Alumni Notes

James Van Duren, M.D. ’59 reports that he is “doing OK for age 90. Living in the same house for over 52 years, occasionally playing golf — shot my age last summer — wife Mary doing OK. No medical activity!”

John Graybill, M.D. ’66 shares, “After a career in infectious diseases, this December I learned personally about a big one I had only read about earlier. My wife and I were at our home in Guatemala. On Dec. 16 I went to bed feeling well. On Dec. 17, I woke up with aching muscles, tried to get up, and fell on the floor with profound weakness. I had a sudden introduction to dengue, and was sent to a hospital with a diagnosis of ‘hemorrhagic dengue’ for observation, to be sure that I did not bleed out. Since then, I have had a very slow recovery, with encephalopathy being the most persistent item. I now know that dengue has been ripping through Mexico. What to do for future trips? The USA licensed vaccine Dengvaxia is maybe not so good and is more expensive than the one produced by Takeda and used in Europe, but not in the USA. Even at age 83, I can learn about tropical diseases by getting them.”

Melvin S Rosh, M.D. ’60 just published his latest book, “Searching for the Gateway to the Afterlife: the Anatomy of Funeral Rituals from Cave People to the Present Time.” All his books are available on Amazon Bookshelf. His only children’s book, “The Guest Who Came from Nowhere,” has been translated into 14 languages.

Peter W. Blumencranz, M.D. ’70 has two new publications: “The Predictive Utility of MammaPrint and BluePrint in Identifying Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Who are Most Likely to Have Nodal Downstaging” and “A Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy,” published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology last September, and “Intraoperative Fluorescence Guidance for Breast Cancer Lumpectomy Surgery,” published in the New England Journal of Medicine Evidence in April 2023.

Barry H Smith, M.D. ’72 reports, “I remain committed to the World Health Organization’s (1948) definition of health as “physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In keeping with this, I am privileged to work with the good people of East New York, Brooklyn, through the nonprofit Dreyfus Health Policy & Research Center’s Rise Up East New York program. The mission is to maximize community-based wellness for everyone, as well as to strengthen the available local health-care systems, clinics and practices to provide the best and most compassionate care, but also to prevent chronic illness and its accompanying diminished quality of life. To achieve this, we have developed and are testing a multisectoral, self-supporting approach to health that emphasizes what the community can do for itself before the formal repair-oriented system we currently have is accessed.”

Benjamin A. Lipsky, M.D. ’73 reports, “I’m mostly retired now (emeritus professor of medicine at University of Washington, and from University of Oxford) but still collaborating on clinical research projects, paper writing and various types of consulting. I enjoyed recent get-togethers with classmates (Gar LaSalle, M.D. ’73, Dan Hunt, M.D. ’73, Vince Pons, M.D. ’73 and Dave Fulton, M.D. ’74) and am hoping to see many others in September at the 50th Weill Cornell Medicine Reunion in New York. I am also looking forward to the arrival of our fourth grandchild (courtesy of our two daughters), with all of us happily living in Seattle.”

Thomas “Mike” Anger, M.D. ’75 reports, “My wife of 54 years passed away in December after a brief, brave fight with a very aggressive, widespread cancer. Lots of support from family. I am still practicing part time, riding my bike (yes, in the winter) and hitting the gym for resistance work. Recent contact with Roger Geiss and Roger Berlin, both retired and enjoying it.”

Roger W. Geiss, M.D. ’75 was named 2023 Outstanding Senior Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) annual Celebration of Excellence. Dr. Geiss reports that since 2021, he has been chair of the senior scholars program at UICOMP, which is a group of retired physicians with the purpose of enriching the learning environment at UICOMP through volunteer teaching, mentorship and other activities. Since retiring in 2015, Dr. Geiss has held the title of professor emeritus of pathology at UICOMP. 

Jim Newman B.A. ’71, M.D. ’75 reorganized his life in his 60s after a career starting with the private practice of rheumatology in his adopted state of Delaware before becoming chief medical officer at the Christiana Care Health System. Divorcing after 36 years, Jim and Leslie remain good friends and are involved with their sons, Michael and Craig, and daughters-in-law, Jenna and Courtney. He says, “I am so fortunate to have lived long enough to visit with my grandchildren Porter, Riley, Benjamin and Caleb...all under 8.” Now retired from medicine, Dr. Newman has taken to writing. Due to some serious health issues, he has not been able to travel in recent years or attend class reunions, for which he sends his apologies. He hopes that his memoir, “Notes from the Bedside, A Physician’s Memoir” (self-published on Amazon) serves as a poor substitute for the real thing. “My undergrad friends, my CUMC class, my residency tribe (for that is what it was) and the rheum department at Yale are never far from my thoughts and I wish all of you good health, happiness and contentment.”

