Back on Cedar Street

Hundreds of alumni, spanning 60 years, returned to the medical school in June to reunite with classmates, learn about changes at the school and enjoy the Friday evening clambake.

Photographs by Terry Dagradi and John Curtis

This year’s reunion kicked off on the evening of Friday, June 2, in the Medical Historical Library with welcoming remarks from Dean Robert J. Alpern, M.D., Ensign Professor of Medicine.

“This is a special time for me. I came here two years ago on June 1. Right after I arrived, the first special occasion was the alumni reunion weekend. As I came here and was absorbing the complexity of the medical school, it was very invigorating to see all the alumni and see how enthusiastic everyone was about their experience at Yale, how much they loved it and how much they love coming back here. It was really uplifting. I look forward to experiencing that again and seeing everyone come back and hearing nothing but compliments,” he said, before concluding, to laughter from alumni, “The faculty is not that kind to me.”

By the time of the reception in the library, reunion activities were well under way. Events began the day before, with a presentation from the Yale Surgical Society, and continued earlier on Friday with Alumni Day at Epidemiology and Public Health at the New Haven Lawn Club, and two presentations in the Jane Ellen Hope Building.

The state of the school
The next morning, at the business meeting of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine (AYAM), Alpern brought alumni up to date on the state of the medical school. A new deputy dean of education, Richard Belitsky, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry, has been appointed, as has a new associate dean of admissions, Laura R. Ment, M.D., professor of pediatrics and neurology. “The educational program is outstanding,” Alpern reported, “but there are always ways to improve it, especially during the third and fourth years.”

The medical school ranks in seventh place in total funding from the National Institutes of Health, and about 30 biotech startups affiliated with the medical school have begun operations. “We have become a major engine of the local economy,” Alpern said.

He also cited the formation of a translational research center at the medical school, a new stem cell center with potential funding from the state of Connecticut, a center for clinical investigation and the start of construction of a new 14-story addition to YNHH for cancer care.

Honors for alumni
Francis R. Coughlin Jr., M.D. ’52, and Sharon L. Bonney, M.D. ’76, each received the Distinguished Alumni Service Award.

Coughlin was honored for his service to the medical school, including a term as president of the AYAM. His citation noted that Coughlin went to law school in 1985 and has since served on medical and legal commissions in New York and Connecticut.

Bonney’s citation traced her career path from clinical work to clinical research and development in the pharmaceutical industry. She served on the alumni executive committee twice and is currently the medical school representative to the Association of Yale Alumni (AYA).

At the business meeting, members elected a new secretary, new board members and a new representative to the AYA. Robert W. Lyons, M.D. ’64, was elected to a three-year term as secretary, replacing Christine A. Walsh, M.D. ’73, who was named AYAM representative to the AYA, along with Irving G. Raphael, M.D. ’71. Carol J. Amick, M.D. ’59, Arthur C. Crovatto, M.D. ’54, HS ’61, and Richard D. Kayne, M.D. ’76, HS ’79, were elected to the AYAM executive committee as members at large.

Working across disciplines
Alumni began the day with a symposium on a new model for interdisciplinary research.

In order to break barriers in medicine, Yale is knocking down intramural walls that tend to confine researchers within their own disciplines. Why keep some of the world’s best scientists cooped up in their specialized fields, the thinking goes, when they can conquer diseases by sharing their expertise?

This synergistic model recently took the form of the Interdepartmental Program in Vascular Biology and Transplantation, whose work was outlined at a forum during the School of Medicine’s Alumni Weekend in June. Bringing together experts from many fields is “bridging the taxonomies of science and medicine,” said Francis M. Lobo, M.D. ’92, president of the AYAM. “The walls are coming down.” Lobo spoke in a literal as well as metaphorical sense. The loosely knit vascular biology and transplantation team will work together in the Amistad Building under construction on Amistad Street. The interdepartmental program was established in 2000 and now has 36 faculty members from a range of disciplines, including surgery, medicine, dermatology, anesthesiology, cardiology, immunobiology, pharmacology, genetics, pathology and biomedical engineering.

Jordan S. Pober, M.D. ’77, Ph.D. ’77, director of the program since its inception, said he “had a personal epiphany” in 1996 at a meeting of vascular biologists. Vascular biologists examine the cellular structure of the vessels that feed every organ in the body and whose failure lies at the root of many deadly diseases. Although vascular biology had been a specialty only since the 1980s, “the field had matured,” Pober said. “We understood the basic principles. What we didn’t know was how we could use this stuff to treat patients.”

Pober convinced former Dean David A. Kessler, M.D., to launch the multidisciplinary program even though there was no blueprint for it. Team members acknowledged that the “translational” aspect of the program would involve more research than actual therapy in its early stages. If something works in mice, “most of the time it doesn’t work” in humans, Pober said. “We decided that we couldn’t cure everything.” The researchers focused on a few targets: arteriosclerosis, alleviating organ shortages through xenotransplantation or tissue engineering, and regeneration—or, as Pober put it, “How do you get new blood vessels to grow?”

Pober, a professor of pathology, immunobiology and dermatology, specializes in the role of blood vessel cells in immunology. Working with his late colleague, Jeffrey S. Schechner, M.D. ’91, Pober used his knowledge of blood vessel cells to grow vascularized synthetic skin. He studies the role of endothelial cells, which form the inside layer of blood vessels. William C. Sessa, Ph.D., deputy director of the program and professor of pharmacology, said that researchers want to solve the problem of endothelial dysfunction and the peripheral artery disease (PAD) that it causes. PAD appears in 20 percent of patients over age 55 and has a 25 to 30 percent mortality rate within five years. Sessa said that a key to pad appears to be the inability of the cells to produce nitric oxide or use it efficiently, and that his lab is working on injections of an enzyme called endothelial nitric oxide synthase. This enzyme protects against disease by improving blood flow through the vessels by relaxing vascular tissue.

George Tellides, M.D., HS ’93, Ph.D., associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery, said that the goal of his research is to find the immune mechanisms behind vascular injury and remodeling—specifically, the effects of interferon-gamma following injury. Interferon-gamma appears to stimulate an overgrowth of muscle cells in the wall of the arteries, which eventually causes narrowing of the arterial lumen.

And Laura E. Niklason, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of anesthesiology and biomedical engineering, said her role is to create new blood vessels through tissue engineering “so that we might one day have an endless supply.” The formation of these vessels comes through biodegradable scaffolds that contain enough space for the vascular cells to develop a new artery, she said.

Innovations in the classroom
The patient had missed her dialysis and was steadily deteriorating as a group of medical students debated treatment options. Thankfully, she was in no danger—the patient was a high-fidelity patient simulator, a mannequin capable of physiological responses that is used to train third-year medical students.

The simulation program presented by the Society of Distinguished Teachers to alumni at reunion on Friday, June 2, and one of six programs funded by the society during the last academic year, is part of the society’s effort to develop innovative teaching methods. Leigh V. Evans, M.D., HS ’02, assistant professor of surgery (emergency medicine), showed a video of the simulation program and explained that students use partial task trainers to practice such procedures as airway management, as well as more sophisticated mannequin simulators to unravel complex cases.

