For the second year in a row, a Stony Brook Medicine Department of Surgery physician has been inducted into Sachem's Hall of Honor. In a ceremony held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Sachem North High School, Dr. Angela Kokkosis was venerated with her Hall of Honor induction by the Sachem Alumni Association. Dr. Kokkosis' honor follows fellow Stony Brook surgeon, Dr. Richard Scriven's induction at last year's ceremony.
Dr. Kokkosis, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery; Director, Center for Vein Care; Program Director, Vascular and Endovascular Residency; Director, Carotid Interventions; and Co-Medical Director, Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory, grew up on Long Island and completed her undergraduate and medical education through a combined BS-MD program at Stony Brook University. She pursued her vascular surgery training as a member of the integrated vascular surgery program at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY before joining the Stony Brook Department of Surgery faculty.
"Being honored by the school that provided me with the foundation and tools to achieve an academic career in vascular surgery was humbling," said Dr. Kokkosis. "It was my junior high school teachers (Pat and Kathy Chierichella) who nominated me for this distinction, and it’s this dynamic duo who has supported me all throughout my educational career and life. I am forever indebted to them. I look forward to returning to Sachem more frequently to mentor aspiring students."
"Being honored by the school that provided me with the foundation and tools to achieve an academic career in vascular surgery was humbling," said Dr. Kokkosis.
Deeply committed to providing vascular patients with the highest quality of care possible, outside of the operating room, Dr. Kokkosis is enthusiastically involved with medical student and resident education at the national level with the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS). She has served as the chair of the Medical Student Section of the SVS, and also as the chair of the Vascular Trainee Section of the SVS.
Started in 2017 by the Sachem Alumni Association, the Sachem Hall of Honor is considered a great accolade for Sachem alums. Induction into the Sachem Hall of Honor recognizes career success and community dedication. Since 1959, there have been more than 60,000 Sachem alumni, but only 0.1% (60) have received this honor. For more information about the Sachem Hall of Honor, please click here.
"Dr. Kokkosis is one of our finest alumni and we are so proud of her accomplishments and achievements in the medical field," said Chris R. Vaccaro, President/Founder, Sachem Alumni Association, Stony Brook University (SBU) alum (MA in Public Policy, 2011) and SBU 40 Under Forty Award recipient in 2017. "Being a talented and respected Sachem alumni is one thing, but to use her gifts to help others and save lives is very powerful. It was my pleasure to induct her into the Sachem Hall of Honor and I know she serves as a role model for the next generation of Sachem students."
"Dr. Kokkosis is one of our finest alumni and we are so proud of her accomplishments and achievements in the medical field," said Chris R. Vaccaro.
Hall of Honor inductees are nominated by Sachem alumni and a committee of alumni makes the final selections. The Sachem Hall of Honor is funded and supported by the Sachem Alumni Association and is located in the central corridor of Sachem High School North.
In addition to Dr. Kokkosis, this year's inductees included:
- Denise Comparetti Brown, Class of 1980: Senior Science Manager of Mission Engineering & Analysis at Naval Undersea Warfare Center
- Mary Hugelmeyer: Sachem’s first female Board of Education president
- Kerin Kolonoskie, Class of 1992: Creative Director of Washington Nationals
- Albert Martin, Class of 1967: U.S. Marine killed in action in Vietnam
- Joe Maruzzo, Class of 1975: Veteran actor and playwright
- Michael Murphy, Class of 1990: President of Commercial Real Estate at Douglas Elliman
- Jo Napolitano, Class of 1994: Award-winning journalist and author
- Paullina Simons, Class of 1981: Award-winning international best-selling author
- Hon. Steve Stern, Class of 1986: New York State Assemblyman
- Justin Vartanian, Class of 2002: Decorated NYPD Detective
The Stony Brook Department of Surgery congratulates Dr. Angela Kokkosis on her induction into the Sachem Hall of Honor. For more information about Dr. Kokkosis and Stony Brook's Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, please click here.
Thank you to Sachem Alumni Association President Chris R. Vaccaro for providing the photos for this story.