys and brought him great satisfaction in the early years of his career. His wife, Loren, whom he met at a wine and cheese gathering for new nurses and medical students on the patio of Lasdon House in 1978, is still by his side, and still molding him. They have a daughter and two grandchildren in Atlanta, and a son in San Francisco, so they travel regularly to both. Dr. London has remained friends with classmates Nina and Rich Goldweit, M.D. ’82, and Richard Eisenberg, M.D. ’82 and Kathy Rozansky Eisenberg, M.D. ’82.

Gary E. Eddey, M.D. ’83 reports that after retiring at age 67, he returned to work as a pediatrician in Washington Heights before he turned 70. Everyone in his office is 35 to 45 years younger than him, and he’s very appreciative of their patience! He is just as grateful to be able to care for his patients and their parents. On the personal front, Dr. Eddey now has seven grandchildren, three on the East Coast and four on the West Coast.

Roger Blumenthal, M.D. ’85 writes, “It was so much fun to host the Class of 1985 Virtual Reunion with Susan Ascher, M.D. ’85; Niloo Zail, M.D. ’85; Tom Krisztinicz, M.D. ’85; and Henry Hacker, M.D. ’85. I greatly enjoyed seeing David Blaustein, M.D. ’85 in NYC, and John Papa, M.D. ’85 and Steve Berger, M.D. ’85 at the wedding of Steve’s son in Wisconsin.” 

Bruce Reidenberg, M.D. ’85 writes, “Just like you, I have been tied up with COVID-19 over the past two years.” Dr. Reidenberg was part of a team that published “Drive-Through Vaccination Clinic for Adults with Developmental Disabilities” and a follow-up on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in the same population. He received the WJC Julian Bernstein Distinguished Service Award for controlling COVID-19 outbreaks at his synagogue and religious school and was nominated for the Centers for Disease Control’s McKnight Prize for Health Care Outbreak Heroes.

Fayne L. Frey, M.D. ’87 tells us that her book “The Skincare Hoax” is now available for preorder on Amazon! She writes that “In ‘The Skincare Hoax,’ I explore the ‘essential’ product categories that are entirely unnecessary, expose how many well-known skincare ingredients have no scientific basis, and recommend truly effective skincare products and regimens that are easy and affordable. Soon to be published by Shyhorse Publishing, distributed by Simon & Schuster, on Oct. 18, 2022.”

Carol Mary McIntosh, M.D. ’87 is presently working in Grenada, in the eastern Caribbean, with the country’s Ministry of Health and Social Security as director of hospital services overseeing a main hospital, two subsidiary hospitals, one psychiatric hospital and one home for the elderly. In addition, she is overseeing nurses who run the Cervix Cancer Screening Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid Clinics in Grenada. Dr. McIntosh plans to relocate to Alexandria, Va., to oversee an OB-GYN clinic for women with disabilities in October 2022.

Walter Klein, M.D. ’87 hopes his classmates and their families are doing well in very difficult times. 

Anne Beal, M.D. ’88 is happy to share the news that she is joining the GlaxoSmithKline board. She will also become a member of the corporate responsibility committee, which provides oversight of the company’s trust agenda including policies for access to medicines, global health, inclusion and diversity and environmental sustainability. Given her decades-long focus on health disparities, elevating the voice of the patient and public health, she reports this to be an exciting professional fit. She has enjoyed meeting the members of the board and GSK leadership and looks forward to working with these thoughtful and committed professionals. Most importantly, Dr. Beal notes, this gives her the chance to catch up with Dr. Laurie Glimcher, past dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, before and after meetings.

Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, M.D. ’88, has been named 2022-23 president of the American Medical Women’s Association, the largest multispecialty professional community for women physicians in all stages of their careers. She and Paul Kirchgraber, M.D. ’88 reminisce about their medical school days more lately. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber has been on faculty at the AU/UGA Medical Partnership in Athens, Ga., teaching MS1s and MS2s and reports that talking about the cases and basic sciences reminds them of their days as students. She shares: “It is the most amazing way to learn in small groups with case-based learning. So much fun to know the clinical medicine and relearn the basic science. Paul even pulled out his Micro textbook from medical school as he felt left out! I am loving the teaching and was humbled to receive the Educator of the Year Award from the Class of 2025. Guess we are doing something right.” Dr. Kirchgraber remains CEO of LabCorp Drug Development and, she says “as you can guess, the pandemic had him working like crazy. Travel is starting back up for him now as they work the science to create new treatment options.” Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber and Dr. Kirchgraber have been fortunate to meet up with classmate Kathleen (Kitty) Baldridge Gordon, M.D. ’88 and her husband, Gary Gordon, M.D. ’87. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber writes, “turns out we are in the same state at times and it has been fabulous. Kitty is wonderful and still has the great smile and laugh as always.” Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber and Dr. Kirchgraber split their time between North Carolina and Georgia and are blessed with two granddaughters who are looking forward to each having brothers this year! They send their best to all and encourage everyone to keep in touch!

Daniel B. Jones, M.D. ’90 reports that after nearly two decades at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, he will be joining Rutgers New Jersey Medical School as chair of the Department of Surgery and chief of service at University Hospital in Newark, N.J.

Curt Cole, M.D. ’94 will be a visiting professor at the University of Sao Paulo this academic year.

Marie Jhin, M.D. ’94 writes, “Can’t believe it will be almost 30 years since we’ve graduated from medical school. Much has changed in medicine...lower reimbursements, more administrative burdens and high physician burnout to name a few. I have been fortunate in the past few years to change my dermatology practice to a more direct pay and cosmetic practice. I also work only three days a week so that I can spend more time working with different skincare startups. Currently I am the chief medical officer for Musely and the scientific adviser for Naiian Beauty. I have also published my second book, ‘K-Beauty Secrets.’ Besides work, I have been busy raising three kids who are all out of the house and two bonus kids with my husband Erik of six years. My husband and I try to live a purposeful life and try to continue to grow spiritually and emotionally. The pandemic was definitely a catalyst to look introspectively. With that said, I hope that everyone is safe and healthy!”

Stacy Higgins, M.D. ’95 in March 2022 was appointed as the assistant dean of student affairs at Emory School of Medicine. In this role, she is responsible for all professional development activities of students in the third and fourth year.

Amy Wechsler, M.D. ’95 is attending Columbia Business School EMBA program in the fall!

Tim Dellit, M.D. ’97 began serving as interim CEO of UW Medicine and interim dean of the University of Washington School of Medicine on July 1, 2022.

Eric C. Burdge, M.D. ’98, Ph.D. tells us he “will be retiring as a colonel from the United States Air Force with 20-plus years of service to this great nation. I currently practice in Wilkes-Barre, Penn., and have a practice limited to benign and malignant diseases of the breast following completion of a surgical breast oncology fellowship in 2013, under the tutelage of Dr. V. Suzanne Klimberg at the Winthrop Cancer Institute.” His eldest daughter just graduated from high school and will begin the master of physician assistant studies at Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y. His other two daughters are growing by leaps and bounds. The middle daughter will graduate from high school in two years and the youngest will follow close at her heels in five years. Dr. Burdge writes, “Wow — where has all the time gone?! I suppose it flies by when you are having fun....”

Manisha Juthani, M.D. ’98 was appointed as commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Public Health by Gov. Ned Lamont on July 26, 2021, and started the position that September. 

Suzanne A. Magherini-Rothe, M.D. ’98 is the medical director of the Monmouth Family Planning Clinic (Title X), and lives in Rumson, N.J.

Angela Arbach, M.D. ’14 reports that after completing a residency in Internal Medicine-Primary Care at NYU and staying on as faculty, she has relocated to Ithaca, N.Y., to help build a new internal medicine-primary care residency. She is an associate program director, and the program had its first class graduate in June!

Karl Verebey, Ph.D. ’72, former chief toxicologist of New York City, is now retired at age 84 having published over 100 scientific papers. He is the 2022 recipient of the Alexander O. Gettler Award bestowed by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences for analytical achievement in forensic toxicology. In 2018, Dr. Verebey was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who.

Lynne Lederman, Ph.D. ’84 reports that after academic postdocs and a few years as a researcher, technology transfer lead, and lab director at biopharmaceutical companies, she has been an independent medical, science and health writer. Dr. Lederman reports from medical conferences, writes articles for professional medical and scientific audiences, and performs competitive intelligence services in oncology, among other activities. She has had the privilege of interviewing and profiling many prominent scientists and medical researchers, including Nobel Prize winners. 

Lori (Moran) Kelman, Ph.D. ’94 lives in Maryland with her husband and two adult daughters. She is a professor of biotechnology at Montgomery College in Germantown, Md., training students to work in the local biotech industry.

Beth Higgins, P.A.-C ’07 is celebrating 15 years with the Department of Neurological Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. A new hire in 2007, she has managed care of neurosurgery inpatients as well as first assisting in the OR as the department has grown over the last 15 years.

Chad May, Ph.D. ’01 started a new position as chief scientific officer at Serotiny, an early-stage biotech firm in the San Francisco Bay area identifying and optimizing novel gene and cell therapies.

Stephen Pitt, Ph.D. ’04 is the pharmaceutical sciences external strategy leader for the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson & Johnson. 

Barry Kappel, Ph.D. ’06, founder, president and CEO of Sapience Therapeutics, announced $41 million in Series B financing to advance the oncology biotechnology company’s pipeline of peptide therapeutics targeting protein-protein interactions in May. 

Ian White, Ph.D. ’09 was featured on the cover of Top Doctor Magazine in April 2022. Neobiosis LLC, the company he founded, hosted the grand opening of its third lab in Gainesville, Fla., in July. 

Ofrona A. Reid, M.D., M.B.A. ’19, M.S. ’19 is chief medical officer at Syracuse Community Health.

Andrea Craig, PA-C ’16 was the inaugural speaker for the newly-launched lecture series for physician assistant alumni and students organized by Meghan Newcomer, PA-C ’16. She is a physician assistant at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and spent six years in the Department of Medicine treating patients at NewYork-Presbyterian/Allen Hospital. In a video lecture, she shares valuable and practical tools on how to deliver bad news. She plans future video lectures. 

Naira Simmons, Ph.D. ’12 writes, “It’s been nearly 10 years since my thesis defense and what an incredible decade it has been! Immediately after graduation, I joined a prominent law firm and began to incorporate my science knowledge into patent applications. I have since become a partner at a nationally-ranked law firm and have enjoyed tremendous success. To the students graduating today, the future is full of opportunities. Science can be the foundation of limitless opportunities! Congratulations to the Class of 2022!”

Alexandra Cohen, Ph.D. ’17 joined the Department of Psychology at Emory University as an assistant professor in August.

John D. Clarke, M.D., M.B.A., M.S. ’21 started a new position as chief medical officer and director of occupational medicine at Brookhaven National Laboratory and assistant clinical professor for the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University.

Allan Mariano, P.A. ’03, M.S. ’21 writes, “I have always believed that anything is possible if you work hard and persevere. I was awarded a certificate for physician assistant (PA) in August 2003 at Weill Cornell Medicine. Since then, I have been an active PA for almost two decades. I also received multiple awards including the first PA of the Year at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and recently the Patriotic Employer award from the Office of Secretary of Defense and U.S. National Guard, to name a few. I was also one of the authors who published an article in the CHEST journal titled “Perioperative Use of Amiodarone in Cardiac Surgery Patients to Achieve Normal Sinus Rhythm Upon Discharge.” All throughout my PA career, I have been focusing on providing the best patient care and elevating my fellow PAs, which led me to various leadership roles including the lead PA for five years at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, advanced practice care provider manager at Memorial Sloan Kettering for 10 years, and currently as a chief PA for surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Going full circle, I recently pursued and received the completion program for the master of science degree in physician assistant studies from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences in 2021, where my PA career began more than 19 years ago.”

Ke Xu, Ph.D. ’21, co-founder and CEO of biotechnology startup Meta Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in immune-metabolism, raised $15 million to accelerate its pipeline development.