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Class Notes: January 2018

Class Notes:

Howard Maker, MD’56 Continues as Senior Neurologist as Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City and Chief of Neurology at New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus New Jersey.

Herbert J. Cohen, MD’59 is now an Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics and Emeritus Director of the Rose F. Kennedy University Center for Developmental Disabilities at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he continues to teach fellows in my field.

Lyle J. Breitkopf, MD’60 retired 15 years ago from practice of OB-GYN in Manhattan. Dr. Breitkopf is busy enjoying retirement, painting, bridge, tennis, and learning Yiddish.

Edward H. Smith, MD’60 is a retired Professor and Chair Emeritus Radiology UMASS

Edward B. Goldstein, MD’61 is doing the “same old” – Practice in Brooklyn, at Mount Sinai – Brooklyn, Cardiology and is the Medical Director for Union Local. Dr. Goldstein is spending time with his children, and seven grandchildren. His daughter, Heidi, Class of 1991, lives in St. Paul Minnesota. He enjoys flying his plane and building a model railroad when he has free time.

Alvin Edelstein, MD’62 retired from Pediatric practice 14 years ago and moved to Houston Texas to be near family, although his with his dear wife Bonnie are able to escape the Houston hot months in our Berkshire home. Dr. Edelstein volunteers for the Jewish Family Service in the chaplaincy program visiting patients at Houston’s MD Anderson Hospital. They are blessed with six grandchildren, two in Texas, two in Colorado and two in California.

Allan Naarden, MD’64 After practicing Neurology and participating in teaching at UT Southwestern, Dr. Naarden has retired and is now Chair of his hospital’s IRB. Dr. Naarden’s son is in the U.S. State Department and his family are now in Yangon, Myanmar. His daughter and her family live in Seattle, Washington where she is a sought after expert in  E- Commerce (thanks Amazon).

Allen P. Kaplan, MD’65 Dr. Kaplan is closing his research laboratory after 50 years of investigation into the molecular mechanism of urticaria and angioedema. He will continue teaching, writing and lecturing.

Deborah Tolchin, MD’66 volunteers at White Plains Hospital (Pastoral Care) and Burke Rehabilitation Hospital (Therapeutic Recreation in Greenhouse Plant Nursery with inpatients). Dr. Tolchin is teaching Introduction to Clinical Medicine at Albert Einstein in the Bronx.

Andrew P. Goldberg, MD’69 retired in April 2015 after 25 years as Head of the Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and Chief of Geriatrics and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He received Professor Emeritus status in Medicine in 2017. In between exciting travels worldwide with my wife Gail, Dr. Goldberg consults and mentors junior faculty in translational bedside to bench aging research in exercise, nutrition and rehabilitation in vascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Bruce Lefkon, MD’69 in one week Dr. Lefkon will be fully retired from a 43 year career (after residency at Downstate) in Urology in Essex County, NJ and a 10 year battle with EMR. His indefinite plans include more travel with his wife, Sandy, Golf, reading, time with families of his 3 sons (N.Y. State, Tucson, Shanghai) and enjoying the Jersey Shore.

Arthur Kaufman, MD’69 While his peers (and even his students) are retiring, Dr. Kaufman continues to work full time as Distinguished Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Vice Chancellor for Community Health at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Kaufman was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine/Institute of Medicine this year and will be honored as a University Living Legend in 2018. He continues to keep up with Ellis Arnstein, Marc Goldblatt and Diana Furst, and would love to hear from others.

Barbara Engel & Mark Engel, MD’71 relocated to Waxhaw, NC, a suburb of Charlotte.  Barbara recently retired from a private pediatric practice in September, 2017 and Mark had already retired from the practice of ophthalmology three years ago.  They moved to the Charlotte area so that we could be near our oldest son, his wife, and two granddaughters.  They also have a son David who lives in Brooklyn Heights and a son Stephen who lives in Portland, Maine.

Ellie Goldstein, MD’71 is the Clinical Practice Section Editor for Clinical Infectious Diseases; Chair of Infection and Prevention at Providence St. Johns Health Center of Santa Monica and Kindred Hospital LA. Dr. Goldstein is also the Director of  RM Alder Research Laboratory, Clinical Professor of Medicine UCLA and full time practice of Infectious Diseases.

Steven Brozinsky, MD’72 is still practicing Gastroenterology in Chula Vista; singing with the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir; enjoying facetiming with his New York City grandchildren, Gwen and Wes, while flailing away at that little white ball at Torrey Pines.

Dennis M. W. Michalak, MD’76 is retired as Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Hamot UPMC in Erie PA. and President of Flagship CVTS in Erie.  His wife, Becky of 37 years passed away on July 6th of this year and he is missing her dearly. Now has 3 grown beautiful children and our first granddaughter, Anneliese now 2 1/2 yo keeping him on my toes. Dr. Michalak states he is “busier in retirement, than ever making furniture and working in leather. Lots of traveling to be close to kids. Happy Holidays.”

