Fall/Winter 2006 - University of Rochester Medical Center

alumni news
health care through health policy change. He
succeeds Henri Termeer, chairman and chief
executive officer of Genzyme Corp., who was
the organization’s founding chairman and who
will continue to serve as chairman emeritus.
Founded in 2002, the New England
Healthcare Institute (NEHI) specializes in
identifying and furthering innovative strategies
to improve the quality and the value of
health care. In partnership with members
from all across the health care system, NEHI
conducts science-based research and stimulates
policy change to transform health care.
Alumnus is new
president of
endoscopy group
Gary W. Falk, M.D. (M ’80) has become
president of The American Society for
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Falk,
of the Cleveland Clinic, succeeds Robert H.
Hawes, M.D., of the Medical University of
South Carolina. His
term runs through
May 2007.
A member of
the organization since
1988, Falk has served
on the ASGE governing
board for eight years
and on many committees
throughout his
tenure. He received
board certification in Gary W. Falk, M.D.
gastroenterology in
1985. His professional
areas of expertise
include ongoing research in the diagnosis and
treatment of Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal
cancer and cancer prevention. He also works
to educate the public on the diagnosis and
treatment of gastrointestinal disease.
“SGE is dedicated to increasing access
and improving the information available to
the public about digestive diseases and
providing a resource for patients to find
answers to their questions,” Falk said. “We
want to demystify the diagnostic and therapeutic
procedures used in digestive diseases
and help individuals feel more knowledgeable
about their treatment options.”
Falk is professor of medicine at the
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
of Case Western Reserve University. He has
been named to the list Best Doctors in
America (gastroenterology) six times.
The American Society for
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, founded in 1941,
is a professional organization dedicated to
advancing the practice of endoscopy.
National association
honors Evarts with
highest honor
By Germaine Reinhardt
Former University of Rochester Medical
Center chief executive officer C. McCollister
“Mac” Evarts, M.D. (M ’57, R ’64), has received
one of his field’s highest honors, the AOA-
Zimmer Award for Distinguished
Contributions to Orthopaedics.
Evarts accepted the award in June
at the American Orthopaedic Association’s
annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
The award is presented annually
in recognition of outstanding leadership
in the advancement of the art and science
of orthopaedics, as well as sustained and
substantial contribution and leadership to
orthopaedic surgery. The honor includes
a $50,000 monetary award, which Evarts
has pledged to the School of Medicine and
Dentistry’s C. McCollister Evarts Merit
Scholarship Fund.
“I am humbled and honored to be
singled out for this prestigious award, joining
the company of some of orthopaedics’ finest
surgeons and researchers,” Evarts said.
To be considered for the award, nominees
must have achieved pre-eminence in
one or all of the following areas: clinical,
education and research. In addition, nominees’
contributions must have changed the
practice of orthopaedics worldwide.
Evarts’ distinguished career, including
pioneering work as an orthopaedic surgeon,
mentor, educator and strategic leader, all
were factors in his selection. He is credited
with helping to introduce total hip replacement
surgery to the United States and
highlighting the prevention of thromboembolic
disease in the musculoskeletal patient.
A member of the National Academy
of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine, Evarts
is the author of more than 200 articles in
peer-reviewed journals, and also the editor
of the five-volume textbook, Surgery of the
Musculoskeletal System.
During his 10 years at the Cleveland
Clinic, Evarts headed the orthopaedic residency
program and ultimately served as chair
of the orthopaedics department. It was during
his tenure at Cleveland that Evarts traveled
to England to spend time with Sir John
Charnley, observing him as he performed hip
arthroplasties, and eventually popularizing the
surgery here in the United States.
Evarts returned to Rochester in 1974
as chair of a newly created Department of
Orthopaedics, and is credited for transforming
that department into a national magnet for
both research and clinical care. In 1987, Evarts
left Rochester to become CEO, senior vice
president for health affairs, and dean of the
College of Medicine at Pennsylvania State
University and the Milton S. Hershey Medical
Center. In 2003, Evarts returned again to
Rochester to serve as a senior advisor to the
Medical Center CEO. He was appointed CEO in
June of 2003.
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ROCHESTER MEDICINE