Honors and awards at annual reunion of the Yale Surgical Society in June

At their annual reunion in June, members of the Yale Surgical Society honored Clarence T. Sasaki, M.D., ’66, HS ’73, the Charles W. Ohse Professor of Surgery. Sasaki, a specialist in ear, nose, and throat surgery, is known for his surgical expertise and has written several books, numerous book chapters, and countless journal articles.

Sasaki grew up in Hawaii, where he attended the prestigious Iolani School. (Alumni of the school include Sun Yat-sen, considered one of the greatest leaders of modern China.) After his graduation from medical school, Sasaki served in a military evacuation hospital in Danang, Vietnam, where he was credited with saving many soldiers’ lives. Apart from his medical skills, he is also a connoisseur of fine wines and fine cars.

Frederick L. Greene, M.D., HS ’76, chair of surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C., gave the keynote address on the importance of staging in the diagnosis of cancer.

This year’s recipients of the Lindskog International Travel Awards were Laura Tom, who went to Honduras, and to Matthew Hornick, who did a surgical rotation in Zambia. “It is not only good for them,” said John E. Fenn, M.D. ’61, HS ’66 who presented the awards. “I believe that they also act as unofficial ambassadors for the United States, sharing goodwill with other less fortunate countries.”

The Samuel Harvey Award this year went to Peter S. Yoo, M.D. The award, said Walter E. Longo, M.D., M.B.A., professor of surgery (gastroenterology), recognizes a chief resident who has distinguished himself in eyes of peers as an excellent doctor and colleague.