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On April 29, seven medical school alumni were celebrated at the College of Osteopathic Medicine鈥檚 (NYITCOM) 2025 Alumni Awards Dinner.

Held at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City, N.Y., the event recognized the graduates for their positive impact on the education of future physicians and significant contributions to the field of medicine.

When NYITCOM opened on the Long Island campus in 1977, it became the first osteopathic medical school in the state of New York, with just 38 students. Today, with locations in New York and Arkansas, NYITCOM is a force in medical education, with an alumni network of more than 9,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s).

Dean Nicole Wadsworth, D.O., noted that many of NYITCOM鈥檚 achievements鈥攊ncluding advancing opportunities for faculty and student research, enhancements to improve the on-campus medical student experience, and expanded partnerships with community groups鈥攚ould not be possible without the actions and support of NYITCOM鈥檚 alumni.

鈥淭heir unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care, research, education, and service has shaped鈥攁nd will continue to shape鈥攖he healthcare landscape for years to come,鈥� said Wadsworth.

Learn more about this year鈥檚 impressive honorees:

Distinguished Alumnus: Major General (Ret.) Philip Volpe (D.O. 鈥�83)

Throughout his remarkable military career, Volpe received a number of awards and decorations, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Purple Heart Medal, among many others. Since retiring from the United States Army in 2013, he has taken on healthcare consulting roles, serving as a military medicine subject matter expert for firms like Deloitte and others. In addition, he has taught at several medical schools, helping to prepare future military physicians. Currently, he is an assistant professor for primary care at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Alumnus of the Year: Alan Wong (D.O./MBA 鈥�03)

Wong serves as chief medical officer and senior vice president for medical affairs at Mount Sinai South Nassau, overseeing operations across several departments. He has remained active with NYITCOM and the School of Management by participating in teaching seminars and mentoring students. He is also a member of the NYITCOM Dean鈥檚 Council and assists the admissions committee in student interviews. Mount Sinai South Nassau recently increased graduate medical education programs, launching several new fellowships and residencies. Many NYITCOM graduates complete their residencies in the hospital鈥檚 graduate programs.

Excellence in Medicine: Jacqueline Watson (D.O. 鈥�91)

Watson is a highly respected public health leader with more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She serves as a strategic advisor in the Office of the Director at the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance. A key member of the senior leadership team, she works within the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, and across the Health and Human Services cluster, to leverage federal and local resources to create innovative programs that increase access to comprehensive, cost-effective, and quality healthcare services for Medicaid beneficiaries in the nation鈥檚 capital.

Emerging Leader: Evan Shlofmitz (D.O. 鈥�10)

Shlofmitz is an interventional cardiologist and the director of intravascular imaging at St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center in Roslyn, N.Y. In addition to chairing the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions鈥� Ischemic Heart Disease Council, he is a prolific researcher on stent implementation and has published more than 170 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He previously completed an intravascular imaging and physiology fellowship at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, a cardiovascular disease fellowship at Northwell Health, and served as chief resident for internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Queens.

Osteopathic Legacy Award: Cindy Hoffman (D.O. 鈥�85), Mitchell Fischer (D.O. 鈥�89), and Zachary Fischer (D.O. 鈥�20)

Hoffman, a board-certified dermatologist and NYITCOM associate professor, received this award alongside her husband Mitchell, a highly regarded emergency physician and medical educator, and their son, Zachary Fischer. After graduating from NYITCOM in 2020, Fischer completed the St. Barnabas Hospital emergency medicine residency program, where he trained for four years, following in his father鈥檚 footsteps in becoming an emergency medicine physician. Today, he practices emergency medicine at Garnet Health Medical Center, which has campuses in Middletown and Harris in New York.