Endowed Professorships and Other Honors
Donald and Mary Clark Distinguished Professor in Orthopaedics
Hani A. Awad, PhD
Established in 1994, this professorship is intended to be used for the support, nurturing, and growth of musculoskeletal research in the Department of Orthopaedics. Dr. Awad will join the Department of Orthopaedics and the Center for Musculoskeletal Research as a Professor in 2020. Prior to this, Dr. Awad held positions as Professor of Biomedical Engineering, of Orthopaedics, and in the Center for Musculoskeletal Research (since 2013). Dr. Awad has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2004.
Lowell A. and Carol A. Goldsmith Professor in Dermatology
Lisa A. Beck, MD
This is a new professorship, established in 2019, to support an endowed professorship in the Department of Dermatology in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. This professorship was made possible through the generous support of the Lowell A. and Carol A. Goldsmith Dermatology Fund and other various donors. Dr. Beck is a Professor of Dermatology, and of Medicine, appointments she has held since 2012. In addition, Dr. Beck has held a joint appointment in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine since 2020. Dr. Beck has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2006.
SKAWA Foundation Professorship in Endocrinology and Metabolism
Laura M. Calvi, MD
Established by the Board of Trustees in 2020, the SKAWA Foundation Professorship in Endocrinology and Metabolism is intended to support an endowed professorship in Endocrinology and Metabolism in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Calvi is a Professor of Medicine, of Neurosurgery, and of Pharmacology and Physiology, positions she has held since 2013. In addition, Dr. Calvi has joint appointments as Professor of Oncology (since 2018), and of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (since 2020). Dr. Calvi has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2002.
Gordon Family Professor in Pediatrics
Jill M. Cholette, MD
This is a new professorship, established in 2019, to support a professorship in the division of pediatric cardiology in the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. This professorship was made possible by a generous gift from the estate of Mrs. Shirley P. Gordon in honor of Mrs. Gordon and family members. Dr. Cholette is a Professor of Pediatrics, a position she has held since 2019. Dr. Cholette has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2006.
Dr. C. McCollister Evarts Professorship in Orthopaedics
P. Christopher Cook, MD
Established in 2014, this professorship supports a faculty member in the Department of Orthopaedics. This professorship was made possible through the generous support of Dr. C. McCollister Evarts and the Department of Orthopaedics. Dr. Cook currently holds an appointment as Professor of Orthopedics, a position he has held since 2017. Dr. Cook joined the faculty of the SMD in 2012.
Albert and Phyllis Ritterson Professorship
Stephen Dewhurst, PhD
Established in 2015, this professorship was made possible by an estate gift from Phyllis Ritterson and other donors, and supports a professorship in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Dewhurst was appointed Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in 2009, and is currently a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, a position he has held since 2001. Dr. Dewhurst also holds a joint appointment as Professor of Oncology (since 2018). Dr. Dewhurst has been a member of the SMD faculty since 1990.
Dr. Elizabeth R. McAnarney Professor in Pediatrics Funded by Roger & Carolyn Friedlander
Jill S. Halterman, MD, MPH
This professorship, established in 2012, was made possible through the generous support of Roger and Carolyn Friedlander in grateful appreciation of Dr. Elizabeth R. McAnarney for her service to children in the Rochester region and for inspiring volunteer involvement with the University. Dr. Halterman is a Professor of Pediatrics, a position she has held since 2013. Dr. Halterman has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2001.
Dr. Stanley M. Rogoff and Dr. Raymond Gramiak Professor in Radiology
Jennifer A. Harvey, MD
Pending approval by the Board of Trustees, this professorship was made possible by the support of an anonymous donor in honor of Dr. Stanley M. Rogoff and Dr. Raymond Gramiak; the purpose of the professorship is to support the recruitment or retention of faculty in Radiology. Dr. Harvey is a Professor of Imaging Sciences, and Chair of the Department of Imaging Sciences, positions she has held since joining the faculty of the SMD in 2020.
Julius, Helen and Robert Fine Distinguished Professorship
Benzi M. Kluger, M.D., M.S.