In another program funded by the society, AMISTAD (Advanced Methods of Interactive Simulations Through Academic Design), students work with standardized adolescent patients, a component often lacking in medical school programs, according to Karen Santucci, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics (emergency medicine).

This program trains 14- to 17-year-olds as standardized patients. The students interview each patient to arrive at a diagnosis. This approach allows the students to develop a level of comfort interviewing members of an age group with whom they might otherwise come into contact only after graduation.

Bugs—they’re not always bad
Later Friday afternoon alumni learned what happens when pathogens interact with the human body. Most of the time, nothing, according to Jorge E. Galán, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor and chair of microbial pathogenesis. But in a presentation to alumni at reunion in the Hope Building, “Bacterial Type II Secretion: Not Your Average Needle Stick,” Galán explained what happens when pathogens interact with human cells and how this interface can be used to fight disease.

Pathogens are designed not to cause disease but to replicate, and in so doing they have developed an elegant “machine” to enter cells. Galán described this mechanism as a nanosyringe that injects proteins into cells. It can theoretically be used as a delivery platform to transport vaccines or antigens that could provoke the immune system into destroying tumors. In the lab, Galán has shown that orally administered Salmonella engineered to express a tumor antigen can destroy tumors in mice. He hopes to conduct trials in human subjects next year.

Surgical society honors a mentor
On Thursday, June 1, the Yale Surgical Society paid tribute to William F. Collins, M.D. ’47, the Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery, who served as chief of neurosurgery at the medical school and as chair of surgery from 1984 to 1994. Retired and dividing his time between San Diego and Guilford, Conn., Collins has been writing short stories, novels and murder mysteries during the past few years. He was in town for the reunion and listened as the surgeons he trained recalled what they learned from him.

“The things we learned on the rotation in neurosurgery were the importance of the accountability of being a physician, a passion for patients—many with devastating spinal injuries—and the fact that you embraced innovation,” said Walter E. Longo, M.D., M.B.A., HS ’87, chief of the section of gastrointestinal surgery at the medical school. “You were always available to listen to us. You always looked for ways to increase our clinical experience. You made sure that we were educated, that we were mentored and that we were inspired.”

Dennis D. Spencer, M.D., HS ’77, the Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery and chair of neurosurgery, recalled meeting Collins when he came to Yale in the 1970s. “It was palpable,” Spencer said. “I felt this passion he had for training not just neurosurgeons, but all young surgeons.”

Richard D. Bucholz, M.D. ’77, HS ’83, director of neurosurgery at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, said Collins encouraged him on an unusual career path. Bucholz had a longstanding interest in computers and believed they could help to improve surgery and surgical outcomes. By coupling computers to new imaging technologies the surgeon can perform a “virtual” surgery to help reduce mistakes in the subsequent real procedure. “With these systems you can do the procedure ... before you even get into the operating room,” Bucholz said. Then, by using navigational computers that track instruments during the operation, surgery can be simplified and made safer. “Surgery takes on aspects of a video game—which may appeal to our younger surgeons,” Bucholz said.

He envisioned a system in which all operating room devices are connected and provide real-time data about the patient. That information can be transmitted to consultants outside the operating room so that they can offer the benefits of their clinical experience. “In a very real way we can share and record experiences and use them to enhance outcomes,” Bucholz said.

Also at the society’s meeting was Charlotte Ariyan, M.D., Ph.D., an oncology surgeon, who received the fifth annual Samuel Harvey Award as an outstanding chief resident.

Public health—from disparity to equity
With 46 million people uninsured and an equal amount underinsured, our health care system is broken, Cynthia A. Gomez, Ph.D., told the audience at Alumni Day at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, on June 2. “A weak and inequitable health system is going to create poor health in our nation. We have a nation and a world in which health is deteriorating to the degree that it is definitely going to affect the future of this country and the world,” said Gomez, director of Health Equity Initiatives at San Francisco State University.

Her keynote speech, “Separate and Unequal: Confronting Disparities in Health,” kicked off a discussion on one of the biggest challenges in health care today. Many of the diseases confronting society, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, can be prevented by changes in behavior, Gomez said. People of color suffer disproportionately from these chronic diseases, but the nation spends more money on treatment than on prevention, she said.

Gomez urged alumni to shift the conversation from disparities to health equities, which concerns justice. “When the water rises, all boats rise,” she said. “Do we as a society care if there’s a future? If we do, how do we make a society not so burdened by disease?”

Panelists at this year’s reunion symposium, moderated by Jeannette R. Ickovics, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology and psychology, explored the complexities of health disparities and suggested new approaches. The Yale School of Nursing is working to achieve equity by creating a partnership with the Howard University Division of Nursing, said Marjorie Funk, M.S.N. ’84, Ph.D. ’92, professor of nursing and director of the Yale-Howard Partnership Center on Health Disparities. In 2000, Yale and Howard created a partnership to enhance the research capacity of minority nursing students and faculty. Since then, Yale has brought 34 undergraduate nursing students from Howard to New Haven for summer research internships. Today, more than half of those students have completed or are completing graduate work, increasing research in health disparities at both universities.

Beth A. Jones, M.P.H. ’86, Ph.D. ’93, associate professor of epidemiology, studied disparities in the mammography process: do African-American women receive the same benefit from mammography? She found disparities in three areas: adherence to guidelines for frequency of mammography, differences in follow-up care for abnormal screenings, and communication and understanding of the results.

“We know that even at the same stage of diagnosis, the mortality rate among African-American women is greater,” said Jones. “We’ve made huge progress in terms of treatment and early detection, but it’s time to start thinking about strategies to ensure that all groups benefit from these advances, so that we can eliminate the disparities in outcomes.

When it comes to cardiovascular diseases, said Harlan M. Krumholz, M.D., the Harold H. Hines Jr. Professor of Medicine, professor of epidemiology and public health and co-director of the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, studies have shown that African-Americans undergo disproportionately fewer procedures—cardiac catheterization, angioplasty and bypass surgery—than whites. There is no evidence, however, that these procedures improve outcomes.

“When you find something like this disparity, you have to decide. Is it a difference without a consequence? Is it a difference with a consequence? Then we can call it a disparity. Is it a difference with a consequence that we cannot attribute to anything else but pure bias against a certain group?” he said.

The final panelist was Curtis L. Patton, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology (microbiology) and director of international medical studies, who retired in July after 36 years. Patton, who is African-American, spoke about the ability of African-Americans to survive.

“We know that when we look at the medical literature published in the 19th century, experts predicted that nobody who looks like me is supposed to be here. We were supposed to have disappeared a long time ago, and at several points in history—from tuberculosis, syphilis, starvation—you name it,” he said. “In some ways, people who look like us are monuments, not just to slavery, but to survival and exceptional competency.”

Race, ethnicity and genetics
As work on the human genome shifts from sequencing to understanding how DNA affects health, the roles of race and ethnicity also come into play, said Vence Bonham Jr., J.D., the National Human Genome Research Institute’s senior advisor to the director on the societal implications of genomics.

“This conversation is not ending,” Bonham said in his special address to public health alumni. “It is only beginning and that is why it is so important to public health professionals.”

Acknowledging that race and ethnicity are social and political constructs, he discussed the complexities of race-based medicine. And he cited BiDil, a drug that was approved by the FDA in 2005 to treat congestive heart failure. A retrospective study found that the drug, which was first tested in the 1980s and 1990s, seemed to benefit blacks more than whites. In 2005 the fine print on the label noted that the drug was indicated for use by “self-identified blacks.”

