September 18, 2003
MEDICAL CENTER HOSTS ANNUAL PHYSICIANS RECOGNITION EVENING


Hackensack University Medical Center recently hosted its annual Physicians Recognition Evening at the Glenpoint Marriott in Teaneck. Service Recognition Awards were given to 30 physicians whose careers at the medical center have spanned more than 25 years. Five physicians were honored upon their retirements and five memorial recognitions were also awarded. A special presentation was made to honor R. Knight Steel, M.D. of Guttenberg, as the Outstanding Physician of the Year. This award annually goes to a member of the Department of Internal Medicine.

John P. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center congratulated Dr. Steel as well as the other physicians for their many years of service. Mr. Ferguson said, “It gives me great pleasure to honor our staff of more than 1,400 dedicated physicians and dentists on this special evening who serve our community with honor and dignity.” 

“The medical center was lucky to get Knight, a true pioneer in the field of geriatrics, and we are delighted to recognize his special contributions,” said Peter A. Gross, M.D. of Ridgewood, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine. 

Dr. Steel said, “First, I wish to thank my family for all of their support. When working at Hackensack University Medical Center, I am reminded of Oscar Wilde’s words: “ ‘My tastes are very simple – The best will always do’.” 

Samuel Toscano, Jr. of Hackensack, chairman of the Board of Governors at the medical center said, “On behalf of the Board of Governors at the medical center, I would like to thank you and congratulate your dedication to our patients.”

Honored for 50 years of service was Bernard Etra, M.D. of Teaneck, a chairman emeritus of the Department of Pediatrics. Honored for 45 years of service were Eugene V. Resnick, M.D. of Oradell, vice chairman emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine; Robert J. Widows, M.D. of Hackensack, chairman emeritus of the Department of Anesthesiology. Honored for 40 years of service were Albert Carilli, M.D. of Sea Girt, associate chief of the Pulmonary Disease Division, Director of Pulmonary Research, Director of the Pulmonary Disease Fellowship Program and a senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and Michael D. Yablonski, M.D. of North Haledon, chairman emeritus of the Department of Internal Medicine. 

Honored for 35 years of service were Seymour Jotkowitz, M.D. of Teaneck, senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and a chief emeritus of the Neurology Division; Leroy M. Kotzen of Ridgewood, senior attending physician and a chairman emeritus in the Department of Radiology; Marlene E. Lengner, M.D. of Hackensack, an attending physician in the Department of Pathology and the director of Autopsy Pathology; George Leipsner, M.D. of Paramus, chairman of the Department of Family Practice; Charles A. Straniero, M.D. of Tenafly, is a senior attending physician in the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology; Harold L. Waldman, M.D. of Demarest, chairman of the Department of Opthalmology; and L. Donald Weinstein, M.D. of Saddle River, senior attending in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Honored for 30 years of service were Alexandre S. Ackad, M.D. of Ridgewood, a senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and chief of the Nephrology Division; Valentine P. Bloch, DDS of Tenafly, an attending physician in the Department of Dentistry; Dewey A. Chaney, M.D. of Teaneck, an attending physician in the Department of Family Practice; Dennis Christensen, DMD of Haworth, vice chairman in the Department of Dentistry; Dante R. Greco, M.D. of Clifton, a senior attending physician in the Department of Plastic Surgery; Jitendra Lodhavia, M.D. of Oradell, a senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine; Hugh E. McGee, Jr., M. D. of Wyckoff, an attending physician in the Department of Opthalmology; Jayant N. Patel, M.D. of Ridgewood, a senior attending physician and the director of the Echocardiography/Stress Testing Division in the Department of Internal Medicine; and Mark A. Ragen, DDS of Upper Saddle River, attending physician in the Department of Dentistry.

Honored for 25 years of service were Harry Agress, Jr., M.D. of New York, NY, a senior attending physician in the Department of Radiology, and a former director of the Division of Nuclear Medicine; Franklin Desposito, M.D. of South Orange, pediatric consultant; Eric J. Ellinghaus, M.D. of Ridgewood, a senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and associate chief of the Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Division; Lawrence Lieberman, DD S of Randolph, a senior attending in the Department of Dentistry; Charles M. Moss, M.D. of Ramsey, chief of the Vascular Surgery Section and Non-Invasive Laboratory in the Department of Surgery; Gregory E. Rauscher, M.D. of Alpine, a chairman emeritus in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Chief of Cosmetic Surgery Section, and a member of the Clinical Replantation & Microsurgery Service; Chitra Sethi, M.D. of Saddle River, a medical associate in the Department of Pediatrics; Dongwuk Shin, M.D. of Cresskill, senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine; and Pranaychandra Vaidya, M.D. of Oradell, senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine and associate chief of the Cardiac Cath Laboratory.

Memorial recognition was made in honor of: Christopher Babigian, M.D. of the Department of Family Practice; Matthew Feldman, M.D., of the Department of Pediatrics; Theodore B. Leibman, M.D., of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Guillermo E. Olortegui, M.D. of the Department of Anesthesiology; and Marc S. Tarasow, M.D., of the Department of Internal Medicine.

(L to R) Peter Gross, M.D. of Ridgewood, chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center congratulates R. Knight Steel, M.D. of Guttenberg, division chief of Geriatric Medicine and senior attending physician in the Department of Internal Medicine for being awarded the Outstanding Physician of the Year. The award goes to a member of the Department of Internal Medicine annually at the medical center.


Untitled Document