At Stony Brook University's Investiture Ceremony on Friday, October 24, 2025, , Professor of Surgery in the and Chief of the ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery received the first Dr. John J. Ricotta Endowed Professorship in Vascular Surgery. Dr. Ricotta, Chair of ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s Department of Surgery from 1997 to 2008 was present at the ceremony and had delivered a Surgery Grand Rounds presentation two days earlier.
Dr. Chaer, internationally known vascular surgeon and educator, joined the Department of Surgery in June after more than a decade as vascular program director, division chief and co-director of the Heart and Vascular Institute at the University of Pittsburgh, has clinical expertise and research interests in open and endovascular interventions for aortic aneurysms and lower extremity peripheral arterial disease and, in addition, interventions for pulmonary embolism and deep venous disease. He holds leadership roles in multiple professional and scientific societies including the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Vascular Surgery (distinguished fellow and past chair of the SVS Education council), the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, the American Surgical Association, American Venous Forum (distinguished fellow), the Eastern Vascular Society (past president), the American Board of Surgery (ABS) research committee (immediate past chair) and Director and chair elect of the ABS Vascular Surgery Board.
Other faculty honored at the 2025 Stony Brook University Investiture Ceremony included Gabor Balazsi, PhD - Henry Laufer Endowed Professor of Physical and Quantitative Biology (accents over both A in name); Juan Carlos Conesa, PhD - Endowed Chair for Applied Economics and Public Policy; Susan Hedayati, MD, MS - Lina Obeid Chair in Biomedical Research; Peter Igarashi, MD - Knapp Endowed Dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine; Mihai Manea, PhD - Endowed Professor for the Department of Economics; Sharon Nachman, MD - Knapp Endowed Chair in Pediatrics; Lav Varshney, PhD - Della Pietra Infinity Chair; Joe Verghese, MD, MS, FRCPI - Endowed Chair of Neurology; Simos Zenios, PhD - Peter V. Tsantes Professor in Greek Language and Language. The event was led by Master of Ceremonies, Carl Lejuez, PhD (Provost and EVP for Academic Affairs), and featured a presidential address by Andrea Goldsmith, PhD (President) and a keynote address -by Ellen K. Pikitch, PhD (Endowed Professor of Ocean Conservation Science).
Captions
Photo Group 1
Left photo: Peter Igarashi, MD, Dean of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University speaks about Dr. Rabih Chaer.
Right photo: Standing left to right, Dr. John Ricotta, Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith and Dr. Rabih Chaer.
Photo Group 2
Left photo: President Andrea Goldsmith presents medal to Dr. Rabih Chaer.
Right photo: Dr. Rabih Chaer shaking hands with President Andrea Goldsmith.
Photo Group 3
Left photo: Standing left to right, Dr. John Ricotta, Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith, Dr. Rabih Chaer and Executive Vice President of ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ William Wertheim.
Right photo: Standing left to right, Dr. John Ricotta, Dr. Rabih Chaer, Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith and Executive Vice President of ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ William Wertheim.
Photo Group 4
Dr. Rabih Chaer at closing of Investiture ceremony where he received the John J. Ricotta Endowed Professorship in Vascular Surgery.
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