“It is the first drug in the history of the United States to be approved for only one racial group,” Bonham said. “Who is a self-identified black? What does that mean?”

The implications of race and ethnicity for public health and health care practitioners center on how research studies are designed, as well as how the results of such research are interpreted, according to Bonham. “Race and ethnicity are important components of health in our society, but we have to be careful about how we use them.”

Awards and the state of EPH
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award went to Irene Trowell-Harris, Ed.D., M.P.H. ’73, director of the Northeast Regional Office of Healthcare Inspections, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Eric W. Mood Award was given to Elisabeth Schauer, M.P.H. ’96, director of vivo international, a foundation that deals with mental health issues in communities affected by violence and conflict.

Katrina Clark, M.P.H. ’71, executive director of the Fair Haven Community Health Center in New Haven, received the Emerging Majority Affairs Committee’s (EMAC) Health Equity Award for her leadership in promoting community health in New Haven. EMAC, a committee of the Association of Yale Alumni in Public Health, strives to increase the representation of African-Americans, Latinos and other under-represented groups in the student body.

Curtis L. Patton, Ph.D., received the 2006 Award for Excellence for his service to the department and to the university (see Curtis Patton Retires from Research and International Health).

Matthew Lopes, M.P.H. ’77, director of AIDS Care for New Haven’s health department, and Judith Stavisky, M.Ed., M.P.H. ’80, who developed public health programs for low-income populations in Pennsylvania, were inducted into the 2006 Alumni Public Service Honor Roll.

Brian P. Leaderer, M.P.H. ’71, Ph.D. ’75, the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology, who served for 18 months as interim dean, gave a brief report on the state of the school. Recent accomplishments included the implementation of a five-year joint program with Yale College that will allow undergraduates to take public health courses during and after their undergraduate education and earn an M.P.H. one year following receipt of their undergraduate degree. Five new faculty members will start in September, Leaderer said, in biostatistics, environmental health, health policy and social and behavioral science. The school is also undergoing a self-study as part of the accreditation process, he said.

Leaderer introduced the new dean of public health, Paul D. Cleary, Ph.D., whom he called “the best of all applicants.”

Cleary said he hopes to create “the best possible educational experience” in the department. “I am hoping I can rely on your advice and counsel as I try to do that over the next several years,” he told alumni.

Reunion Reports

Click here for reunion photos.

1946
60th reunion

Short of a conference call to the entire class, let this synopsis serve to update our SVHO (sometimes vigorously healthy octogenarians). We stand in awe of the returnees, who included the following: Molly Albrink, still the scholarly professor enlightening students and the universe as a true pioneer in all things regarding triglycerides and serum fatty acids. Bill Banfield—watch the litigation dramas of raising sheep, researching unknowns and remaining an NIH alumnus. Tim [Aaron] Beck, receiving more monetary awards than Tiger Woods while continuing to reap accolades from colleagues around the planet. To think he hated Psychiatry 101! Sandy [Sanfurd] Bluestein—the # 1-seeded U.S. senior tennis player, who spends more time on the clay courts than on Wall Street. He has been most generous in supporting (anonymously) many Yale projects and scholarships for students and radiology residents. Sandy continues to serve as a board member of the New York City Opera. Tickets anyone? Tom Doe—his kiddie patients are now all grandparents and call him at midnight about their own grandchildren. Ho hum. He and Bert [Lambert] Filer learned the virtue of “tincture of time” from the Daniel Darrow/Grover Powers dynasty and are now both “coasting.” Bert was recently honored for his ongoing work in St. Raphael’s Pediatric Clinic. Marty Gordon and partner-for-life Evelyn are now living in a North Branford, Conn., retirement community where the swimming pool dip in the a.m. is 88 degrees Fahrenheit, unlike the frigidity of Linsley Lake. The Cushing/Whitney Medical Library continues to be Marty’s home away from home. The Peabody Museum contributed all the avian specimens for his current exhibit, “The Flu and You—Old and New Threats,” posted on the Medical Library website. Jack Neville and Laura White are the most unchanged, youthful couple, even registering early for our reunion. They bask in and on the Cape, where they are active in the community and with their kids.

Jim Kleeman is still seeing patients in between his appointments for renal dialysis. The class graduation plaudits now are continuing for staunch fortitude. Linus Cave lost our Dusty to renal failure and the aberrant cerebral beta protein. Six daughters watch over him in New Jersey now. Eli Wing continues to be a civic leader and fulfills the role of internist to the Rhode Island masses. He also finds time to treat the sugar cane workers in the Caribbean islands.

There are many who wanted to come but were thwarted by unavoidable reasons. Bill and Midori Wedemeyer send their very best. They joined the Gordons during the International Medical Film Awards in Los Angeles. A hilarious mini-class reunion per Bill’s wit and Midori’s docent guidance were typical and valued. Bob Cooper and Linda now live in Florida, enjoying the perks of retirement from the Air Force. Subdural decompressions for injured flight deck pilots were done per Harvey Cushing’s mentoring. The Coopers may move from their usual Delaware homestead. Vinny and Rosina Longo were unable to attend due to illness. Vinny was a Pfizer consultant during the early Viagra era and can describe the patho-physiology of erectile dysfunction in the classic manner for those whose current focus requires his fund of knowledge. Vinny and June Pepe continue to enjoy the benefits of their gynecology dynasty while joined by son—guess who signs out to whom when not in Florida? They send their regrets to the class.

Dick and Mitzi Sisson had to cancel their reunion plans due to sudden illness. Her recovery from surgery has been greatly successful. Dick has recently retired from an outstanding surgical career, teaching students and house officers at Washington University Medical Center and running his own private practice. The Sissons are closely united with their children and hope to visit on the way to Boston. Don Shedd has been the constant caregiver for wife Charlotte; both have just been honored as founders of Hospice Buffalo by a special endowment of half a million dollars in their honor. Kudos to them both!

Hal King and Betty have yearned for this reunion. Retired as cardiovascular surgeon and professor emeritus of the Indiana University Medical Center, Hal’s impact on that institution continues. Tom Coleman, always warm and generous to others, and Babette send their best for “this historic reunion event.” Ruth S. Kempe and her late husband Henry pioneered the profession’s long-needed attention to child abuse. Ruth continues to lecture as associate professor emerita at the University of Colorado. Sixteen grandchildren require her to manage an Excel birthday flow sheet and tons of balloons. Julie Sack’s vision and other impairments precluded his coming to New Haven. Greg Flynn’s fabulous ophthalmology practice has been closed for several years while Peggy and he enjoy the benefits of a retirement community. We’re too late to ask for cataract treatment with professional courtesy. Greg’s recent illness precluded the long-awaited trip to New Haven. Elaine Yudkin managed to join us, since the class has always been so treasured by Jerry during his long neurological illness. She freely discussed her coping with the family Huntington’s gene, helped by Dean Alpern’s characteristic attentive empathy. Mary Wagner and Norma Whelan, along with our other endearing class widows, have each expressed their warmest wishes to all. Mary Judd called from Hawaii, “thinking of us fondly on this day.” Susan Owens emphasized how important the Class of ’46 has always been to Bob’s life. The extended ’46M camaraderie continues, and all await our next reunion in 2011!

