Awards, Progress Notes and Obituaries

Honors & Awards

Kelly Abramson, an executive in International Business Development, earned the inaugural Vizient University Health System Consortium Global Executive Services Network Leadership Award. This award is granted to an individual who embodies the network’s spirit of collaboration, shared knowledge, and dedication to excellence.

Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, an associate director of Penn’s Center for Health Incentives & Behavioral Economics (CHIBE), an associate professor of Nursing, and an assistant professor of Health Policy, and Harsha Thirumurthy, PhD, an associate director of CHIBE and an associate professor of Medical Ethics & Health Policy, have received a three-year, $3.5 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a first-of-its-kind HIV-focused nudge unit in South Africa.

Yi-Wei Chang, PhD, and assistant professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, was awarded the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s 2019 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering, earning a five-year, $875,000 grant to support his research. Chang’s lab uses innovative electron and optical imaging with analytical tools to investigate molecular structures in unprecedented detail in order to decipher the mechanisms of cellular processes.

Ebenezer Daniel, MBBS, MS, DO, MPH, PhD, an assistant professor of Ophthalmology; Maureen G. Maguire, PhD, the Carolyn F. Jones Professor of Ophthalmology; Graham E. Quinn, MD, MSCE’01, an emeritus professor of Ophthalmology; Prithvi S. Sankar, MD, a professor of Clinical Ophthalmology; Michael E. Sulewski, MD, chief of Ophthalmology at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, co-director of Cornea and External Diseases Service, director of Refractive Surgery, and a clinical associate of Ophthalmology; and Brian L. VanderBeek, MD, MPH, MSCE’15, an assistant professor of Ophthalmology received awards at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. These awards honored their contributions to the profession, humanitarian service, and mentorship.

Julie Dees, MA, LPC, director of Behavioral Health at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Shreya Kangovi, MD, MSHP’13, founding executive director of the Penn Center for Community Health Workers and an associate professor of General Internal Medicine; Carrie Kovarik, MD, an associate professor of Dermatology; Cecilia M. W. Livesey, MD, GME’16, chief of Integrated Services in Psychiatry, and Nicole O’Donnell, a certified recovery specialist with Penn Medicine’s Center for Opioid Recovery and Engagement, were recognized at the Philadelphia Inquirer’s inaugural Influencers of Healthcare Awards for their excellence in innovation, patient care, education, and volunteerism.

James Eberwine, PhD, the Elmer Holmes Bobst Professor of Pharmacology and co-director of the Penn Program in Single Cell Biology, was recognized by the National Institutes of Health, earning the Pioneer Award for the second time. He is one of only five people to be awarded the grant more than once. He will receive up to $3.5 million to investigate RNA structure within single cells in cortex and hippocampus tissue in the brains of mice and humans.

Yale E. Goldman, MD’75, PhD’75, a professor of Physiology, was recognized by the Biophysical Society for his contributions to the field of single molecule biophysics, and specifically for his work in measuring and understanding motor proteins. He received the 2020 Kazuhito Kinosita Award in Single Molecule Biophysics.

Penn Medicine’s Palliative and Advance Illness Research (PAIR) Center—led by Scott Halpern, MD’03, MSCE’01, PhD’02, MBE’02, a professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics & Health Policy, and Epidemiology, and founding director of PAIR—been awarded a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institute on Aging to fund a Roybal Center. The Roybal Center program is dedicated to the translation and integration of basic behavioral and social research into interventions that improve the lives of older patients. With this award, Penn now has the distinction of being the only institution in the country with two Roybal Centers.

John H. Holmes, BA’76, PhD, FACE, FACMI, a professor of Medical Informatics in Epidemiology, was appointed for a second term on the Health Informatics Accreditation Council of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. In this role, he will review applications for Master’s degree programs in informatics, set national accreditation standards, and oversee site visitors who evaluate program candidates for accreditation.

Rebecca A. Hubbard, MSc, PhD, an associate professor of Biostatistics, and Jason Karlawish, MD, a professor of Geriatrics and co-director of the Penn Memory Center, were reappointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on Care Interventions for Individuals with Dementia and Their Caregivers. The committee is advising on various interventions for Alzheimer’s disease through a two-stage study with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Rajan Jain, MD, an assistant professor of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology and member of the Cardiovascular Institute and the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and Arjun Raj, PhD, a professor of Bioengineering, were presented with the Transformative Research Award by the National Institutes of Health. The $5 million in funding they will receive will allow their labs to come together to develop approaches to elucidate factors that control cell identity and how they regulate transdifferentiation approaches.

