Parviz Lalezari, MD, receives the Tibor Greenwalt Memorial Award, October 2016

In October 2016, Parviz Lalezari, MD, Director, Neurological Surgery Research Laboratory, Montefiore, and Clinical Professor of Pathology and Neurological Surgery, Einstein, was honored by the American Association of Blood Banks with the Tibor Greenwalt Memorial Award and Lectureship for his contributions to transfusion medicine and immunology. A pillar of the Montefiore community since 1957, Dr. Lalezari was the first to identify neutrophil-specific antigens, a component of white blood cells that can cause severe adverse blood transfusion reactions.

"IT IS AN HONOR KNOWING THAT MY RESEARCH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASED SAFETY OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND DIAGNOSIS OF BLOOD DISEASES."

—Parviz Lalezari, MD

He discovered these antigens are responsible for neonatal neutropenia, or a low white blood cell count that affects and endangers 0.9 percent of all newborn infants. Additionally, he showed that these antigens are the targets of auto-antibodies in autoimmune neutropenias in children and adults.

During his long tenure at Montefiore, Dr. Lalezari was responsible for founding the Montefiore Blood Bank and the tissue typing laboratory. He was among the organizers of Montefiore’s transplantation program, and over 20 years ago established The Young Investigators Symposia for Montefiore and Einstein. He is currently engaged in research into Alzheimer’s disease and innovative cancer treatments. Dr. Lalezari’s lecture on neutrophil-specific antigens will be published in the September 2017 issue of Transfusion.

We join the entire nation in celebrating Physician Appreciation Day on March 30, when we will express our deep gratitude and respect. Montefiore physicians dedicate their energies to the greater good and further Montefiore’s mission, vision and values.

“Montefiore doctors are exceptional—incredibly committed to the population we serve. They work tirelessly every day to make Montefiore the remarkable place it is. Physician Appreciation Day is our opportunity to say thank you for their extraordinary efforts,” says Jeffrey M. Weiss, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Montefiore.

Be part of the celebration! Do you know a physician who goes the extra mile for patients? Do you have physician colleagues who extend themselves in a special way to mentor and teach staff members? All associates are invited to submit a note of thanks by March 17 to a Montefiore physician, in honor of Physician Appreciation Day. Have a photo? Share that too! Notes and photos will be displayed during special Physician Day events throughout the health system on March 30.

Visit www.montefiore.org/physician-appreciation to share your note by March 17.

Children’s Hospital at Montefiore was recently honored by the entire New York State Legislature. The occasion was the Special Proclamation from the New York State Senate and Assembly recognizing the successful surgical separation of the McDonald twins, who were joined at the head. Accepting this honor on behalf of the Montefiore team were James T. Goodrich, MD, and Oren Tepper, MD, along with Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO. Nicole McDonald, mother of twins Jadon and Anais, also traveled to Albany for the occasion.

Visit www.montefiore.org/newsroom to find out more.