Marty Gordon, SVHO

1951
55th reunion

Although only four of us made it to the reunion, our meeting was marvelous, exciting, thrilling, nostalgic and touching. Our small group, which had little contact with one another during our years at Yale, spoke warmly and intimately during the two days. We parted sadly but hoping that we will meet again at our 60th. All of us had been back to New Haven in recent years and were familiar with the changes in the buildings. Old St. John’s Church is gone, and several skywalks join the major buildings. Entering the main wing of the School of Medicine, one passes the reception desk as before. I spent many a lunch hour there covering for the regular attendant, thus earning enough for a quick supper at Dudow’s on Congress Avenue. Walking down the hall to the library, one passes the familiar antique medical photos and etchings. The Historical Library was exactly as it was half a century ago, except that the comfortable chairs have been replaced with newer ones. In memory of days long gone, I snatched a brief nap.

Upstairs on the long corridor leading past the anatomy labs, I found the tables all gone and their place taken by many small labs for researchers. The anatomy labs had moved across the street to the new Anlyan Center, which was erected at the site of the former nurses’ dorm. The new anatomy wing is a palace, a whited sepulcher where the departed give all their help to the living. Exhaust fans assure fresh air for the weary, and video screens above each table help the lost find missing parts.

Everything everywhere was spic and span, and the staff was wonderfully accommodating. No question or request was too much—ask a question and you were taken by the hand (almost!) to where you could find the answer to your problem. The meals were superb, and at several locations were containers of iced soft drinks including (surprise!) “Yale Water”—nectar of the gods, and a delightful relief from the heat on a muggy New England day.

My three companions had each lost their spouse in recent years. I am still blessed with mine, Deo gratias. Jocelyn Malkin is still practicing psychiatry; she makes several trips to Yale each year to attend meetings of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine. Lowell Goodman, Al Mowlem and I are all retired. I learned for the first time that Al had served in Korea in a M.A.S.H. unit, where his life was much like that of the physician portrayed by Alan Alda on the television show—except that quite often Al was the only doctor on hand to take care of dozens of casualties.

I received nearly a dozen letters from classmates, far too long to repeat here (from Straatsma, Adams, Pava, Anderson, Merritt, Sterling, Nik Nevin, Small, Katz, Groel and Hamburger). Send me a business-size self-addressed envelope; a stamp is not needed. I will forward any letter (one or more) to anyone who wishes.

Sad to say, there is no news from Jane Swartz. Never have I met a classmate without asking “Any news from Jane?” and then, “Remember l’affaire du rideau?” Al Mowlem told me that he heard of the display, surreptitiously walked by her table and took a peek—which Jane noticed—and asked (probably the first and only words spoken to any class member), “What did you expect, jelly beans!?”

Write! I shall respond—but I don’t expect any jelly beans!

Paul Bruch

1956
50th reunion

For those returning to New Haven, it was a weekend of reminiscence, rekindled friendships, and now, with the perspective of time, an even greater appreciation of the Yale System. Seeing the growth of the campus and learning of Yale’s pre-eminent role in the advancement of science left us feeling proud.

Our 50th reunion was spread over three days. The opening event was an elegant private party hosted by John Gardner on Thursday. On Friday night there was an equally elegant party hosted by the Downings (the fifth in 25 years). As a measure of the spirit and good feeling toward Yale, more than 50 percent of the class came back. Those coming back included Cal and Phyllis Bigler, Gloria and Leo [Levon] Boyajian, Tom and Joyce Brown, Rosalie Burns and husband Herb Goldberg, Georgiann and John Carroll, Barbara and Ed Child, Tina and Jim Collias, Paula and Chandler Dawson, Helen and Steve Downing, Janet and Mitch Edson, Rona and Gil Eisner, John Gardner, Shayna and Sumner Gochberg, Charmian and Alan Gurwitt, Susan and Bill Hindle, Joan and Chuck Hopper, Marie-Louise and Ken Johnson, Linda and Jerome Klein, Gloria and Bill Lewit, Pres [Preston] Manning, Carol and Dwight Miller, Don Nalebuff, Jane and Fred North, Beverly and Jim Patrick, Ruth and George Paulson, Denise and Bob Scheig, Ruth and Jim Scheuer, and Bruce Trembly. Suzanne (Supplee) Becker, Joe Cerny, Jack Love and Bill Narva sent regrets but could attend only in spirit.

Thanks to the efforts of Mitch Edson, reunion gift chair, and those generous classmates, especially the Hindles, for their remarkable gift, a scholarship was established. Also, thanks to Mary Meehan and her alumni office staff, who made the whole event run so smoothly.

John Gardner
Dwight Miller

1961
45th reunion

Our class reunion dinner at the Graduate Club went on well into the night. Attendees included David Brook and wife Judith, Christopher Durham and wife Susan, Joseph Jasaitis, Marguerite Lederberg, George and Christa Lordi, James Lurie, Vincent Marchesi, Anoush Miridjanian, Roland and Grazina Paegle, Roy Ronke, Warren and Myra Widmann, and Donald and Alice Young.

We exchanged e-mail addresses, anecdotes about former professors, family stories and continued appreciation of the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) experience. Joe’s first impression of YSM was the welcoming address by Dean Vernon Lippard: “When I came here this morning, a young man asked, ‘Hey, Mac, where is the medical school?’ We at Yale do not address anyone as Mac.”

In an attempt to tap the wisdom accumulated during our long and active careers, a mini-survey circulated among the members of the class asked for definitions of happiness. Our Declaration of Independence lists “the Pursuit of Happiness” as one of our inalienable rights. Jim noted that “accomplishment and public recognition are evanescent. Happiness is playing chamber music regularly; seeing children for psychiatric treatment and having them improve and be successful; watching my own children grow up and become interesting and creative.” For Roy, happiness is “loving those around you and the work you do.” For Marguerite, it’s “learning to let go of fixed expectations and taking satisfaction in the present moment.” Anoush’s definitions changed: “When younger I viewed happiness as caught up with lots of accomplishments and being a useful person. Happiness now is peace with yourself and what you are, time and enough means to do what you want to do.” “It used to be beer and pizza,” but now George finds happiness “wrestling with grandchildren and having your children develop into mature adults with secure careers.” David’s definition also changed to becoming “more flexible and accepting, reviewing more of the possibilities, fewer of the limitations.” Roland defined it as “dating adorable women and finding and keeping the one. The right spouse will create a wonderful family.” Don Young liked “remembering the good stories we experienced as medical students. There is a bond that develops that you retain for a lifetime. Great teachers like Averill Liebow and Harry Greene leave memories that never leave.”

Warren found happiness to be “a moving target. In youth happiness assumed a safe home; in medical school it was success in preparation for life as a doctor. ‘Life’ assumed a supportive marriage, healthy children and then a successful career. Retirement did not equal happiness to me. I felt that my career was too much a part of what defined me for me to just walk away from it—and I lucked into a full-time academic position with summers off. Happi-ness is seeing our children happy; but now, what was not even really on the radar screen before, are the issues of health and impending inevitable decline, and the hope that contentment can prevail without undue decline of function until death. Happiness is seeing grandchildren grow up healthy, achieving well, making the right choices and hoping that we can live long enough to see them well on their way in life.”