Corey J. Langer, MD, a professor of Hematology-Oncology and director of Thoracic Oncology in the Abramson Cancer Center, was named the 2019 Honorary Member of the American Society for Radiation Oncology—the society’s highest honor for physicians and researchers in disciplines outside of radiation oncology, radiobiology, and medical physics.

L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, FAOA, chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Paul B. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery, and a professor of Plastic Surgery, was inducted into the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, whose mission is to assemble innovative master surgeons who will work with the American College of Surgeons to advance surgical education and training.

Maayan Levy, PhD, an assistant professor of Microbiology, Ophir Shalem, MSc, PhD, an assistant professor of Genetics, and Christoph A. Thaiss, PhD, an assistant professor of Microbiology and a member of the Institute for Immunology and the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, each received a New Innovator Award from

the National Institutes of Health. The award comes with $2.4 million in funding over five years, which aims to fuel research endeavors that are more opened-ended and have a potentially broader effect on scientific understanding compared to more traditional research.

Foteini Mourkioti, PhD, an assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Cell and Developmental Biology, and co-director of the Musculoskeletal Regeneration Program in the Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine, received a research grant from NASA to investigate how space-flight-like conditions impact telomere length in muscle stem cells and how that impacts muscle atrophy.

Charles L. Nelson, MD’92, chief of Adult Reconstruction and a professor of Orthopaedic Surgery who specializes in joint replacement, was one of only 21 members elected to a 10-year term on the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Sydney Shaffer, MD’18, PhD’17, an assistant professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Bioengineering, received the National Institutes of Health’s Early Independence Award. The $1.25 million grant will allow her to build on her previous work in melanoma and focus on rare resistant or invasive cancer cells. Her research has the potential to lead to novel treatments of these highly-dangerous cancer cells.

Alumni News

1960s

Patricia Gabow, MD’69, received the 2019 Gustav O. Lienhard Award for Advancement of Health Care from the National Academy of Medicine for transforming a safety net hospital into a national model for quality, cost-efficient care.

1970s

Joe B. Massey, MD, GME’72, has joined Inception Fertility Ventures, LLC, a network of top-tier providers focused on comprehensive fertility care and family planning.

Robert I. Grossman, MD’73, was honored by NYU Langone Health’s board of trustees following a decade of service as dean and CEO. The school has been renamed the NYU Robert I. Grossman School of Medicine.

Diane K. Jorkasky, MD’77, GME’82, was named expert consultant of NDA Partners, a life-sciences management consulting and contract development organization.

1980s

Paul M. Palevsky, MD, GME’84, has been appointed president-elect of the National Kidney Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on kidney disease prevention and education.

Mehmet Cengiz Oz, MD’86, GME’86, was appointed to the board of directors at Pan Theryx, a biotechnology company focused on developing nutritional therapeutics derived from colostrum to improve health and wellness.

Mats Agren, MD’87, has joined the Neurosurgery and Spine department at Maine Medical Partners, the largest network of primary care and specialty practices in Maine and New Hampshire.

James Bryan Bushick, MD’88, GME’89, has been appointed chief healthcare innovation officer at Amplifire—a learning and performance improvement platform for health care and other industries.

Theodore M. Danoff, MD, PhD, GME’88, has been appointed chief medical officer at Complexa, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that develops treatments for fibrotic and inflammatory diseases.

1990s

Dana C. Covey, MD, GME’90, received the 2019 William W. Tipton, Jr., MD, Leadership Award from The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in recognition of his contributions to the science and art of military and trauma orthopaedics.

Jeannie T. Lee, MD’90, PhD’93, has been appointed to the scientific advisory board at Skyhawk Therapeutics, a drug development company focused on treating diseases with novel RNA expression-modifying molecules.

Wendye R. Robbins, MD, GME’91, has been appointed to the board of directors at RAPT Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage, immunology-based biopharmaceutical company that develops small oral molecules to treat oncology and inflammatory diseases.

Elizabeth Tarka, MD’92, GME ’99, has been appointed chief medical officer at Idera Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company focused on immunotherapy methods to treat cancer.

