Shachar Shimonovich, MD | A Legacy of Dedication

By Department of Surgery | Feb 29, 2024

The SUNY Downstate Department of Surgery is deeply saddened by the loss of our dear resident graduate and friend, Shachar Shimonovich, MD.

Shachar, affectionately known as "Shach" (pronounced Shack), was born in Israel. He completed medical school at Tel Aviv University and joined the Downstate General Surgery family in 2015. He graduated residency in 2020 and was recognized with the Outstanding Chief Resident Award. Shach then completed a Trauma and Surgical Critical Care fellowship at Cooper University Medical Center in Camden, NJ, a large urban Level I trauma center. After completing his training, Shach and his family relocated to Israel. There, he worked as a Trauma Surgeon and Critical Care Fellow at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a well-known quaternary care center situated in the heart of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan region. Shach's areas of expertise included trauma, acute care surgery, and battlefield medicine. He was heavily involved in training and educating medical students, trainees, and military personnel.

Shach, a skilled trauma surgeon, sadly passed away in January 2024. He was surrounded by his beloved family, including his wife and two children. We celebrated Shach’s life with a memorial service including his family, friends, and colleagues at Downstate. Shach was a caring person who deeply valued his family and friends. Stories of his encouraging spirit, kindness, service, and gratitude-oriented wisdom echoes along our halls and in our hearts. He was a dedicated surgeon, committed to providing his patients with the highest quality  of care.

We feel his absence deeply and will dearly cherish his memory. His legacy inspires characters he espoused - kindness, gratitude, and compassion toward our patients and each other.

Tags: Surgery, Residency, General Surgery, Trauma