I agree with Jim that “this reunion was fun.” Hope to see more of you at our 50th.

Roland Paegle

1966
40th reunion

Classmates present were in good spirits and looked well. Not a single tattoo or male earring was seen. 1966 was the year Medicare was enacted, and we were gun fodder for that program.

Stuart Kotler is active in radiology in New Jersey. His future looks rosy—he owns a gas station. Investors take note: through convoluted boilerplate, Stuart personally guarantees the solvency of British Petroleum. I introduced my wife of 40 years to Mary Alice Bernet Houghton. For some reason M.A. was surprised, and said she thought I had Invisible Wife Syndrome. I hope she sends more information about it. Are invisible wives silent? Can they see each other? M.A. is active in general psychiatry practice in Milwaukee with husband Bill, M.D. ’64. Of all the people my wife met that weekend (“They’re all wonderful”), her favorite was Mary Alice.

I inadvertently sat at the bad boys’ table at the class dinner. There were reflections on long-ago mischief. Joe Baron’s bar and beer were mentioned. Kindly campus police used to herd revelers to Harkness beds and were less judgmental than Mom. Back then there were some half-assed fraternities. They threw an occasional half-assed dance. At one such soirée, a classmate brought a hooker in signature street dress. This made for social anaphylaxis with the wives and dates who were present. One innominate classmate claims he doesn’t remember the occasion but admits he might have been the culprit.

Ed O’Keefe is retired from academic dermatology in North Carolina. He now does woodworking there in the winter and in Maine in the summer. Bob Gunn is semiretired after 30 years at the CDC—something about condoms; he is now in San Diego and has taken up golf.

The class dinner was held in the library of the Graduate Club. As the room heated up, Arne Youngberg, retired radiologist from Cheshire, Conn., and class secretary, turned on a window air conditioner. It was white with pigeon droppings. We may all be gone by the time you read this. Dick Bockman professes medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City. He arranged a memorial gathering for Donald Cohen.

John Howard does internal medicine on the elbow of Cape Cod. He sails. He also has a company for staffing nursing homes and jails, and serves as the local medical examiner. By Massachusetts tradition this office confers immunity from prosecution for misdemeanors. I mentioned to him that in my bailiwick, although they try to hang this office on a pathologist, I do not care for forensics and was delighted to have a psychiatrist fill the role.

Wilbur Kukes, native of Montana, was also in town for the reunion. Contrary to class legend, he rode into New Haven by iron horse. He arrived at Harkness Hall clutching one small suitcase. Sharpie upperclassmen spotted equine product on his boots and immediately hustled him for used textbooks. They promised Hamm’s Histology would read like a Louis L’Amour novel. Wilbur no longer mends the bones of cowpersons in Big Sky country but walks an Old English sheepdog on a beach in the state of Washington.

Larry Toder and wife Susan came from Missoula, Mont., where Larry is a retired orthopaedic surgeon.

Jon and Joan Wayland joined us from Klamath Falls, Ore., where she has retired from child psychiatry and he is a retired urologist.

Looking back at our class, formed 44 years ago, we decided diversity is nothing new. Wilbur was two standard deviations from the mean, and the Southerners one SD.

Lynne Lipton Levitsky is head of pediatric endocrinology at Mass General. She was at the class dinner with her husband Sidney, a cardiac surgeon. During the dinner Sid confessed they started dating when he was a resident and she was still a student. The assembly groaned in horror but decided it was too late to give our chief resident emeritus the hot water treatment. The bad boys wanted to know what the problem was.

Stuart Hauser and I met at the new Child Study Center, the legacy of our classmate, the late Donald Cohen. The center and several other buildings proved that Donald had a powerful edifice complex and was a master fundraiser, a skill much cherished in academe. Stuart said that fundraising is one of his duties as head of a Boston child psychiatry clinic, but romancing donors is not his favorite thing. He runs a long-term program in adolescent development.

Jimmy Brown is working part-time in oncology in Middletown, Conn. He also knows all the verses of “Amazing Grace,” useful in that specialty. Phil Bernstein is pounding out orthopaedics in the San Francisco area. When I mentioned my imperfect knees, he said 90 percent of his patients are happy with his joint replacements. I asked if he were flying back on the 90 percent airline.

Mac Griffiss came in from San Francisco, where he toils in microbiology pathogenesis. He is also a retired bird-colonel in the Army Reserves. For all your military needs, give Mac a call. Why fight with lawyers when you can get the infantry cheaper?

David Fox is working in Fresno as a child psychiatrist. A beloved avocation is playing the cello in a string quartet. When I mentioned that I had recently bought the six-disc complete Shostakovich series by the Emerson Quartet, he was a fount of information on the topic but, alas, I could have done better. Incidentally, if you are fed up with hip-hop noise at your gym, lob one back and stick some string quartets in the CD player. But be prepared to outrun vulgarians a third our age.

Me? Pathologist emeritus in Marshalltown, Iowa. I read a lot, take solo road trips and follow my wife around giving helpful housekeeping tips.

Spouses of our classmates should consider themselves assimilated into the class. [Caveat: The bad boys, in denial re: Club Prostate, still have lots of life, so certain conditions and restrictions may apply.]

Other classmates spotted but not engaged: Clarence Sasaki and Robert McRoberts.

There were reports of bad breaks and sorrows for some classmates, but this report is like that garden ornament that heralds only sunny hours.

Eugene P. Cassidy

1971
35th reunion

How different the conversation was when 23 members of the Class of ’71 gathered at the Quinnipiack Club for their class dinner than it had been 30 years ago, when they met for their fifth reunion. At that time the talk was of residencies and fellowships being completed and careers and families being started. At this reunion the talk was of careers winding down, children’s accomplishments, grandchildren and plans for retirement, as well as of three members who died over the past five years. Irv Raphael, who served as master of ceremonies, remembered Robert Mackey, Jerry Haber and Richard Helgerson with a moment of shared silence before moving into a round of self-deprecatory humor and remarks. David Lippman did a wonderful job arranging the dinner and bringing Yale Med ’71 treats.

Privately, Irv mentioned how proud he was that his son is following him into orthopaedics. Expected, not attending and missed was retired Barbara Kinder, whose daughter Caitlin was part of the 2006 United States women’s Olympic ice hockey team. Steve Moffic, who has been honored by the American Psychiatric Association for his work in ethics, has a son close to ordination as a rabbi. While John Foster Jr. was the first of the attendees to retire, he’d been preceded by Barbara and Doug Schmidt. Al Weihl spoke eagerly of splitting his time between Hawaii and Colorado once he retires. Richard Moggio has left cardiac surgery and now does corporate health care work. He also takes off for Ireland to golf when he can.

Others continue to balance work, family and avocation. Stuart Kleeman practices pediatrics, enjoys Zachery, his new grandson, and builds miniatures. Fred Cohn practices ob/gyn and enjoys his family, with kids ranging in age from 9 to 27. Sherry Loo and Wally Matthews Jr. traveled from Hawaii for the reunion and a family Harvard graduation. William Krinsky, our class entomologist, attended with his new wife, Suzanne. Sten Lofgren came with his partner, Sally Lopez. Lenny Eisenfeld described the painful years after the loss of his son and noted that now, following the birth of two grandsons, “our family numbers are again going in the right direction.” Barry Perlman, coerced into writing this report, has recently completed 25 years as director of psychiatry at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers. He has served as president of the New York State Psychiatric Association and as chair of the New York State Mental Health Services Council. He delights in having his children living nearby on the Upper West Side of NYC.

