Friday, June 28, 2024

Celebrating the Legacy and Retirement of Distinguished Physicians at GBMC

This summer, we’ve had the bittersweet opportunity to celebrate three long-serving and influential physicians at GBMC HealthCare as they head into retirement: Dr. H. Alexander Munitz, Dr. Robert Palermo, and Dr. Frank Rotolo. Their decades of service and pioneering contributions have profoundly shaped our health system – earning each of them recognition as GBMC HealthCare Physician Titans of Care during our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2015. We are fortunate that these incredible physicians spent their careers with us. 

Dr. H. Alexander Munitz, MD 
Dr. H. Alexander Munitz retired this June after 38 years at GBMC. As Chair of the Department of Radiology from 1992 to 2020, Dr. Munitz's visionary leadership advanced our radiology services into the 21st century. Under his guidance, GBMC became a trailblazer in adopting spiral CT technology and performing advanced radiologic studies, such as virtual colonoscopy and CT coronary arteriography. His efforts also attracted top interventional radiologists, establishing one of the region’s premier interventional radiology departments. Among Dr. Munitz's notable achievements is the creation of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, a groundbreaking collaboration between surgery and radiology. This center was the first of its kind in a community hospital in the Baltimore metropolitan area and became a national leader in percutaneous breast biopsy. Dr. Munitz’s dedication to advancing biopsy needle technology further highlights his innovative spirit.

Dr. Robert Palermo, MD 
Dr. Robert Palermo, Chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, joined GBMC 42 years ago in 1982 and has served as the Chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Director since 1990. Dr. Palermo's expertise has elevated our pathology services, paving the way for significant strides in areas such as chemistry, surgical pathology, laboratory informatics, and immunology. Our laboratory is known for its high reliability and adherence to regulatory standards – which is a direct reflection of Dr. Palermo’s leadership. Dr. Palermo has been a vital member of numerous committees, including the GBMC Cancer Committee and the Precision Medicine Task Force. His leadership in the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee and the Breast Program Leadership Committee has been pivotal in enhancing patient care and safety. Additionally, his involvement with the GBMC HealthCare Epic Advisory Council and the Infection Prevention Committee has driven significant improvements in our systems and processes. 

Dr. Frank Rotolo, MD 
Dr. Frank Rotolo, Division Head of General Surgery and iconic surgeon for the Baltimore community, is retiring after 34 years at GBMC. Starting his journey with us in 1989, Dr. Rotolo has been instrumental in advancing general surgery, including the introduction of laparoscopic and robotic surgery and the implementation of sentinel lymph node biopsies for breast cancer and melanoma detection. Dr. Rotolo has played a crucial role in elevating GBMC's surgical and cancer quality programs. He was instrumental in GBMC’s membership in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and served as the cancer liaison physician for the Commission on Cancer, as well as the Maryland State Chair for Cancer Liaison Physicians. 

Thank you, Alex, Bob, and Frank, for your remarkable contributions to GBMC and to the healthcare industry as a whole. We wish you all the best in your retirement!

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