Gary J. Romano, MD, GME’96, has been appointed chief medical officer of Passage Bio, a genetic medicines company developing AAV-delivered gene therapies for the treatment of rare central nervous system diseases.

Kenneth W. Altman, MD, PhD, GME’98, has been appointed chair of the department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Geisinger Health System.

Douglas S. Smink, MD’98, MPH, has been promoted to chief of Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He also serves as the associate chair of education in Surgery and the program director of the General Surgery Residency.

2000s

David Avi Hollander, MD’00, GME’00, has been appointed chief research and development officer at Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an ophthalmic pharmaceutical company developing treatments for patients with open-angle glaucoma and retinal diseases.

Paul McGovern, MD, GME’01, has been appointed vice president of Medical Sciences at VenatoRx, a private pharmaceutical company developing novel anti-infectives to treat multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Kevin Navin Sheth, MD’03, has teamed up with Hyperfine Research, Inc., to pioneer the world’s first portable, low-cost MRI technology for use in the neuro intensive care unit of Yale New Haven Hospital.

Roderick Tzeian Wong, MD’03, has been appointed to the board of directors at Avidity Biosciences, a biotechnology company focused on antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates for the treatment of rare muscle disorders.

Subha Airan Javia, MD, GME’07 has been appointed chief executive officer of TrekIT Health, a tech startup that supplies its Penn-grown, patient-focused workflow software to other health systems.

Giang T. Nguyen, MD, GME’07, MPH, MSCE, has been appointed director of Harvard University Health Services. He previously served as executive director of Student Health Services at the University of Pennsylvania.

Anne Traas, DVM, MS’09, has been appointed chief development officer at Scout Bio, a biotechnology company focused on delivering a pipeline of one-time therapeutics for major chronic pet health conditions.

2010s

Rodrigo Cerda, MD’10, has been appointed vice president of Clinical Care Transformation at Independence Health Group, an insurance company that serves millions of people nationwide.

David Chacko, MD’10, MBA’11, has been appointed chief business officer at Erasca, a company dedicated to advancing exceptional scientific approaches to erase cancer.

David C. Fajgenbaum, MD’13, MBA’15, MSc, has published Chasing My Cure: A Doctor’s Race to Turn Hope into Action, which chronicles his pursuit of a cure for his own rare disorder, Castleman’s disease.

Natalie Clark Stentz, MD, MSCE, GME’18, has joined Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta in the Buckhead-Piedmont location. She has made numerous important contributions to the field of reproductive endocrinology.

Perelman School of Medicine Alumnus Earns Nobel Prize

For physician-scientist and University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine alumnus Gregg L. Semenza, MD’84, PhD’84, one question has informed most of his career: how do the body’s trillions of cells—which continuously require oxygen in order to make energy—sense and adapt to changes in oxygen availability? For three decades, Semenza, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, has led pioneering research examining the molecular mechanisms of oxygen regulation, leading to the groundbreaking discovery of the HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor) 1 protein, which constantly monitors oxygen levels and switches genes on and off in response to low-oxygen conditions.

In recognition of this exceptional work, Semenza was awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He shared this honor with William G. Kaelin, Jr., MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Peter J. Ratcliffe, FRS, FMedSci, of Oxford University. With this honor, Semenza became the 29^th Penn-affiliated Nobel laureate.

Semenza received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, then earned his medical degree and doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania through the Medical Scientist Training Program. He completed his pediatric residency at Duke University Medical Center, then performed postdoctoral research in medical genetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he became a faculty member in 1990. He currently serves as the C. Michael Armstrong Professor of Pediatrics and a professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Biological Chemistry, Oncology, and Medicine at the Johns Hopkins, as well as director of the Vascular Program at the Institute for Cell Engineering.

When he took to the stage at the Karolinska Institutet in December to deliver his Nobel Lecture—dedicated to his high school biology teacher and scientific inspiration, Dr. Rose Nelson—Semenza explained the implications of understanding the role of HIF-1 plays in conditions like anemia, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and cancer. His lab is continuing to investigate whether HIF-1 can stop diseased cells from surviving in low-oxygen environments, as well as it HIF-related treatments can encourage the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells.