This is a new professorship, established in 2019 by the Board of Trustees, and was made possible by a gift from the estate of Mr. Robert A. Fine. The purpose of this fund is to support a distinguished professorship in either the Department of Neurology or Neurosurgery in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Kluger is a Professor of Neurology, of Medicine, and in the Center for Health and Technology, positions he has held since joining the faculty of the SMD in 2020.
Lynne Maquat Distinguished Professorship
David H. Mathews, MD, PhD
This new professorship, established in 2020, was made possible by the generous support of anonymous donors in honor of Dr. Lynne Maquat. The purpose of this professorship is to support a distinguished professorship in RNA Biology in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Mathews is currently a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, an appointment he has held since 2016. Dr. Mathews has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2003.
Dean's Professorship
Benjamin L. Miller, PhD
Dean’s Professorships were established in 1982 and are designated by the Dean to be assigned to individuals of outstanding research excellence. Dr. Miller is currently a Professor of Dermatology, and of Biomedical Engineering, positions he has held since 2010. Dr. Miller has been a member of the SMD faculty since 2002.
Wynne Distinguished Professorship
Thomas G. O'Connor, PhD
Newly established in 2019, this distinguished professorship supports the director of the Wynne Center for Family Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. O’Connor is a Professor of Psychiatry, a position he has held since 2009. Dr. O’Connor also holds joint appointments as Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and of Neuroscience (since 2019). Dr. O’Connor joined the faculty of the SMD in 2003.
Esther Aresty Granite Professor in Neurology
Giovanni Schifitto, MD, MS
Established in 2018, this professorship was made possible with a gift from Joseph Aresty, and the Catherine and Joseph Aresty Foundation, in honor of Mr. Aresty’s sister Esther. The purpose of this professorship is to support a faculty member in Neurology. Dr. Schifitto is a Professor of Neurology, and of Imaging Sciences, positions he has held since 2012. Dr. Schifitto joined the faculty of the SMD in 1994.
George L. Engel Professorship in Psychosocial Medicine
Steven M. Silverstein, PhD
The George L. Engel Professorship was established in 1976 with a gift from the Helen Cohen Trust in in recognition of George L. Engel, and recognizes contributions in Biopsychosocial Medicine within the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Silverstein was appointed as Professor of Psychiatry upon joining the SMD faculty in 2020, and in addition holds joint appointments as Professor of Neuroscience, and of Ophthalmology.
Dean's Professorship
Chen Yan, PhD
Dean’s Professorships were established in 1982 and are designated by the Dean to be assigned to individuals of outstanding research excellence. Dr. Yan is a Professor of Medicine in the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, a position she has held since 2016. Dr. Yan has been a member of the SMD faculty since 1998.
Faculty Awards:
At the heart of the School of Medicine and Dentistry is its faculty. We salute their achievements and congratulate those who have been recognized in the last year. Among them were:
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Women’s Leadership Award
Judith F. Baumhauer, MD, MPH
Associate Chair of Academic Affairs; Professor, Division of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Department of Orthopaedics
Black Physicians Network Lifetime Achievement Award
Ruby L. Belton, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Imaging Sciences
Department of Imaging Sciences
National Blood Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee
Neil Blumberg, MD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Director of Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Journal of Clinical Oncology Editor-in-Chief
Jonathan W. Friedberg, MD, MMSc
Professor of Hematology/Oncology; Director, Wilmot Cancer Institute; Samuel E. Durand Chair in Medicine
Department of Medicine
Society of Biological Psychiatry 2020 Gold Medal Award
Suzanne N. Haber, PhD
Dean’s Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Liaison Committee on Medical Education Chair
David Reny Lambert, MD
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Student Education; Professor
Department of Medicine
American Geriatrics Society President
Annette Medina-Walpole, MD
Professor of Geriatrics and Aging; Paul H. Fine Professorship in Medicine; Chief of Geriatrics and Aging
Department of Medicine; Director, UR Aging Institute
Black Physicians Network Francis J. Clement, CFP Making a Difference Award
Adrienne Morgan, PhD
Senior Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion; Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Humanities and Bioethics
Health Resources and Services Administration Geriatric Academic Career Award
Jennifer Muniak, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatrics and Aging
Department of Medicine
American Stroke Association Thomas Willis Lecture Award
Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc
Professor, Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience and Neurosurgery; Co-Director, Center for Translational Neuromedicine