Gold Humanism Ceremony Dedicated to Leonard Katz

By Dirk Hoffman

The joyous occasion that celebrates the values of humanism and professionalism in medicine had a tinge of melancholy about it this year though as many present at the ceremony in the school’s M&T Auditorium were missing Leonard A. Katz, MD, professor emeritus of medicine, who died Feb. 6 at the age of 89.

Katz founded the UB chapter of the GHHS in 2004, named in memory of Richard T. Sarkin, MD, EdM ’98, a former associate professor of clinical pediatrics known for his teaching expertise and passion.

From 1968-1980, Katz served as associate dean of the medical school where he started the gastroenterology program. 

GHHS student chapter co-adviser David A. Milling, MD ’93, executive director of the Office of Medical Education and senior associate dean for medical education, noted that Katz “had actually planned to be here tonight to share the history of Gold humanism, which he did every year.”

“He would come up from Florida to participate in this event with his wife, Judy.”

“All along, he has been a guiding light for this chapter and a just bright light generally in terms of personality. As you met him, he exuded kindness and respect. He was an amazing mentor for humanism.”

Milling then read from a prepared statement that dedicated this year’s GHHS induction ceremony to Katz.

“Though he is not here, his presence is deeply felt. He was more than an exceptional physician and administrator; he was a visionary leader whose dedication led to establishing both our medial emeritus faculty program and the GHHS program.”

“His commitment to humanism in medicine remains a guiding force, shaping how we care for patients, support one another and influence future physicians,” Milling said. “His legacy will continue to inspire generations of physicians to lead with empathy, integrity, and unwavering dedication to the well-being of others.”

“We will miss him — his kindness, warm smile, infectious laugh, and remarkable ability to unite people with wisdom and compassion. Thank you, Dr. Katz, for your wisdom, mentorship, and heart. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”

In her opening remarks, Allison Brashear, MD, MBA, UB’s vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School, also noted that she was thinking of Katz and that all “miss him deeply” as she pointed to the front row where he and his wife could usually be found during previous ceremonies.

“He was such a big supporter of humanism, and he really exemplified the heart and soul of medicine,” she said.

“As we gather here today, we really want to think about what it means to be a physician,” Brashear added. “And that means putting your patients first and getting to know them, not only the medical problems they may have, but getting to know them and their family and together you plan their course of care.”

The GHHS is a program of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that strives to elevate the values of humanism and professionalism in medicine worldwide.

It has 185 chapters around the world and more than 45,000 members. Once a member is inducted into GHHS, they are a member for life.

Gregory S. Cherr, MD, professor of surgery, senior associate dean for graduate medical education and GHHS resident chapter co-adviser, was master of ceremonies for the event.

Milling and Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD ’04, professor of neurology and associate dean for student and academic affairs, introduced the medical student inductees.

The following Class of 2026 medical students were inducted:

Cherr and GHHS resident chapter co-adviser Peter S. Martin, MD ’07, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, introduced the resident and fellow inductees.

The following residents and fellows were inducted:

• Ahmed Rafay Afzal, MBBS, pediatrics residency
• Neil Almeida, MD, neurosurgery residency
  
• Amera Alsalahi, MD, internal medicine residency
• Samual Booth, DO, internal medicine residency
  
• Sheetal Chepuri, MBBS, neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship
• Sean Clausen, MD, otolaryngology residency
• Alicia Drago, MBBS, pediatrics residency
  
• Mahmoud Elamin, MD, internal medicine — Catholic Health Systems residency
  
• Yasmin Fakhari Tehrani, DO, internal medicine residency
  
• Mariam Haji, MD, hematology/oncology fellowship
• Shaniza Haniff, MD, internal medicine — Catholic Health Systems residency
  
• David Kowalski, DO, orthopaedic surgery residency
  
• Briana Miskey, DO, pediatrics residency
  
• Mrinalini Ramesh, DO, internal medicine residency
  
• Yousaf Saeed, MD, internal medicine residency
  
• Rahul Thakur, MD, hematology/oncology fellowship
• Jiyun Yoon, MD, family medicine residency

Cherr and Milling introduced the following faculty members who were inducted:

• Hanna Algattas, MD, assistant professor of neurosurgery
• Basharat Ali, MD, former clinical assistant professor of medicine
• Charles S. Berenson, MD, professor of medicine
• Robert W. Macek, MD, clinical assistant professor of family medicine
• Elisabeth Mashinic, MD, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry
• Caitlin Nicotra, DO, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology
• Xilei Xu Chen, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics
• Mark R. Zambron, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine

Fourth-year medical students Lily McGovern and Mary Yeh were awarded the Dr. Howard R. Goldstein ’74 Memorial Humanitarian Scholarship.

The annual award honors fourth-year medical students who demonstrate a humanitarian spirit and dedication to the welfare of others. 

McGovern and Yeh also briefly noted some of the medical student chapter’s highlights from the year.

Among the projects for the year were an M1 Orientation Club Fair, a book sale and Thank-A-Resident Week in February. 

The chapter will also host an M4 Pre-Match Day Retreat that will feature breakfast, lunch, games, speakers and reflective exercises.

A pair of residents were awarded the Donald Cherr, MD, and Charles Schen, MD, Exemplary Patient-Care Award, which honors a resident or fellow who demonstrates an established record of exemplary humanistic, patient- and family-centered care.

Cherr practiced ophthalmology in Rochester and Schen practiced orthopaedic surgery in Buffalo. Both men were community physicians who cared deeply for their patients and families, and devoted their careers to providing humanistic, excellent patient-centered care, said Susan M. Orrange, PhD, assistant dean for education and resident services in the Office of Graduate Medical Education.

The winners of the award were:

• Korinne Barnett, MD, MBA, a PGY-4 trainee in the internal medicine and pediatrics residency program
• Abigail Grapes, MD, a PGY-3 trainee in the surgery residency program

To close out the program, Sourav Sengupta, MD, MPH, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, provided some of his thoughts about humanism in medicine.

“There are days when doctoring is about inspiration and aspirations. I feel drawn deeply into the doctor-patient relationship,” he said. “I am energized by the connection, by the pursuit of knowledge to understand what is going on with my patient and to find the best way to help them.”

“Other days I am more defined by resistance — what to do with the anger and frustration I encounter in every unfair story in our fractured system in our unjust society.”

“Every act of compassion, every act of decency, every moment spent understanding the human experience of the person in front of you should be understood as an act of resistance,” Sengupta stressed. “The kind of compassionate and thoughtful doctoring that each of you do day in and day out in the face of what we face is the essence of resistancy.”

“Sometimes doctoring is inspiration and sometimes it is resistance. Remember what and who we are here for and know that we do this together.”