Richard L. Berkowitz
New York, NY 10128
Undergrad college/major: Arts and Science/Philosophy.
Affiliations at Cornell: Tau Delta Phi.
Advanced degrees: MD, NYU School of Medicine (1965), MPH, Johns Hopkins (1972).
Career/occupation: Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia Univ. College of Physicians and Surgeons. Former Chairman of Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine for 18 years.
Honors and awards: Multiple teaching awards, invited lectureships and speaking invitations for Resident Research Days at academic medical centers.
Important affiliations: Membership in multiple national, state and local Obstetrical and Gynecological organizations: Former Council member of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society; President of the New York Obstetrical Society; Member of the Editorial Board of 5 Ob/Gyn journals; Examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both general Ob/Gyn and Maternal-Fetal Medicine for more than 20 years.
Published work: Author of more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 35 book chapters, and 120 abstracts presented at scientific meetings. Editor of seven books.
Marital status: Married.
Spouse: Dr. Mary D’Alton.
Children: Michael and Laura.
Grandchildren: One in the pot.
Outstanding Cornell memory: Whimsical: the bacchanalian nature of Spring and Fall weekends. Serious: Professor Healy saying that those graduating seniors that were anxious to leave Cornell weren’t prepared to do so, while those who felt they hadn’t learned enough were actually ready to go.
How has your life differed from what you expected? I knew that I wanted to be a practicing physician, but never thought that I would have a career in academic medicine. I always wanted to travel, but never dreamt that I would see as much of the world as has been possible.
Cornell activities post-grad: Aside from doing my residency at New York Hospital (Cornell University Medical Center), attending a small number of reunions, and having my daughter finish her last year of Veterinary school at Cornell, I have done far too little with and for this institution.
Personal reflections: I have been fortunate enough to attend or teach at some of the finest institutions of higher learning in the United States. In addition to Cornell the former includes NYU and Johns Hopkins, while the latter includes Yale (1974-’82), the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1982-2003), and Columbia (2003-present). My children have gone to Brown Univ. and the Univ. of Vermont, and through the years I have interacted with medical students and residents from virtually every major university in the Northeast, and from many others throughout the rest of the country. So when I reflect on the fact that if I could do it all again I would unhesitatingly go back to Cornell for college. I think that speaks volumes about how much I got out of those years. I made lifelong friends who will always remain within the inner circle of my closest acquaintances. I got a wonderful education and the tickets necessary to get into a first class medical school. I learned that I would have to keep learning throughout my life, which has been critically important for the career I chose and has probably staved off Alzheimer’s for at least a few years. And perhaps most importantly I had four years filled mostly with laughter in a gorgeous and isolated setting while making the awkward transition from teenager to adult. Maybe all this would have happened elsewhere, but I don’t know where that would be.