Reflecting on her colleague’s achievement, Celeste Simon, PhD, the Arthur H. Rubenstein, MBBCh Professor in Cell and Developmental Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine and scientific director of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, noted in a commentary for the journal Cell that this level of international recognition is not only exciting, but it “confirms our belief in the overall importance of hypoxia research.” Noting that the mechanisms Semenza and colleagues discovered were extremely novel and surprising in 2001, she said she looks forward to the future surprises the field still has in store.

“In the meantime,” she said, “we heartily celebrate the outstanding achievements of these three recipients of the 2019 award.”

Obituaries

 

1940s

Albert Joseph Weiss, MD’45, a pediatrician; Aug. 21. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, then earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He continued his training at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Sinai Hospital. Over the course of his career, he served as an instructor and assistant professor of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the director of the Children’s Chest Clinic, and an honorary staff member at Union Memorial Hospital and Sinai Hospital. Weiss operated his own practice until retiring in 1985.

Ellis A. Perlswig, MD’48, a child psychiatrist; Aug. 23. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a clinical associate professor of Psychiatry at Yale, operated a private practice, and consulted for the Superior Court Juvenile Matters in New Haven, Conn. Perlswig was also a member of The Medical Committee for Human Rights and was a founding member of AIDS Project New Haven.

John J. Yaeger, MD, GME’49, a radiologist; Sep. 1. After receiving his medical degree from Georgetown University, he completed his training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Germany during World War II, then worked as a radiologist for Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital and the Greenbrier Clinic.

1950s

Richard H. Seibert, MD’50, an internist; Sep. 17. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completing his residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland, he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. He contributed to the Salk Poliomyelitis Vaccine Field Trial Evaluation of 1954 and later taught at University Hospitals of Cleveland while practicing full-time as chief of Medicine at Euclid Meridia Hospital.

John E. Keith, Sr., MD’51, an orthopedic surgeon; Nov. 16. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of North Carolina. He practiced for 37 years in South Carolina, serving as chief of staff at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and chairman of the Medical Executive Committee. He directed the Cripple Children’s Clinic at the county health department and co-founded Orthopaedic Associates.

Lewis W. Bluemle, MD, GME’52, a physician, August 13. During his service in the U.S. Army, he earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Following an internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), he returned to active duty at Valley Forge Army Hospital. He was discharged with the rank of captain in 1951 and returned to HUP, where he developed one of Philadelphia’s earliest dialysis units. Some of his many celebrated achievements include developing an artificial kidney, patenting a dialyzer in 1963, and directing Penn’s first NIH-supported clinical research center. Over the course of his career, he served in many key roles—among them, charter member of the American Society for Artificial Organs; consultant to the National Institutes of Health; president of SUNY Upstate Medical University, Oregon Health and Science University, and Thomas Jefferson University; and senior vice president of the Connelly Foundation.

John J. F. Holmes, MD’52, a family medicine physician; July 17. After earning his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he completed his residency at Geisinger Medical Center. He served as a doctor in the U.S. Army in West Germany before receiving an honorable discharge and returning home. He operated his practice in Jermyn, Pa., for nearly 50 years. Like many general practitioners at the time, Holmes also practiced obstetrics. He delivered hundreds of baby boom children in his community, including several of his own nephews.

Dewitt H. Montgomery, Jr, MD’53, a psychiatrist; Aug. 8. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he completed his training in the U.S. Public Health Service and his residency in Psychiatry in Lexington, Ky. He served as attending physician at the Norristown State Mental Hospital and served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War. He worked at Hahnemann University Hospital for nearly 30 years and at the Green Tree School for nearly 50 years. Montgomery was an active member of several national and international societies, as well as a founding member of the Philadelphia Psychoanalytic Society.

Richard A. Ellis, MD, GME’55, an ophthalmologist; June 2. After completing his residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he spent four months performing cataract surgery for underserved patients in India and Pakistan. For more than 40 years, he practiced in Center City and Bala Cynwyd, and performed eye surgery at Wills Eye Hospital. He also taught at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and endowed the Richard A. Ellis Lecture at the Wills Eye Hospital Annual Conference. 

Peter White, MD’55, GME’59, an emeritus professor; Nov. 16. He completed his medical degree and residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, serving as chief medical resident. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a medical doctor with the rank of captain, he returned to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for his fellowship, then as an assistant professor of Medicine and Hematology. He helped create the Medical College of Ohio, serving as deputy chairman of Medicine and chief of the medical staff.

