New president of alumni body sees a bright future ahead

Frank Lobo, M.D., has roots that run deep at the School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree here in 1992, and for many years served as a faculty member in immunology, within the Department of Medicine. After seven years as an officer and executive committee member of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine (AYAM), he was elected the alumni group’s president in June.

Lobo says that he’s looking forward to his two-year term, in particular because of the strength of the school’s current leadership. “This is an extremely positive moment for the medical school,” he says. “Our new dean [Robert Alpern] really has demonstrated a great understanding not only of what’s so magical about Yale, but also of the challenges that the school faces. He appears to have a very strategic vision about how to make the appropriate changes.”

Lobo, who was the AYAM vice president for the last two years, began his term July 1. He succeeds Donald E. Moore, M.D., M.P.H., and he says he’ll pick up where Moore left off.

“The plans are to carry on with the mission of the AYAM, which is to involve the alumni in the affairs of the medical school and contribute to its welfare in any way we can,” Lobo says. “We have a vigorous expansion of the missions of research and patient care, as well as a very appropriate sensitivity to the uniqueness of our educational mission by our new dean. That will be a very easy and exciting message to bring to the alumni.”

Jocelyn S. Malkin, M.D., was elected vice president of the association. Malkin, a psychiatrist in private practice in Maryland, has served on the AYAM executive committee and as a delegate and member of the board of governors of the Association of Yale Alumni. Christine Walsh, M.D., serves as secretary until June, 2006.

The AYAM helps shape and lead all the school’s alumni programs, including class reunions each June, outreach events around the country and activities in greater New Haven. The group will host an outing to the Yale-Harvard Game on November 19.