Newswise — Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D., medical director of the Physician Assistant program and recipient of the first endowed chair at Misericordia University, recently was presented the Nathan Smith, M.D., Distinguished Service Award by the New England Surgical Society at its 92nd Annual Meeting in Bretton Woods, N.H.
The Nathan Smith Award was first presented by the New England Surgical Society in 1985. It recognizes exceptional scientific and clinical contributions to surgery, as well as for being committed to providing community service and care to those most in need in society. The award also honors Dr. Nathan Smith who was the most prominent physician and surgeon in New England not only for his unique excellence in caring for patients but in helping to establish four medical schools, including Yale Dartmouth, and the University of Vermont.
Dr. Dudrick is also the chairman emeritus in the Department of Surgery and director emeritus of Program in Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital, a Yale-affiliated teaching hospital. He also holds an appointment as professor of surgery in the Yale University School of Medicine. The Nanticoke, Pa., native is known as a pioneer in the academic, clinical and medical fields. His innovative development and successful clinical application of the specialized central venous feeding technique, known as intravenous hyperalimentation or total parenteral nutrition, has been described as one of the four most significant accomplishments in the history of the development of modern surgery. It also has been acknowledged as one of the three most important advancements in surgery during the past century along with open heart surgery and organ transplantation.
Dr. Dudrick received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology with honors from Franklin and Marshall College, graduating cum laude. His medical degree was conferred by the University Pennsylvania School of Medicine. After his residency training, he joined the faculty at Penn and ascended in rank from instructor to professor of surgery in five years. In 1972, he was recruited to Houston as the first professor and founding chair of the Department of Surgery at the then new University of Texas Medical School at Houston and Chief of Surgical Services at Hermann Hospital/The University Hospital. The extensive knowledge and experience he gained in starting this new medical school will be an invaluable asset to this pioneering effort at Misericordia University in establishing the newest graduate program in physician assistant studies.
He has also served as chair of the Department of Surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, surgeon to the hospital, director of the Residency Training Program in General Surgery and clinical professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Dudrick was later appointed surgeon-in-chief of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease and director of the Hermann Nutrition and Human Performance Center, the Nutritional Support Service, and the Nutritional Science Center at Hermann Hospital and clinical professor of surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.
Dr. Dudrick began serving as associate chair of the Department of Surgery and director of the Program in Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital, and as a professor of surgery at Yale University School of Medicine in 1994. One year later, he became director of Graduate Medical Education at St. Mary’s Hospital. Dr. Dudrick also served two years as chair of the Department of Surgery and director of Surgical Education for the newly integrated Bridgeport Hospital/Yale New Haven Health System.
Dr. Dudrick also has authored or co-authored more than 2,500 scientific reference citations in Current Contents; has served on more than 14 editorial boards of scientific journals and professional publications; has been presented more than 95 honors and awards; and has produced several books, including the “American College of Surgeons Manual of Surgical Nutrition,’’ which he served as co-editor.
In recognition of Dr. Dudrick’s international contributions to the medical field and to the stature his presence confers upon the new BSMS program, Dr. Dudrick holds the Robert S. Anderson Endowed Chair, the first such academic position offered by Misericordia University. Undergraduate and graduate work for the combined Bachelor of Science in Medical Science and Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies can be completed in five years for students who enroll as freshman and complete the master’s portion of their studies or as a post-baccalaureate program in 24 months for incoming graduate students.
For more information about the Misericordia University Physician Assistant Program, please log on to www.misericordia.edu/pa or call (570) 674-6400. Founded and Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 32 academic majors on the graduate and undergraduate levels in full and part-time formats.
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