In the Headines

About Alumni :: May 2006

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PR Newswire (May 24)

Renowned Physician and Endoscopist Gary Falk Named ASGE President
The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy announces its 2006–07 president, Gary Falk of the Cleveland Clinic. A graduate of the University of Rochester in New York, Falk received board certification in gastroenterology in 1985.

India PR Wire (May 23)

Symphony Services Elevates Ajay Kela to Corporate COO and Managing Director
Symphony Services . . . today announced it has promoted Ajay Kela, former president of its India operations, to the position of chief operating officer (COO) and managing director. He . . . received his Ph.D. in engineering and computer science from the University of Rochester, New York.

Newsday (May 20)

Selling Today’s Musicians on the Pipe Organ
As organ instructor at Interlochen, a boarding school and summer music camp in the northern Michigan woods, Tom Bara has taken on the role of salesman. Like many professional organists, he is worried about prospects for “the king of instruments,” as Mozart proclaimed it. Nowadays, it’s battling to keep its crown. “It’s a challenge, but incredibly rewarding,” says Bara, 36, a Holt, Mich., native who studied at Interlochen under longtime instructor Robert Murphy before earning degrees from the University of Michigan and the Eastman School of Music.

Phoenix Business Journal (May 17)

ASU Names SUNY’s Capaldi as New Provost
Arizona State University Wednesday named Elizabeth Capaldi, vice chancellor and chief of staff for the State University of New York system, as its new provost and executive vice president. Capaldi received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, and her Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. (Also reported by Milwaukee Business Journal and BizJournals.com.)

Democrat and Chronicle (May 17)

Asian Business Successes Belie Local Census Data
“Because of the size reduction of big companies like Kodak and Xerox, it affects the small firms,” said Eric Wan, who came to the University of Rochester from Taiwan to become a mechanical engineer. “Fortunately, we are providing services for the power industry, so we are really lucky.”

Democrat and Chronicle (May 16)

Speaker Tells of Global Obstacles Facing Deaf
Markku Jokinen, 46, of Finland, spoke Monday to nearly 100 people at the University of Rochester Medical Center about the role of the World Federation of the Deaf and the challenges that deaf people face globally. “Deaf people have a hard time protesting,” he said. “Governments will tend to ignore them.” Jokinen, who attended UR in 1992, said the WFD hopes that by 2010, through lobbying and with help from the United Nations, all deaf children will receive a quality education, that their sign language will be accepted and that deaf people will have full integration in the community with the aid of interpreters.

Philadelphia Daily News (May 5)

Kirsten, Transformed
New Mexico-born [opera singer] Kirsten Chavez grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, then blazed through the Eastman School of Music and nabbed a mantel full of awards, including the finals of the Metropolitan Opera auditions.

Royal Gazette (Bermuda) (May 4)

AWAC Appoints Four New VPs
Allied World Assurance Company has appointed four senior vice presidents, all of whom joined the company in 2002. Thomas McKevitt will oversee the underwriting of the North American Property Pro Rata and Per Risk Reinsurance portfolios as SVP Property Treaty Reinsurance. He graduated from the University of Rochester and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.

Newswise (May 4)

Director of Global Small Pox Eradication Program to Speak at Commencement May 14
Donald Henderson, professor of medicine and infectious diseases and microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Biosecurity, will be awarded an honorary degree from Clarkson University at its 113th Commencement in Potsdam, New York, Sunday, May 14. Henderson received his medical degree from the University of Rochester and a master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Buffalo News (May 2)

Buffalo Surgeon to Head State Medical Society
Richard Peer, a Buffalo surgeon, has been elected president of the Medical Society of the State of New York. After graduating cum laude from Canisius College, he earned a medical degree with distinction in research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He then completed his internship and residency at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital.