Celebrating a most talented faculty, the heart and soul of UMass Chan, and the donors who support them

In keeping with UMass Chan Medical School tradition, outstanding faculty were honored at the Convocation and Investiture ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 14, part of the annual week of festivities marking the start of a new academic year. The generosity of donors who stepped up to establish new endowed chairs—invaluable mechanisms for honoring and supporting accomplished faculty—featured in the celebration. 

In his annual Convocation address, Chancellor Michael F. Collins embraced the Medical School’s new brand, “Advancing Together,” which articulates the uncommon collaboration and teamwork for which UMass Chan has come to be known. 

Chancellor Collins also announced the start of the public phase of “Advancing Together: The Campaign for UMass Chan Medical School,” a fundraising initiative with a goal of raising $500 million by late June 2026. The campaign, which started in 2019, raised $350 million in the silent phase. The Advancing Together marketing campaign launched on Sept. 6, signifying a new era as the Medical School proudly and more boldly celebrates its unique culture of collaboration, which facilitates the genuine sharing of intellect, data, talent and technology. 

Four faculty members were honored and invested as endowed chairs and professors, including two inaugural chairs. As the most sought-after positions in higher education, endowed chairs are incredibly powerful in recruiting the most accomplished faculty to UMass Chan. And as named opportunities, endowed chairs offer donors the opportunity to build a meaningful, lasting connection to educational and scientific advancement at the Medical School.

Andres Schanzer, MD, professor of surgery and population & quantitative health sciences and chief of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, was invested as the inaugural Cutler Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

Michael A. Brehm, PhD, associate professor of molecular medicine, principal investigator of the UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence and co-director of the humanized mouse core facility, was invested as the inaugural Harvey A. Shultz Chair in Diabetes.

Sharon B. Cantor, PhD, professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology, was invested as the Gladys Smith Martin Chair in Oncology.

Vaikom S. Mahadevan, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, was invested as the Edward Budnitz, MD, Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine.

In attendance were Bruce Cutler, MD, and Kim Cutler, who generously funded the Cutler Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Dr. Cutler is professor of surgery emeritus and former chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, which he helped to establish after being recruited to the Medical School in 1974, and developed into a highly regarded division over the course of his long career at UMass Chan.  

“Prominent members of this academic community for decades, Dr. and Mrs. Cutler, through your latest and most generous gift to create a new endowed chair, your long and storied association with this public medical school has evolved to include your new role as special and cherished benefactors,” said Chancellor Collins. 

Also in attendance was Lenny Shultz, PhD, brother of the late Harvey Shultz, whose estate funded the Harvey A. Shultz Chair in Diabetes. Dr. Schultz is a professor of medicine at UMass Chan and works closely with the team at the UMass Diabetes Center of Excellence on behalf of The Jackson Laboratory.  

Said Chancellor Collins, “Through the endowment of the Harvey A. Shultz Chair in Diabetes, your brother’s legacy and your family name shall grow and perpetually benefit this institution and patients the world over.” 
 
Chancellor Collins also announced the recipients of the 2023 Chancellor’s Medals for excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and clinical excellence.  

Susan Zweizig, MD, professor of obstetrics & gynecology, received the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Teaching. Dr. Zweizig was invited to present the 2024 Last Lecture, a celebration of teaching, and received the Manning Prize, a $10,000 prize established by former UMass Board Chair Robert Manning and his wife, Donna Manning, both of whom are UMass alums.

Douglas Golenbock, MD, the Neil and Margery Blacklow Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunology, professor of medicine, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, and co-director of the Program in Innate Immunity, was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Scholarship.

The Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Clinical Excellence was presented to Kathryn Edmiston, MD, associate professor of medicine. Dr. Edmiston was invited to lead the first-year class in the recitation of the Oath of Maimonides at the 2024 White Coat Ceremony.

The Chancellor’s Medal for Distinguished Service was awarded to Jill Terrien, PhD, associate professor of nursing. Dr. Terrien is invited to carry the Medical School’s ceremonial mace at events throughout the academic year.