James R. Zuberbuhler, MD’55, GME’59, a pediatric cardiologist; June 24. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he joined Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. As director of Pediatric Cardiology, he established a world-renowned training program. He was appointed acting chair of Pediatrics and later served as Children’s Medical Director before returning to practicing pediatric cardiology until his retirement.

David Lewis Aronson, MD’56, a laboratory medicine specialist; Nov. 1. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he completed an internship at Mt. Auburn Hospital and two summer research fellowships at Cambridge University in England. He worked for almost 30 years at the Office of Biologics Research and Review within the Food and Drug Administration. He also served as a consultant to the World Health Organization and was a founding member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Carl T. Brighton, MD’57, GME’62, an orthopedic surgeon; July 3. He earned his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, then served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 15 years and editor-in-chief of Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. He was a visiting professor at 36 universities and medical schools around the world, published more than 200 articles, and obtained 29 patents.

John T. Fisher, MD’57, an ophthalmologist; Oct. 7. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and interning at Hartford Hospital, he trained in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon. He then completed his residency at New York Hospital–Cornell Medical Center. He was the only board-certified ophthalmologist in central Pennsylvania when he opened his practice in State College in 1965. Fisher practiced for 44 years.

Joel G. Flaks, PhD’57, an emeritus professor; Nov. 27. He graduated from City University of New York–Brooklyn College with a degree in chemistry, then pursued his doctorate and became a biochemistry instructor at the University of Pennsylvania. He continued to teach at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania until retiring and earning emeritus status in 1994. In recognition of his role in developing the biochemistry course for medical students, Flaks received PSOM’s Basic Science Teaching Award.

Robert P. Kamrin, MD’59, GME’66, a neurosurgeon; Aug. 10. After studying zoology at Cornell University, he received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Kamrin returned to New York to complete his residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He practiced for many years in Pennsylvania before retiring.

John H. Moore III, MD, GME’59, an obstetrician and gynecologist; May 13. After earning his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School, he interned at Geisinger Medical Center, then served in the U.S. Air Force. He completed his residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. For more than 40 years, he practiced in Kingsport, Tenn., delivering more than 8,000 babies. He served as president of the Sullivan County Medical Society and head of staff at both the Holston Valley Medical Center and the Indian Path Medical Center.

Richard A. Olafson, MD’59, GME’60, a neurosurgeon; July 27. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and finished training at the Mayo Clinic. He was one of the first neurosurgeons in North Dakota and held many positions at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Over his career, he served as assistant dean, director of Health Education, and professor and chairman of Neuroscience.

1960s

William W. Weiss Jr., DDS’56, GME’60, an oral surgeon; July 12. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, he completed his internship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He served as a professor and chairman of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Dentistry at Hahnemann Hospital, and he was the proud founder of the first DDS/MD program in Philadelphia.

Walter R. Morris, MD, GME’61, an ophthalmologist; Aug. 2. After serving in the U.S. Army, he received his medical degree from the University of Louisville. He worked as a general practitioner for several years before training in ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Morris practiced for nearly 30 years in Louisville, where he was the first to fit contact lenses and to employ lasers to repair retinal detachments.

James S. Hewson, MD, GME’62, an orthopedic surgeon; May 31. After graduating from Temple University’s School of Medicine, he completed his orthopaedic surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His 50-year career was spent largely at Beverly Hospital, where he had completed his general residency. He became their first orthopaedic surgeon and founded their orthopaedic department. He served as president of the medical staff and as a hospital trustee. His career also included appointments with the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Massachusetts Medical Society, and Massachusetts General Hospital.

John N. Giacobbo, MD, GME’63, a pediatrician; May 29. After graduating from Jefferson Medical College, he completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He opened a pediatric practice at Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia, where he operated for more than 30 years and held the titles of chief of Pediatrics and Neonatology, vice president of Medical Affairs, and director of Medical Education. He later practiced and taught at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Martin J. Kushmerick, MD’63, PhD’66, an emeritus professor; June 22. He earned his medical and doctoral MD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. After his post-doctoral positions at the National Institutes of Health and at University College London, he assumed a position at Harvard Medical School. In 1988, he moved to Seattle and joined the University of Washington Medical School, where he was a professor of Radiology, Bioengineering, Physiology, and Biophysics. Kushmerick devoted his scientific career to the field of biological energetics.

