Joseph A. Chazan, MD '60

Joseph A. Chazan, MD '60, is a pioneering nephrologist and clinical professor of medicine emeritus at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School.

Chazan, who continues in active practice, is president and founder of Nephrology Associates, Inc. in Rhode Island, and senior managing director of American Renal Associates, Inc. for Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

Following medical school at UB, Chazan interned at Boston City Hospital and trained in internal medicine at the Boston VA and Beth Israel hospitals. After serving with the U.S. Public Health Service, he completed a renal fellowship at the New England Medical Center in 1966. A year later he joined the faculty at Brown.

In the early 1970s, Chazan was the sole consultative nephrologist practicing in Rhode Island. Over the years he combined his interests in academia with private practice to become a leader in nephrology throughout New England. He developed the first chronic hemodialysis program at Rhode Island Hospital and was the first to extend dialysis treatment to a freestanding outpatient clinic in the state. From a small dialysis clinic that he established in 1973, he developed a comprehensive network of ten dialysis centers that now serve more than 700 patients a week. He was also instrumental in developing the state’s renal transplant program.

Chazan served as governor of the American College of Physicians for the state of Rhode Island; was a founder of Ocean State Physicians Health Plan; and held the position of board chairman for United Health Plans of New England.

In 1973, Chazan and his late wife, Helene, began collecting contemporary art, eventually donating much of the now-renowned collection to 30 museums, including the Albright Knox Art Gallery and the UB Art Galleries. In June 2013, Chazan was honored with the Pell Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts.