SUNY Downstate Medical Center - Iatros Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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An Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, and Faculty Advisor to the Lichonian and the New Caducean, RONALD P. RUBIN has rapidly become an essential member of the Medical Center staff. Though a recent addition to the Faculty, he currently is responsible for the organ- ization of the Second Year course in his depart- ment. He feels the student here is freely adapt- able, quite pliable in thoughts and decisions, and genuinely interested in leamingf' This comple- ments the feelings of those whom he has taught, for they have found him ever willing to be avail- able, helpful, flexible, and sincerely interested in being of service. A well-organized teacher and active researcher, Dr. Rubin feels the frontiers of medicine will continue to shadow the more immediate results of researchf' His current investigative interests concern the adrenal medulla, yet with all his responsibilities, he finds time to work with stu- dents on their summer fellowships. He is married, with three children, and hopes to continue his career of teaching and research at Downstate Medical Center. im -Tiff HAROLD FISHBONE, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, was by far the wittiest of those who lectured to us during the last four years. Looking forward to his lectures, anxiously hoping each would be liberally sprinkled with his dry English humor, few of us realized at the time that his approach really served a purpose greater than our own amusement: to make unforgettable the principles of conservative surgical manage- ment. A real traveler before coming to Downstate, Dr. Fishbone's positions included one at the Royal Cancer Hospital in London, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1952. In private practice, as well as teaching, he came to the United States in 1957 and was elected to the Faculty of the Medical Center. Married, with a wide range of varied interests, we sincerely hope this excellent teacher will continue to give the benefit of his experiences to many Future Classes.

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Without a doubt, BERNARD M. WECHSLER is one of the most popular of all clinical teachers. An Assistant Professor of Medicine, he is Chief of Cardiology at Kings County Hospital. Known especially for his humor and wit Cand those generous extra EKG sessionsl, he feels a warm relationship with the Downstate student. Primarily interested in teaching, he is a strong supporter of a more clinically oriented program for students. If the size of our professional faculty increases enough to make possible exten- sive research, the new University Hospital will add a great deal of depth to our Medical Center. Besides regular teaching, Dr. Wechsler is active in clinical research, and also spends much time with the senior medical students taking cardiology electives. He is married, with one daughter, and resides in Belle Harbor, Queens. VINCENT TRICOMI, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was Editor of the Lichonian 1950, at which time he was a member of the first class to graduate from this Medical Center. Crossing the street to Kings County Hos- pital, he continued to develop with the institution, taking a mixed internship and a three year resi- dency. He was elected to the Faculty of Downstate in 1955, and in 1965 was made Obstetrician- Gynecologist-in-Chief at the Brooklyn-Cumber- land Medical Center. Though a busy researcher, clinician, and ad- ministrator, he directs much of his effort toward medical students, whom he greatly enjoys teaching on a clinical level. His teaching combines two approaches: dynamic emphasis of the facts most important for students to remember, and going beyond the pathology to the patient herself. By these methods he indelibly impressed much more than the didactic material upon all of us. Dr. Tricomi fears, in time, Obstetrics may again be combined with Medicine, and Gyne- cology with Surgery. He feels that such would inhibit the substantial progress now being made in research, teaching, and practice. Married and the father of six, he finds un- fortunately little time to pursue his interests in chess and tennis.

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Medical students are embryo physicians. A1- though they have less experience, they are of equal intelligence, and should be treated as such. This is the belief of HARRY Z. MELLINS, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology. With hoarse voice and boyish charm, he delightfully introduced us to the art of Diag- nostic Radiology. He feels the Faculty member has the responsibility to educate and increase the store of medical knowledge in the medical stu- dent. Stating, Downstate will make ever increasing contributions to the education of medical students and the training of specialistsj' he hopes the em- phasis will remain on fundamental principles, and on the responsibility of the physician for the whole patient. Dr. Mellins brings freshness and enthusiasm to his Fourth Year clerkship, making the time thoroughly enjoyable and the material alive and most interesting. Our only possible suggestion would be for more exposure to this man and his subject in the future. RAMON R. TORRES, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, is well known to us by his always smiling face and distinctive accent. As the Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and the director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Kings County Hospital, his free time available for student teaching should be severely limited. Always available to students, however, he manages through rounds, didactic lectures, and spontaneous hallway and elevator conferences to increase greatly ourfknowledge of cardiac physiology and pathology. Dr. Torres is quite proud of the Downstate Medical Center, and has felt its tremendous growth during the past live years. His goal is to make the Pediatric Cardiology department the best ir1 the country, and, under his leadership, this should soon become a reality. With his wife Gudlia, and two children, Raul and Rafael, he lives close by the Medical Center.