Alums Celebrate and Reminisce at SOM Reunion
In-person Celebration Recognizes Three Cohorts of Reunion Classes
After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the School of Medicine (SOM) reunion was back in person on November 5 and 6. Alumni celebrating five-year graduation anniversaries and 50th anniversary honorees from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 cohorts, enjoyed an evening of dining and dancing followed by a brunch and campus tour the next day.
More than 165 alumni from class years ending in zero, one, two, five, six and seven, along with current students, faculty and administration, enjoyed an evening banquet at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York. Anthony Sozzo, M.A., M.S.Ed., associate dean for student affairs and director of student financial planning and student activities, served as the master of ceremonies. “It was great to see our alumni reconnect with each other and I was happy to see some faces that I had not seen in a long time including some from my first class of students when I joined New York Medical College in 1984,” said Mr. Sozzo.
The acappella music of the Arrhythmias entertained the guests who included Jason D. Buchwald, M.D. ’97, who founded the Arrhythmias when he was in medical school. Speakers of the evening included Mill Etienne, M.D.’02, M.P.H., vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and associate dean for student affairs, and associate professor of neurology and of medicine, who was celebrating his twentieth anniversary from graduating from medical school and Rajkumar Pammal, SOM Class of 2023 and president of the SOM Student Senate.
Among the guests was Gerald D. Holzwasser, M.D. ’56. Dr. Holzwasser is 91 years old and is a full-time radiologist at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. There were also three generations of the Cooper Family in attendance: Harvey E. Cooper, M.D. '60, Jonathan D. Cooper, M.D. '87 and Jaimee Cooper, SOM Class of 2024.
The following day alumni enjoyed a brunch on campus at 19 Skyline Drive and had the opportunity to interact with current students in a panel discussion. Students shared their experiences in medical school and what NYMC means to them. Alumni were inspired and shared their experiences as well including Eric G. Levy, M.D. ’97, a solo practice family practitioner in Santa Maria, California, who recently endowed a scholarship for students.
Alumni wrapped up the weekend with a tour of campus and the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center and a wealth of memories.
“The 2022 School of Medicine reunion was a wonderful time for alumni to connect with their fellow classmates and learn about the exciting things happening at NYMC. It was especially nice to be able to gather in person,” said Bess J. Chazhur, M.S., chief development officer and executive director of alumni relations. “Our alumni enjoyed the opportunity to meet with current students and compare their shared experiences at NYMC. We are deeply grateful to all who participated.”