Allen M. Perelson, MD’76 is happily retired since 1998. Moved up to NYC and is enjoying life.

Marc J. Kozinn, MD’79 After more than 30 years in Clinical Cardiology practice and serving as Asst. Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Department if Cardiology at S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, in 2014, Dr, Kozinn joined the pharmaceutical industry. He is presently the U.S. Cardiovascular Medical Director-Heart Failure at AMGEN where he is the U.S. Medical Lead for Corlanor  and the New Product Development Lead, U.S. Medical Organization for Heart Failure Pipeline. Dr. Kozinn currently lives in Thousand Oaks, CA with his wife of more than 37 years, Betsy. They have 3 married sons and are the proud grandparents of 5 grandchildren. This past year Dr. Kozinn was also recognized as a Fellow of the Heart Failure Society of America.

Brenda A. Nurse, MD’79 was lead author in an article published in CT Medicine, February 2017 Vol 81 Number 2 pgs 81-85. “The Role of Patient History And Body Site Surveillance Cultures As Predictors Of Colonization In A Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Setting” Brenda A. Nurse MD, Randall W. Barton PhD, and Daniel T. LaRose, Phd.

Howard Kizner, MD’83 Dr. Kizner and his wife are expecting their first grandchild in April In addition to still practicing Radiology full time, he has been attending night school for psychoanalysis, and will be starting a small Psychology practice in 2018.

Diana M. Nilsen, MD’89 Husband of Dr. Nilsen, Michael Nilsen, wrote “Dr. Diana Bassil Nilsen, my wife, was elected President of the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. This is an Medical organization with representatives from all 50 states.

Diana is a 1989 graduate of Downstate (Cum Laude) and is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care.  She is Director of Medical Affairs for the NYC Department of Health where she is responsible for TB control in the metropolitan region.  She also had her 35 Wedding Anniversary this year and is blessed with three children, Michael, Patrick and Victoria, and a pretty good husband.”

Nilesh Kalyanaraman, MD’03 Dr. Kalyanaraman is running for the Maryland State House of Delegates in the 43rd District in Baltimore City. This is his first time running for office and it’s an exciting leap from being the Chief Health Officer at Health Care for the Homeless. His website is nileshmd43.com and he would love to hear from Downstate alumni in the Baltimore area.

Eric Mlodzinski, MD’17 Moved to Boston and is doing residency at Beth Israel Hospital.

 

In Memoriam:

*The Alumni Association recognizes in the “In Memoriam” section, not all alumni listed are recently deceased. As we become aware of the passing of our alumni we recognize them to provide their class mates with an update.

Anthony R. Mascia, MD’42 Dr. Anthony R. Mascia died on November 26, 2016. He was 100 years old and would have been 101 this coming Sunday. He was born December 4, 1915 at home on Willow St. in Port Chester to the late Oreste and Mary Capeci Mascia. His father owned a pharmacy on Main Street. He graduated from Port Chester High School, Columbia University with a BA and then Long Island College of Medicine. Dr. Mascia was one of the “greatest generation”, serving as a medical professional in both France and Belgium during World War II and was a Purple Heart recipient.

To read the complete obituary click here.

Guillermo E. Aragon, MD’48 Guillermo (Bill) Aragon MD has passed away at his home in Denver on Tuesday February 21, 2017 at the age of 96. Bill is predeceased by his beloved wife of 69 years, Maria de Lourdes and his sons William and Fernando. Bill is survived by his daughter Maria Elena and ten grandchildren. They are in order of birth, Derek, Jonathan, Brent, Ashley, Ryan, Kevin, Alicia, Matthew, Mac and Merrie Claire. His funeral will be held on Thursday March 2, 2017 at 10:00am at Mother of God Church on Speer and S. Logan.

Martin J. Salwen, MD ’57 Dr. Martin Salwen, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, died on December 12, 2017 at the age of 86.  He was buried with military honors in a private ceremony at Calverton National Cemetery in Long Island.  His family asked for privacy in the immediate weeks after his death.

Dennis B. Freilich, MD’58 Congregation Shearith Israel mourns the loss of its esteemed member, honorary Trustee and Parnas. Dr. Freilich was a proud veteran of the Navy and a man of great honor. He was a warm and caring friend to all. He served the congregation as Parnas from 1991 -1996. Shearith Israel extends sympathy to his wife Estelle, his children; Benjamin, Jonathan, David and Elliot, and to the entire family. Louis M. Solomon, Parnas.

Charles Gerson, MD’62 Died peacefully at home on May 21 after struggling with illness. He was 80 years old. Raised in Washington Heights, Charles loved playing sports, especially golf, while attending Bronx High School of Science and then at Cornell University. His choice of medicine as a career was a natural result of his interest in science and his general wish to care for people and to protect life. He attended medical school at the Downstate University of New York…

To read the complete obituary click here.

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