Richard D. Yentis, BA’59, MD’63, a psychiatrist; Nov. 5. He completed his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia native—who was also known as a gifted piano player—then moved south, settling in Fort Worth, Texas, where he built his psychiatric practice.

Vincent J. Giuliano, MD’65, a rheumatologist; July 12. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completing his training at Jefferson Medical College Hospital, he served as a rheumatologist in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Over the years, he taught at the University of Virginia School of Medicine—where he was awarded the Excellence in Education Award in 2015—co-founded Albemarle Arthritis Associates, served as the president of the Albemarle County Medical Society, and joined the staff of the Martha Jefferson Hospital.

David W. Schall, MD’68, a physician; July 26. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed his residency in family practice at the Hunterdon Medical Center—one of the few residencies of its kind. He served in the U.S. Navy in Brunswick, Maine, where he later became a family practitioner. He served as the president and CEO of Bowdoin Medical Group, and he was the founding director and chairman of Health Source Maine.

1970s

Francis M. Krakowski, MD’72, GME’76, a physician; July 3. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Scholars MD/MBA program at the Wharton School of Business. He was described as “a doctor’s doctor with a gift for geriatric medicine.” His career included key executive positions at Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and CR Bard. Krakowski managed several continuing medical education companies until his retirement.

Janette Goddard-Finegold, BA’70, MD’74, a developmental pediatrician; Oct. 13. After earning her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she completed her pediatric internship and residency at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, followed by a fellowship in neurodevelopmental pediatrics and research in neonatal brain injury. Her laboratory work led to transformational changes in the care of premature infants, including the “minimal stimulation protocol” that has been adopted in nurseries worldwide. The protocol reduces cerebral hemorrhages and brain damage. She then devoted her skills to clinical developmental pediatrics until her retirement in 2002.

Josephine Templeton, MD, GME’75, a pediatric anesthesiologist; Oct. 25. She earned her medical degree from the University of Rome in 1968, then returned to the United States to continue her medical training at the Medical College of Virginia. She also completed her anesthesiology residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by her fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology and critical care at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She joined the University of Pennsylvania faculty in 1978 and worked at CHOP for 20 years, where she often worked on surgical teams with her husband and served as a role model for women who aspired to join the specialty. Templeton and her husband were beloved members of the Philadelphia community and dedicated philanthropists who supported a wide variety of medical, historical, and cultural causes.

Domenico Falcone, MD, GME’77, an anesthesiologist; May 13. He received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, then completed his anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He worked at Lehigh Valley Hospital and was named president of both Allentown Anesthesia Associates and the Lehigh Valley Medical Society. He worked there for 25 years before taking a position at UPMC Altoona Hospital, where he worked for 18 years.

Eric L. Michelson, BA’69, MD, GME’77, a cardiologist; May 29. He graduated from Columbia University Medical School, then completed his advanced training in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He became chief of the clinical research unit at Lankenau Hospital and Medical Research Center, then directed Cardiology and the Cardiology Fellowship at the Likoff Cardiovascular Institute of Hahnemann University Hospital. He later served as senior director of Clinical Research at Astra Zeneca, where he brought to market several drugs to treat cardiovascular disease.

1980s

Stephen L. Cavalieri, BA’81, MD’82, an internist; July 6. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he served as a primary care physician with the National Health Service Corps. He joined Associated Internists, Inc. at St. Mary’s Hospital, then joined Coventry Healthcare, where he was named corporate vice president of Medical Affairs for Medicare programs. He was CMO at inHEALTH while consulting for the Bon Secours Health System, then became senior vice president and CMO at Envera Health. He later founded his company, Value Health Insights, LLC.

Ellen C. Maitin, MD, GME’83, an orthopedic surgeon; June 7. After attending medical school at Stonybrook University, she completed her residency in orthopedic surgery and a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She became chief of Hand Surgery at The Medical College of Philadelphia before practicing privately at Jeanes Hospital. Maitin then worked at Orthopedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Associates for more than 25 years.

Faculty

Carl T. Brighton, MD. See Class of 1957.

Richard A. Ellis, MD. See Class of 1955.

Joel G. Flaks, PhD. See Class of 1957.

Josephine Templeton, MD. See Class of 1975.