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In memoriam, Dr. Alan Shalita

Alan Shalita

Dr. Alan R. Shalita was the former Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center for almost forty years. He also served as Chief of Dermatology for both University Hospital of Brooklyn and Kings County Hospital Center, and was a consultant in Dermatology Services for the Brooklyn VA Hospital.

A pioneer in the treatment of acne, Dr. Shalita is recognized nationally and internationally for his skills as a master clinician, gifted researcher, and outstanding educator in Dermatology. Dr. Shalita served as President of the American Dermatological Association where he was an Honorary Member, and President of the Association of Professors of Dermatology. He was Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology in 1995, chaired their Council on Scientific Assembly and Council on Communications, and was granted Honorary Membership. He served as Deputy Secretary General of the World Congress of Dermatology for four years and was a member of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, American Medical Association, the New York Dermatologic Society and the International Society for Tropical Dermatology. In 2013 Dr. Shalita was awarded the Gold Medal, the highest honor of the American Academy of Dermatology, in recognition of his service to the specialty.

A distinguished professor of dermatology and longtime chair of the Department of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Dr. Shalita was revered by the doctors he trained for almost 40 years. In addition to his success as a clinician and researcher, Dr. Shalita was an outstanding role model who dedicated countless hours to mentoring young physicians. He influenced the lives of many and made it possible for so many young people to become dermatologists.

The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology honored Dr. Shalita with a Leadership in Distinction Award at the American Academy of Dermatology conference in 2013. His immeasurable impact in the field of dermatology has been felt by the physicians he mentored and the patients he treated over his remarkable career. He will be greatly missed as a beloved member of our department and of the dermatology community.

The Campaign

The Alan R. Shalita, MD Endowed Chair will insure that extraordinary vision and leadership are distinctions of the 21st Century SUNY Downstate Department of Dermatology.

Alan Shalita

Alan Shalita

Shalita on Stage