Barry B. Perlman

1976
30th reunion

The weekend was a little wet (!), but that did not prevent us from having a great time greeting old friends and sharing our news. Present at the class dinner on Saturday night at Chow, the Friday night clambake in Harkness courtyard, or both, were the following:

Sarah Auchincloss: She is busy practicing psychiatry in New York City and raising her children. Alfredo Axtmayer and wife Pat: Alfredo is practicing orthopaedic surgery in Wallingford, Conn., and is also heavily into golf. Sharon Bonney (referred to below as me/I) and husband James A. Beattie Jr.: Sharon retired in 2005 after 20-plus years of designing and running investigational drug clinical trials for first Wyeth, then Miles (now called Bayer) and then Pfizer (10 years). She received a Distinguished Alumni Service Award from the AYAM (Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine) on June 3. Roger Boshes and wife Meredith: They brought Dr. and Mrs. William Konigsberg as guests to the class dinner. Bill is still teaching molecular biology to the Yale medical students as he did to us 35 years ago. Bill looks exactly the same, except he now has silver hair instead of pepper-and-salt. Roger is a psychiatry professor at Harvard. He no longer looks like John Lennon. Charles Swenson: He is practicing psychiatry and teaching trainees in Northampton, Mass. He now looks like Stephen Spielberg. Frank Watkins: He is an orthopaedic surgeon in New Rochelle, N.Y. He and I are huge fans of Hillary Clinton. He reminded me that she audited the Class of 1975’s first-year psychiatry lecture course at CMHC in 1971-72 with Frank, Todd Estroff, George Knowles and me. Todd Estroff: He is practicing adult and child psychiatry in Atlanta. He has written a book—the Manual of Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment, published by American Psychiatric Publishing in August 2001. It is available on Amazon.com. Candace Corson: She is a consultant and national marketing director for USA Integrative Med/Juice Plus in Granger, Ind. She is enthusiastically spreading the word about the benefits of nutriceuticals. Her husband is George Knowles, M.D. ’75. Florence Comite: She is practicing in New Haven and teaching at Yale. Her son Jon just finished his first year of medical school at Yale. Vin Dicola: He is a cardiologist in private practice in New Haven. His son John is attending Stanford University; his daughter Laura just graduated from Choate and will be attending Harvard University in the fall. Vin is subspecializing in golf and in winning contests.

Ken Dobuler and wife Susan: Ken is the chief of medicine at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn. He and Susan live in Branford, Conn., not too far from the Sound. Ken is building a sailboat (seriously!). Chris Jolles and Katie Reeder: Chris is in private practice in special gynecology and oncology in Salt Lake City, Utah. Richard Kayne and wife Maria: Rich is in solo practice (endocrinology and internal medicine) in Cheshire, Conn. He is on the board of directors for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Conn., for children with cancer and serious blood diseases. Maria is on the board of the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven. Many, many thanks to Rich and Maria for once again serving as the social chairpersons for this 30th reunion, as they did for our 25th!!!

Norman Kohn: He is practicing psychiatry and neurology in Chicago. Bill Levy and wife Karen Kelly, M.D. ’77: Bill and Karen recently relocated from Abington, Pa., to Williamstown, Mass., where they are employed (Bill as the hospital cardiologist, Karen in internal medicine/geriatrics) at the local hospital. They are enjoying their seven-acre mountaintop spread and getting to know their neighbors. Eventual retirement to that gorgeous region was the motivation for their move from Philly, but they are having so much fun that retirement looks a long way off! Cindy Mann: She is practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine in Hamden, Conn., and is a major supporter of women’s health research at Yale. Doug Mann: He recently moved to Cape Cod (Falmouth), where he is in solo practice in otolaryngology and loving it. He recently joined an a cappella singing group called Notescape.cod. Rick Morin: He is a professor and pediatrician/neonatologist at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and is serving as its interim dean. Peter Swanson: He is associated with Family Health Care Associates in Shelton, Conn. John Wiles: He is practicing dermatology in New London, Conn.

News from those unable to attend the reunion but who send greetings to all:

Randy Cebul is professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio. He and wife Mary Scott Cebul live in Hunting Valley, Ohio. Avi Hettena and his wife live in San Francisco. He is practicing medicine and they are raising their five children. Jon Lederer (M.D./Ph.D.) is a professor doing basic research and teaching at the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute. Richard Neubauer is practicing internal medicine in Anchorage, Alaska. He has been appointed to the Board of Regents of the American College of Physicians.

Many, many thanks to all for coming and for contributions to this newsletter! See you all, we hope, for our 35th in 2011.

Sharon L. Bonney

1981
25th reunion

Our reunion had strong competition from parental duties and academic obligations. Appropriately, high school and college graduations, final exams, and a national oncology meeting took precedence for most of us. Nevertheless, more than a dozen of our intrepid classmates and their guests journeyed to rainy New Haven for a most enjoyable reunion weekend. We settled down to a wonderful get-together on Saturday night at the Quinnipiack Club. It was a great opportunity to share our memories of Yale, renew friendships and recount our experiences over the past two and a half decades.

David Lebwohl drove from Madison, N.J., where he is involved in clinical development of new cancer drugs for Novartis. When not traveling overseas, David is in his garden, at concerts, near the ocean or on the tennis court. Jonah (Kalu) Odim was accompanied by wife Tracy and adorable young sons—Jonathan, 5, and Emmanuel, 2. Now with an M.B.A. to complement his M.D./Ph.D., Jonah is crossing the continent and relocating his cardiac surgery practice at UCLA to the NIH, where his duties will combine his clinical and business skills. It was a treat to see Bernie Lewin and wife Terri Haberman, who is an optometrist. With their oldest son Craig at Penn State, Bernie’s “harem” includes 13-, 14-, and 16-year-old daughters. Bernie is in private practice in radiology near Philadelphia. We enjoyed hearing about his exploits on his motorcycle and other adventures. Dovelet Shashou, accompanied by husband Jonathan Trambert with camera in hand, snapped plenty of pictures and spoke about her most recent avocation: tango lessons!! Dovelet continues to practice pediatric ophthalmology in New York City.

Class agent Anthony Urbano and wife Camille M.C. Qualtere are living in Bethlehem, Pa., where Tony is doing interventional cardiology as part of a nine-person cardiology group. They have three teenagers at home who keep them quite busy. Tony has been involved in successful thoroughbred breeding and racing. He enjoys gardening, which affords him the time to relax and solve problems. Mike Nerenberg was accompanied by wife Lynne, who is an internationally renowned Arabic dancer! Mike is a biotech executive in La Jolla, Calif. His hobbies include riding his Harley, welding, archery and puffing on Cuban cigars.

