Eric Dreyfuss, MD*

Dr. Eric Dreyfuss led a storied, 50-year career in the practice of allergy and immunology, including serving as emeritus clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine at URMC. After his retirement from his practice in 2006, Dreyfuss was involved in training 17 fellows at URMC, many of whom joined a URMC based practice and remain there today. Dreyfuss passed away in June 2021 at the age of 90. Dreyfuss earned his bachelor of science from Cornell University and his medical degree from Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. He completed a residency in pediatrics at the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and was among the first allergy and immunology fellows trained at URMC.

Throughout his career, Dreyfuss cared for thousands of younger and older adults as well as children in the region and beyond, and was a major influence in helping to build the URMC Department of Pediatrics and Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology from the ground up, both as a clinician and philanthropist.

In 2011, he created the Founders’ Distinguished Professorship in Pediatric Allergy at GCH. This generous gift served as a promise to the Finger Lakes community that children who suffer from allergies will be provided the best possible care for generations to come. It allowed GCH’s pediatric allergy program to recruit an experienced and reputable chief to ensure its stability as it took on research projects. At the end of his life, he created a second professorship and research endowment. Together, Dreyfuss’ gifts will provide training programs for future pediatricians and allergists to offer the best possible care to children with allergies.