Russell L. R. Ryan, M.D. ’75 reports that his daughter Eliza gave birth to Corso Power Donahue in June 2023, two and half months early. Corson spent two months in the NICU and is a healthy baby boy, for which Dr. Ryan and his family are grateful. He also shared that he enjoyed dinner with Mary and Walter F. Schlech III, M.D. ’75, in Boston last October. 

Ted Gundy, M.D. ’76 retired from a career in orthopedic surgery in 2020 and is a past board chair of Westmed Medical Group in White Plains, N.Y. He moved to Essex, Conn. and is still sorting out “retirement” with wife Donna, three married children and seven grandchildren.

Suzanne M. de la Monte, M.D. ’77 reports that after spending five years as chief of pathology & laboratory medicine at the Providence VA Medical Center, she returned to Lifespan-Rhode Island Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where she conducts NIH-funded research mainly on the long-term, adverse effects of alcohol on the brain across the lifespan. In addition, she has clinical responsibilities in neuropathology at the Rhode Island Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. She continues to sponsor a robust and diverse hands-on translational laboratory research training and mentoring program for undergraduates, graduate students, medical students and international trainees.

Frank J. Green, M.D. ’78 continues to practice noninvasive cardiology at Ascension Medical Group in Indianapolis. He has three children, five grandchildren, six grand dogs and continues to enjoy singing in the sanctuary choir at Second Presbyterian Church.

Harvey Lederman, M.D. ’78 reports that “after retiring in 2019, I was asked to help out the primary care unit at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Four years later, I am still here ‘filling in the gaps.’ Best job I ever had!”

Bradley Radwaner, M.D. ’80 has expanded his 30-year old Manhattan cardiology practice to now include the treatment of vein disease, adding Elite Veins NY to his practice. He tells us, “after 17 years of placing catheters in the coronary arteries as an invasive cardiologist, now I can close leaky veins with catheters!”

Scott Hayworth, M.D. ’84 reports that as of last December, “I’ve departed from my role as Optum’s chief physician liaison officer and formed Hayworth Ventures, based in Armonk, N.Y., concentrating on private equity advising, corporate board service, and investment. I was honored to be the recipient of the Red Door Community’s (formerly Gilda’s Club) Award for Leadership at their gala in New York in November. Nan Hayworth, M.D. ’85 and I continue to live in Bedford, N.Y., and Bonita Springs, Fla.” Susan C. Pannullo, M.D. ’87 was unanimously re-elected to serve a second term as chair of the board of trustees of The Washington Center, one of the largest and oldest experiential education and internship nonprofits in the nation. She also recently completed a three-year term as Weill Cornell Medicine’s Robert G. Schwager M.D. ’67 Education Scholar, through which she created a new alumni student coaching program, linking external alumni to Weill Cornell Medical College students.

Susan C. Pannullo, M.D. ’87 was unanimously re-elected to serve a second term as chair of the board of trustees of The Washington Center, one of the largest and oldest experiential education and internship nonprofits in the nation. She also recently completed a three-year term as Weill Cornell Medicine’s Robert G. Schwager M.D.’67 Education Scholar, through which she created a new alumni student
coaching program, linking external alumni to Weill Cornell Medical College students.

Linda W. Prine, M.D. ’87 tells us, “I am working with the organization Aid Access to provide abortion pills to those who need them in 50 states, thanks to the New York State shield law that was passed to protect us to do this work. My advocacy organization is the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine.”

Daniel Virgil Alfaro III, M.D. ’88 reports that “after a four-year tour in the USAF Medical Corps, in 1998, I opened a private practice in Charleston, S.C. We expanded from Hilton Head up to Myrtle Beach with eight surgeons, 11 offices, an ambulatory surgical center and a commitment to clinical trials. The practice is committed to academic medicine, and we have published eight textbooks and numerous peer-reviewed articles. To address the growing issues with addiction, my partners and I recently opened Hammocks on the Edisto, an addiction center for women. My three children are out of college and doing good things for others.”

Paul Kirchgraber, M.D. ’88 tells us that he “stepped down from the role of CEO of Labcorp Drug Development in Q3 last year. Currently advising pharmaceutical service companies and am an independent director of the board at Flagship Biosciences, a private equity-owned spatial biology company. Looking forward to our reunion this fall!”

Theresa M. Rohr-Kirchgraber, M.D. ’88 will be joining the board of directors for the American Medical Association (AMA) Political Action Committee and will serve in this position for the next three years. Dr. Rohr-Kirchgraber has also been named as the AMA liaison to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Women’s Preventive Services Initiative Dissemination Committee.

