Letters Dear Editor: C L A S S NOTES 1 9 7 2 William Watters III writes: “I remain happily in practice as an orthopedic spinal surgeon in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and recently assumed the presidency of the North American Spine Society.” 1 9 8 2 Jordan Garrison Jr. is medical director of bariatric surgery for CarePoint Health at Bayonne Medical Center, Hoboken University Medical Center, and Christ Hospital. I was reading “Class Notes” from my Fall 2013 copy of Robert Wood Johnson Medicine magazine, and I was struck by how accomplished our graduates have been. Wow, what brain power and motivation! For myself, I graduated in 1978 and headed to Wake Forest School of Medicine for a pediatric residency and fellowship. From there, I went into private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, where I am still today, in the same practice, 32 years later. I am now helping to raise my second generation of children, for many of whom I provided health care for their parents too! I have participated in teaching medical students and residents during my entire career as part of my volunteer role as an adjunct professor of medicine with the University of North Carolina, but I think my biggest accomplishment is my close relationship with literally tens of thousands of families and children. Four years ago, I decided to go digital when I started my own pediatric blog/podcast for parents and children, called DocSmo.com. I love explaining health and lifestyle issues to parents and children, just as I did with another Rutgers Medical School graduate and classmate, Dr. Al Tallia, thirty-five years ago in the New Jersey public schools. Why not continue in a different format with my own podcast, I thought? The DocSmo.com podcast has become a labor of love. I bring my listeners, now numbering about 5,000 a month, articles about new pediatric health information, audio podcasts that I call “pedcasts” about subjects I know parents are curious about, and reviews about contemporary relevant books parents might like to hear about. In summary, my career has been a humble one but important nonetheless. I have touched tens of thousands of families’ lives with what I learned at Rutgers Medical School. All I can say is that I certainly got my money’s worth from the $1,100-per-year tuition I paid in 1974, and I hope I have paid back that generosity by making the lives of many children and families healthier and better. By the way, I’m not finished yet. Paul Smolen, MD Class of 1978 Rutgers Medical School 1 9 8 3 Neal Collins was selected for a two-year term as an at-large member of the Alumni Leaders Council of the Rutgers University Alumni Association. Linda Sieglen accepted a new position as chief medical officer at two Mission Hospitals, in Laguna Beach and Mission Viejo, California. These hospitals are part of the St. Joseph’s Health System in California and Texas. 1 9 7 6 Robert Amler is vice president for government affairs at New York Medical College and dean of its School of Health Sciences and Practice and Institute of Public Health. He received the Medical Entrepreneur Award at the inaugural “Doctors of Distinction” ceremony held by the Westchester County Medical Society and Westchester Business Journal. In addition, October 14 was proclaimed “Dr. Robert W. Amler Day” by the Democratic Conference leader of the New York State Senate. Robert Chvala writes: “Fran and I welcomed our third grandchild, Noah. His siblings are Jonah (4) and Rebecca (2).” 1 9 8 4 Ricardo Rodriguez writes: “I am in private practice in Union County as a GI medical director of Amazon Health Project, a nonprofit organization serving the needs of indigenous communities in the Amazon. We run yearly missions to the Amazon.” 1 9 9 0 Bonni Goldstein is medical director of Ghost Group, a leading operating company focused on technologies for the emerging marijuana sector. John O’Grady founded Affiliated Medical Associates in Florham Park in 1998. He is board certified in both internal medicine and infectious disease medicine. 1 9 8 0 Robert Rothberg is an associate professor of emergency medicine at the NYU School of Medicine and attending physician, Immediate Orthopedic Care Clinic, at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. 1 9 8 1 Robert Ettlinger is a family practice physician at PinnacleHealth FamilyCare in Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He was elected to a two-year term as president of the Dauphin County Medical Society. Francine Sinofsky joined the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty as clinical associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences. 1 9 9 2 Pranav Shah is an interventional radiologist at Red Bank Radiologists in Holmdel. He is a specialist in thyroid/neck biopsies. James Sosnowski practices OB/GYN in Cincinnati. He is president of the Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati for the 2013–2014 term. 62 Robert Wood Johnson I MEDICINE