Alumni and Downstate News: Feb. 2016

Some alumni listed died in the past few years. We post updates as we receive the news.

SUNY Downstate Alumni

Ralph Brancaccio, MD, ’41, deceased Dr. Brancaccio, a graduate of Columbia University, the Long Island College of Medicine and Fellow of the American College of Radiology, died in 2013 at the age of 96.

Edmond McDonnell, MD, ’42, deceased Dr. McDonnell, an orthpaedic surgeon who lived in Phoenix, MD, died in 2011.

David C. Summers, MD, ’43, deceased Dr. Summers was born in Brooklyn, lived in Maplewood, NJ, and Berkely Heights, NJ. He was an Army veteran of World War II, and later a psychiatrist with a private practice in Maplewood, NJ. He also worked with the Veterans Administration Health Care system. He died at 91 in 2010.

Walter C. Eichacker, MD, ’44, deceased Dr. Eichacker died November 18, 2015, at 96 at his home in Heathsville, Virginia. He had retired in 1989 from his family medicine practice in Setauket, NY, after 40 years. He and his wife, Janet, moved to the northern neck of Virginia in 1995.

Sam Tally Simpson, ’45, deceased Dr. Simpson joined the US Army during World War II, and worked in the Army medical corps at the US Veteran’s Hospital, Columbia, SC. After his discharge in 1946 with the rank of Captain, he practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology in Birmingham. He earned a Master Degree of Public Health from Tulane in New Orleans, and served as the health director of Manatee County, Florida. He later served as health director of medical service for Dade County. He was a Fellow of American Board of Abdominal Surgery, American Medical Society, and Manatee County Medical Society. Dr. Simpson retired from public health in 1982.

Gabriel Cusanelli, MD ‘46, deceased Dr. Gabriel N Cusanelli, MD, 91, of Milford, CT, died September 3, 2013. Dr. Cusanelli was a Physician for 45 years and practiced as a General Practitioner in private practice in New Haven until 1994. He was also company physician for Sargent and Company in New Haven for 35 years. Following Medical school, he served in the United States Army in Korea and Japan where he was assigned as the Port Surgeon. He was discharged as a Captain in 1949.

James F. Morell, MD ‘46, deceased Dr. Morell died Sept. 24, 2015. He was a longtime resident of Garden City, NY, and then resided in the Blue Bell/Ambler area.

Vincent DeLuca, MD, ‘48, deceased Dr. DeLuca died August 25, 2015. He served in the US Navy as a medical officer, then settled in Woodbridge, CT and joined the staff of Griffin Hospital. He served as the hospital’s Director of Medical Education, and also started a gastroenterology fellowship program with Yale University School of Medicine. He was a pioneer in gastroenterology, receiving a Distinguished Award from the CT Society of Internal Medicine in 1974.

Proctor Child, MD, ‘49, deceased Dr. Child died April 7, 2012. He trained as a resident in pathology at the US Army’s Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver. He was a veteran of World War II, and the Korean War, serving 26 years in the military, two years in the Navy, and 24 years in the Army. Dr. Child retired as a Lt. Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps in 1967. During his career, he served at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington DC as Assistant Chief in the Geographic Pathology Division, and Chief of the Viro-Pathology Branch. He was also an associate professor for the Temple University Hospital School of Medicine, and Chair of the Department of Pathology at Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia. He was also Chairman of Pathology and Director of Laboratories at Allentown Hospital, now part of the Lehigh Valley Health Network.

Sandra A. Gilmore, MD, ‘60 Dr. Gilmore is retired, living in Westchester County, NY, and “enjoying it immensely,” she writes. “Regards and good wishes to all my classmates.”

Stuart Bednoff, MD, ‘61 “I am happy to report that after a successful career lasting 47 years in private practice in Obs/Gyn, I have chosen to retire. My wife of 55 years and I hope to spend time with our family and also plan to travel.”

Richard Marks, MD, ’61, deceased Dr. Marks served in several roles at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, starting as an intern and resident in the mid-1960s. He was a general surgeon, board member and interim chair of the Department of Surgery, and Vice Chairman of Surgery.

Irwin Berkowitz, MD, ‘72 After nearly 40 years of pediatric experience, Dr. Berkowitz published a book “Instructions Not Included: A Pediatrician’s Prescription for Raising the Best Kids on the Block.” It’s a common sense guide for child rearing and available on Amazon and Nook.

David Berger, MD, ’84, Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, was named Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Baylor St Luke’s Medical Center in the Texas Medical Center, Houston. He was also recently featured on FOX News Houston for a story on hospital construction.

Raymond Resnick, MD, ‘87 Dr. Resnick leads the cardiac catherization lab at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa.

Andrew J. Vecchio, MD ’89, deceased, May 25, 2014

Downstate News

Dr. Scott E. Barbash Dr. Barbash was appointed Downstate Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Jan. 20, specializing in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. He is the associate program director for the SUNY Downstate Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program.

R.D. Feinman, MD, Downstate professor of cell biology and medical researcher, was referenced in a January 2016 American Oil Chemist’s Society article.

Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, quoted by Sun Newspapers, Florida, on middle ear fluid in at-risk children. Dr. Rosenfeld is professor and chair of the Otolaryngology Department at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and chair of the 2016 guidelines update for the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.

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