Michael Silberberg, M.D. ’88 continues to be U.K.-based, working for AbbVie as the global therapeutic area head, facial aesthetics, global medical affairs. Last year, he was appointed non-executive director of an Australian Securities Exchange-listed Australian biotechnology company, Tissue Repair Ltd. 

Phyllis Townsend, M.D. ’88 reports, “After battling squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil in 2022, I elected to retire from my pediatric practice that October. I’ve spent the last year traveling and enjoying life. I can even say I don’t really miss pediatrics anymore.”

Dan Jones, M.D. ’90 coauthored the McGraw Hill Specialty Board Examination and Review books in metabolic and bariatric surgery and general surgery. He also edited “Pocket Surgery,” a go-to source for the essential information needed to care for surgery patients, as well as for success in surgery clerkship rotation and on exams. 

Deborah M. Kado, M.D. ’91 shares, “Paul Mischel, M.D. ’91 and I continue to enjoy our work at Stanford and this year, I assumed the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center director role at the VA Palo Alto. We really cherished our visit to the University of Utah that included hanging out with fellow classmate Corrine Welt, M.D. ’91 and also connecting locally on several occasions in Palo Alto with classmate Adam Paley, M.D. ’91! Our youngest daughter graduated Dartmouth College in June 2023 and our older one is a fourth-year medical student at UC San Diego. Paul was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine last October and we were excited to attend the ceremony with him.”

Steven Diaz, M.D. ’92 reports that “I will begin serving on the American Hospital Association (AHA)’s board of directors, extending my work with the AHA having been and continuing to be on their committee for clinical leadership. I will also begin serving with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education on its accreditation review committee. Excited to join these groups and having a bit of trepidation.”

Douglas G. Adler, M.D. ’95 moved to Denver after 15 years as a tenured professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. He is currently the director of the Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy (CATE) at Porter Adventist Hospital/Centura Health. He recently published his 500th scientific paper and just began a five-year term as editor-in-chief of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the primary journal of the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). In addition to training medical students, medical and surgical residents, and GI fellows, he is also the program director for the Advanced Endoscopy GI Fellowship at CATE. He hosts the ASGE’s monthly GIE Podcast and enjoys a side career writing magazine articles about aviation, aerospace and astronomy. He and his wife, Amy, have two grown children and you can find him on X (formerly Twitter) via @douglasadlermd.

Karen E. Lasser, M.D. ’95 is now working as a senior editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Leslie E. Diaz, M.D. ’02 is married and is now Leslie Diaz Moore.

John Borrego, M.D. ’04 reports that “I recently stopped by the corner of 69th St and York on my bicycle. I took some photos and said hi while along my journey from Maine to Florida. Starting in mid-September, I rode on the East Coast Greenway and completed the journey in just under two months. Currently, I am living in Texas fulfilling my purpose of serving God and serving others.”

Michael Day, M.D. ’11 reports that “after six years practicing clinical orthopedic surgery, I have pivoted to a more preventative and holistic practice model. I have joined Structural Elements, an orthopedic wellness clinic in Hagerstown, Md., where I offer longevity medicine and sports performance consultations as well as nonsurgical joint preservation care.”

Arnab Ghosh, M.S. ’19 reports that he has a growing research portfolio studying the effects of climate change on health. He was also recently appointed to be one of seven National Institutes of Health (NIH) Climate and Health Scholars helping direct the NIH cross-institutional collaboration on climate and health

Ofrona A. Reid, M.B.A. ’19, M.S. ’19 has been appointed interim CEO and president of Syracuse Community Health Center.

Jonghan Peter Lee, Ph.D ’21 reports that he is “currently working at a small New York-based biotech in a search and evaluate, BD, and portfolio strategy-type role. Very rewarding! Happy to engage with students on what the job is like and how to get into a similar position like mine.”

Paul Wolujewicz, Ph.D. ’22 started a position as an assistant professor of biomedical sciences at Quinnipiac University in July 2023. He still works closely with Weill Cornell Medicine’s Feil Family Brain & Mind Research Institute as an adjunct assistant professor of neuroscience.

Cloris Zhang, M.S.’23 shares, “As a Health Policy and Economics ’23 graduate from Weill Cornell Medicine, I’ve embarked on a career as a compliance analyst at Goldman Sachs, focusing on financial crime investigations. My role leverages my graduate training in policy analysis and regulations, nurturing my interest in combining finance with policy for impactful compliance work. Weill Cornell Medicine was pivotal, enriching my technical and soft skills — from policy application to effective communication and networking as an international student. I am grateful for all the faculty’s support, which has been instrumental in my professional development. Reflecting on my time at WCM, I appreciate not just the education but the unforgettable experience of juggling policy studies with mastering the art of New York’s coffee culture. This unique blend of experiences has prepared me for the dynamic world of finance, proving that caffeine and finance can, indeed, go hand in hand.”