It was great to see Mark Kasper and wife Donna. Mark is in private practice in internal medicine in East Haven, Conn. Together they share their passion for antiquing, such as collecting Murano glass, as well as exploring ethnic restaurants locally and in Manhattan. Worldwide traveler, radio celebrity and wine connoisseur Christine Duranceau was accompanied by husband Richard Zakrzewski. Christine has moved from California to the resort area of Galena, Ill. When not practicing emergency medicine in Platteville, Wis., she is politically active, both as president of the Wisconsin chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Northern Illinois chapter of the American Cancer Society. She travels to Washington periodically to consult and testify on health care issues. A Congressional run has not been ruled out!

Fresh from high school and college graduation parties, Lisa Babitz, geriatrician, and husband Stewart Greisman, rheumatologist, live on the West Side of Manhattan, where they share an office. We offer their daughter Laura, 22, a Cornell graduate, our best wishes as she travels to Melbourne on a Fulbright scholarship to spend a year on venom research! Daughter Jill, 18, is heading to Cornell, while son Jack, 14, will be attending Stuyvesant High School. Neil Gross, formerly in Atlanta, is now living in Boston. Charged with enthusiasm, Neil is enjoying “the single life” while practicing ophthalmoplasty. He continues to play guitar. Steve Konstadt, accompanied by wife Jody, a dermatologist, entertained with his tales of extreme snowboarding, windsurfing, sailing and eclectic gourmet cooking. In between enjoying life with Jody and his two daughters, Steve has squeezed in the time to be a professor and chair of anesthesiology at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, edit several textbooks, and train hundreds of residents and fellows during his 20-year academic career. Marilyn Merker, Ph.D. ’83, and our classmate Rob Goldman shared pictures and stories of their life near Milwaukee, Wis. They have a son and daughter. Rob is in private practice in neurology, and Marilyn is a professor of pharmacology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Speaking of Wisconsin, reunion social chair Steven Brown and wife Amy are also living near Milwaukee, where he has been in private practice in pulmonary critical care and sleep medicine since 1988. Steve’s two sons are in college, while his daughter, a nationally ranked junior tennis player, is in high school. Steve is in demand nationally as a lecturer on COPD, asthma, respiratory infections and insomnia. Cosmetic and hand surgeon Ines Carrasquillo has moved from Brooklyn to a private group practice in Rochester, N.Y. She has stayed in touch with a number of our classmates. Barb Roach traveled all the way from Hamden, Conn., with her husband, who is a local attorney. Their son and daughter are teenagers. Barb remains in private practice in rheumatology.

Although not able to attend the reunion, I’ve had wonderful communications with many who send their best wishes and fond regards. They include: Lesley Levine, Louann Brizendine, Mark Shoag, Nancy Ross-Ascuitto and Bob Ascuitto, Mark Koruda, Pat Burke, Paula Fracasso, Peter Arvan, Donald Ingber, David Goldfarb, David Paly, Ramona Fung, Richard Kravitz, Stephen Harrison, Alicia Barela, Steve Fugaro, Victor Vaisbort, David Weiss, Francis Chui, Erik Fisher, Annette Guido, Chris Attinger, Dave Gendelman, Brian Kobilka, Elliot Lach and Aziz Laurent.

A PowerPoint presentation of our class is being prepared and will be distributed to our classmates. Please send biographical information as well as any jpeg, bmp, mp3, wav, gif, tif, mim, mov, mpeg or zip files to Steve Brown at WiLUNGDOC@aol.com.

Steven Brown

1986
20th reunion

The wet weather failed to dampen our spirits at the 20th reunion of the Class of 1986. On Friday evening we gathered under the tents to eat clams and lobster with Roberto Lewis-Fernandez, who continues his research in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University. We also saw Ben Li, chief of the division of surgical oncology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences. Dan Fierer showed up looking dashing in a suit. He continues his work on the faculty of Mount Sinai in infectious disease and plays oboe with the Musica Bella Orchestra of New York. Dae Song joined us from his private ophthalmology practice in Birmingham, Ala.

Samir Bhatt and his wife came to the clambake. He has a private practice in otolaryngology in Boston; she is an ophthalmologist. Mike Miller is repairing our health care system from Cambridge, Mass., where he is a consultant. John Detre is on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania department of neurology and directs the Center for Functional Imaging. Lee Bailey flew out from California, where he specializes in interventional and consultative cardiology. Paul Wang is working in developmental and behavioral pediatrics for Pfizer Global Research in New London, Conn. Paul Chang is chief medical officer for Tengion, a biotech company in King of Prussia, Pa., involved in tissue regeneration.

The dinner on Saturday was at my house in Ridgefield, Conn., with entertainment provided by Catfish, a local band. We saw Dave Atkins, who coordinates the Clinical Preventive Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and chairs the Subcommittee on Health Promotion and Maintenance in Washington. Amanda Dill flew out from her new home in California. She recently moved from Connecticut and is putting down new roots, both personal and professional. Tim McGowen joined us from Winston-Salem, N.C., where he specializes in spinal surgery and scoliosis and builds things in his spare time. Brad Reich is at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., the largest psychiatric hospital in the Harvard system. He does research in post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders and personality disorders. Barbara Harvey joined us from her solo internal medicine practice in Pennsylvania. We also had the pleasure of seeing Gail Mizner and her son Matt. She is practicing internal medicine and HIV care in Prescott, Ariz., and he just finished middle school. I continue to practice retinal and vitreous surgery in Danbury, Conn. I can’t help noticing that everyone seems to grow more accomplished, attractive, charming and articulate with each reunion. We hope to see you at the 25th.

Betty Klein

1991
15th reunion

The Class of 1991 marked its 15th reunion on June 2 and 3. It was an occasion to reflect on the joys of our accomplishments and on the unspeakable sorrow of our losses. Arriving on Friday evening for the Dean’s reception and clambake were Colleen Foy, Funda Meric and James Stanislaw with guest Brandy Settlemyre, and our class’s dear friend Cynthia Carver-Smith. Later Friday arrivals included Carl Henningson, Liz Holt, Jane Minturn and Dan Saal (Carl and Dan graciously accepted hospitality from Château Leaubeau). After the clambake, the party rolled on into New Haven’s old reliable, Viva Zapata’s, where nachos and sangria fueled a few more hours of revelry.

On Saturday morning the crowd swelled with the arrivals of David Frankfurter with wife Lisa Tillman and children, and Bob Spillane with wife Annette and new bundle of joy, just in time for the class photo. Saturday afternoon saw a log phase, prompted by the transporting reading of Doris Iarovici. Doris had been invited by her publisher to read at the Yale Bookstore from her most recent collection of short stories, American Dreaming and Other Stories. Arriving at the reading were Marc Butler and companion Chris Yulo, Eleanor Pollak, Kathy Ryder and Marc Potenza. A little afternoon diversion and then dinner—more log phase growth. Gaetane Francis and Larry Hirsch, Peter Bernstein and wife Cathleen Barnhart, were there. We were also treated to a whirlwind visit from Robin Smith and special guest Dr. Morris Dillard. Colleen Foy opened wines she brought from her husband’s family vineyard—Esterlina 2003 Zinfandel (14.7% alcohol!), 2003 Pinot Noir, and 2004 Chardonnay— sublime— hurry and buy. I must say that everyone with the exception of yours truly looked great.

