Message from the RSOM Alumni Board President – Winter 2020

Dear Fellow Alumni,

Lisa Vignogna-Barlas, MD ‘96

In this edition of Medicine Today, you will read about some of our ingenious students, alumni, and faculty; students like Harrison Pravder, who started MagicAid to reduce anxiety in pediatric patients; faculty member and alum, Sharon Nachman, MD ’83, a pediatric infectious disease expert and the author of “Top 10 Truths About Influenza”; and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Jennie Williams, MD, who is recruiting highly qualified underrepresented minority students to join her in the study of reducing cancer health disparities. We are proud of the abundance of accolades, research and leadership roles our Stony Brook medical community has accomplished.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you, our alumni, for supporting our culture of giving back to Stony Brook’s medical students through your gifts of time, talent and treasure.

With your assistance, the Renaissance School of Medicine Alumni Board continues to help our medical students, whether that is through scholarship support, funding for travel on global medical missions, mentorship or career advice.

Through our annual Stethoscope Drive, the incoming class receives their first stethoscopes during the White Coat Ceremony. In this way, we are with them as they begin their journey into medicine and throughout medical school.

As I proudly turn the reins over to our new Alumni Board President, William Schweizer, MD ’83, in June, please know that I was honored to serve as the alumni board president for the last two years. It is with great awe that I have witnessed the growth and development of our alma mater.

I ask you to please continue to think of ways to give back to the School of Medicine. Scholarship contributions, volunteering and mentoring are just a few. Please feel free to contact me directly at lvignogna@gmail.com or Mary Hoffmann at the alumni office (mary.hoffmann@stonybrook.edu) with your ideas to enhance opportunities to engage alumni. Continue to stay connected to the Renaissance School of Medicine and know that you are a part of a legacy of greatness!

Best Regards,

Lisa Vignogna-Barlas, MD ’96
President
Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine Alumni Board