Dannenhoffer receives AMSNY service award

Raymond P. Dannenhoffer, associate dean for support services in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, has received the inaugural Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) Anatomical Committee Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership.

Dannenhoffer has supervised operation of the gross anatomy lab at the Jacobs School and served as director of the UB’s Anatomical Gift Program since 1986.

UB’s Anatomical Gift Program is the largest in New York State.

“I want to express my deep appreciation of Dr. Dannenhoffer’s many years of dedication to the needs of anatomical programs around New York State,” says Sally R. Frenkel, module director of living anatomy at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine.

“His receipt of this award could not be more appropriate, as his stewardship of the allocation and distribution of cadavers for medical and allied health programs (as well as mortuary science) is a difficult and complicated job,” Frenkel adds.

“Ray does it efficiently and has created a method for equitable distribution of the precious donor materials that takes into account everyone’s needs. The logistics alone make my head spin!”

Brian Beatty, associate professor of anatomy at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, says faculty members at other medical schools in New York feel Dannenhoffer is someone they can count on to do what is right.

“He is very much the person that keeps this community of medical educators together. He is consistent, reliable and fair,” Beatty says. “He cares deeply about teaching medical students and keeping their needs first.

“His respect for donors and their families is exemplary and shows in his actions and words, and I feel I remind myself of what I should do by thinking of his example.”

Dannenhoffer says he was surprised to receive the award because it had never been given before, and a “little embarrassed because I feel like I am just doing my job.”

“It does tell me that my colleagues appreciate what I do,” he says. “It’s nice to know you are appreciated for doing your job.”

The mission of AMSNY is “to be the voice of medical education in New York State, advancing biomedical research, diversity in medical school and the physician workforce, and high quality and cost-efficient care.”