After dinner the fireplace lit up, while I tried to find music to keep the party a-rockin’. Frankly, I failed in that endeavor, which prompted Doris to move the party to Bar, one of New Haven’s hip night spots, where the ageless wonders of ’91 showed the kids how it’s done. At some point, I and the Saturday night Château guests, Colleen Foy and Dan Saal, got home. Late the next morning I awoke to the fetching aroma of baking (huh?!) in the Château’s kitchen. It was Dan, back at the bench with a new experiment—scones. A true eureka moment—there’s nothing better than a good scone. As the first scones were being broken, Liz Holt and Jane Minturn careened around the corner in Liz’s garnet-red Lotus Elise (which later shuttled Jane and Dan to the train, one at a time—two-seater, you know). After a few hours of scones, coffee, bubbly and mimosas, ’91 adjourned for now—see everyone in 2011!

Frank Lobo

1996
10th reunion

The rain did not dampen the spirits of the members of the Class of 1996 who returned for their 10th reunion. Attempting to bring a little sunshine to New Haven were the Californians, including Owen Garrick, who is COO of HOV, a clinical research company in Oakland. Owen attended with wife Jocelyn, an ER physician, and their children—Owen Jr., 3, and Evan, 13 months. Peter Ferren is a child psychiatrist at UCSF and was accompanied by partner John Prigeon, a successful Silicon Valley type. Susan Wolf, a dermatologist in San Mateo, came with husband Bill Greene, a recovering radiologist and venture capitalist, and 8-year-old daughter Corynn. Representing SoCal were neuro-ophthalmologist Peter Quiros, a member of the USC faculty and resident of Venice Beach and Palm Springs, and plastic surgeon Jane Kim and husband Paul Maggio, a surgeon.

Traveling just a little less distance to the Elm City were Monica Escarzaga and husband Cyrus Cramer of Albuquerque, N.M. Monica is a cardiologist and Cyrus is a high school English teacher. Newlyweds Kathleen Figaro and businessman Alan Rice journeyed from Nashville, Tenn., where Kathleen is on the Vanderbilt faculty. Double Yalie Chris Muntzel is a pediatrician in greater Atlanta.

From our nation’s capital came Matt Poggi, a radiation oncologist at the National Naval, Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and Sarah Hougen Poggi, a perinatologist in Alexandria, Va. They were accompanied by daughters Eliza, a veteran of the fifth-year reunion, 5, and Julia, 3.

Closer to our Eli home, Pfizer executive Yin Ho and plastic surgeon Henry Hsia, M.D. ’95, traveled from New York City with daughters Thalia and Viola. Anil Panackel and fiancée Jennifer Gribskor made time for the reunion with their wedding only two weeks away. Anil is an infectious disease specialist in Boston and Jennifer is graduating from business school. Best wishes to them! Simon Cornelissen and Rebecca Crichton are living in Providence, R.I., with Simon commuting to his private orthopaedics practice near Boston and Rebecca working locally as a gynecologic endoscopist. They have two children—Ross, 5, and Anneke, 3. Also visiting from Providence were child psychiatrist Karyn Horowitz and husband Michael Robbins, a psychologist. They also have two children, Simon and Asher. From the shade of the Charter Oak were Helena Nolasco, a rheumatologist, and Dr. Victor Chang of Hartford, Conn.

Representing New Haven were Yale-New Haven infectious disease attending Krystn Wagner and infant daughter, as well as Lisa Sanders, who continues to work as an internist at Water-bury Hospital and as a journalist and mother to daughters Tarpley and Yancey.

We enjoyed the clambake and the chance to add to our collection of Yale Medical School beer mugs. For those of you who did not make it back, Harkness Hall kind of looks like a Starbucks and is much improved from our days. The elegant dinner at the Quinnipiack Club on Saturday was appreciated by all who attended. We heard second-hand that the CME was very informative, but it was not structured around our nap times so we were unable to attend.

One excused absence was perinatologist Eleanor Rhee, enjoying bed rest in Durham, N.C. Her twins may be delivered by press time! We are grateful to all our classmates who attended our 10th reunion and hope to see even more of you at our 15th.

Sarah and Matthew Poggi

2001
5th reunion

On Friday afternoon, the graduates of the Class of 2001 met at the reception in the Historical Library, where we mingled with current faculty, including former Special Assistant to the Dean Larry Cohen and Director of Admissions Richard Silverman, as well as with many of our reuniting classmates. Afterward we came together for seafood delights and musical fun at the New England clambake held at Harkness dormitory. We were happy to hear that “Club Med,” the weekly social event started by our class almost eight years ago, is still a popular gathering point for students and faculty colleagues.

For most of the crew, Saturday began with a tour of the Anlyan Center for Medical Research and Education. The construction of this building during our latter days at Yale certainly seems to be worth the investment. For many, the highlight of the tour was a visit to the anatomy laboratory, hosted by none other than Bill Stewart, Ph.D. The new anatomy teaching format is truly an interactive experience, featuring computer stations alongside each cadaver. The stations are equipped to guide students through clinical vignettes, radiographic correlative images and the anatomical dissection from a surgical perspective. We really have come a long way from our days of using just a Grant’s dissector!

The fun continued that evening at the alumni gathering held at the Graduate Club, where we mingled and recalled our Yale experiences and memories alongside graduates of decades ago. Having our own room in the back, we turned it into a makeshift Mory’s night and celebrated with great food, stories of past and present and jokes about a guy named Pedro.

Hany Bedair is currently entering his penultimate year in orthopaedic surgery in Pittsburgh. Carmit and George Archibald traveled from New York City, where Carmit is an attending physician in obstetrics and gynecology. Fred Aslan just graduated from Harvard Business School and is moving to New York City to work for a medical venture capital firm. The Boston group included Dan Hoit, who is in his fifth year of a six-year neurosurgery residency; Brian Lester, who just joined a busy dermatology practice; and Andrea Ciaranello, who is doing a fellowship in infectious diseases. Also representing Boston was Jessica Mega and her husband, Nick Walsch, J.D., and Sandeep Bansal and wife Ruby. Jessica is doing a cardiology fellowship, and Sandeep is performing research prior to starting fellowship training in cardiology. Sharon Chekijian and Aaron Covey made the short trip to the reunion Friday night. Both are residents in New Haven, in emergency medicine and orthopaedics, respectively.

Those coming from far, far away included José J. Miranda, who is entering his chief residency year in orthopaedic surgery with the U.S. Army in Augusta, Ga., and M. Vaughn Emerson, who is about to enter his second year of a two-year fellowship in retinal care in Portland, Ore.

José J. Miranda

PA Program

About two dozen alumni of the Physician Associate Program attended a reunion reception on June 1 at the Graduate Club. Mary L. Warner, M.M.Sc., PA-C., assistant dean and director of the program, told the gathering that the program is expanding from 25 to 27 months. The longer schedule is designed to accommodate accreditation requirements and to give students more time for work on thesis projects. There will be a site visit for the program’s accreditation in the spring of 2007.

Warner said she and her staff have been working with medical schools in Uganda and England, and may help to start physician associate programs there. Also on the international front, four students have gone abroad for clinical rotations in England, Costa Rica, Belize and Nicaragua, while two students received funding from the Wilbur Downs International Health Travel Fellowship Program to travel to Brazil and South Africa to complete HIV research.


			Originally published in Yale Medicine, Autumn 2006. Copyright © 2006 Yale University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.