David Hultgren (son-in-law) and Diane Hultgren (daughter), Marta Priebe (daughter), Catherine Botticelli (daughter).
As the Department of Surgery is looking back at its first 50 years in 2024, it seems fitting that a lectureship created to honor one of our founding division chiefs was recently relaunched. The Cedric J. Priebe, Jr., MD, Endowed Pediatric Surgery Lectureship welcomed Michael P. La Quaglia, MD, FACS, FRCS, MSK Pediatric Surgeon, Joseph H. Burchenal Chair in Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, as a visiting lecturer.
Dr. La Quaglia, a pediatric surgical oncologist, spoke about the past and current management of children with neuroblastoma. His lecture focused on the importance of surgery to clear out the disease.
"I am a pediatric surgeon who is committed to the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer, and I am rewarded every day by my experiences with my patients and their families," said Dr. La Quaglia. "I take care of children with Wilms’ tumors, neuroblastoma, liver tumors, desmoplastic small round cell tumors, sarcomas, melanomas and thyroid tumors."
The lecture event and the accompanying dinner celebrated Dr. Priebe, Jr., and recognized his distinguished service to Stony Brook and his dedicated passion to caring for children. Five of Dr. Priebe, Jr.'s, 7 children were able to attend. "Thank you...for hosting this wonderful event," said Dr. Cedric Priebe, III. "It was an honor to my father's memory."
Dr. Priebe, Jr.'s, Stony Brook legacy began in 1982 when he joined Stony Brook's faculty as a professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Pediatric Surgery. He developed a strong patient care service, and was recognized as a meticulous surgeon, tireless teacher and a mentor of surgical faculty, residents and medical students. His research and surgical interests included the causes of intestinal ischemia in premature newborn infants, newborn congenital anomalies, pediatric tumors and childhood trauma.
Dr. Priebe, Jr., retired from Stony Brook's full-time faculty in 2007 after 25 years of distinguished service. He continued to serve as Emeritus Professor of Surgery on a part-time basis and contributed to quality assurance initiatives and educational programs.
In the spring of 2010, a campaign was undertaken to establish the Cedric J. Priebe, Jr., MD, Endowed Pediatric Surgery Lectureship. The Priebe Lectureship, which supports an annual visiting professor's presentation centering on a current clinical or research issue in pediatric surgery, was launched in March 2012. The first lecture featured visiting professor Henri R. Ford, MD, surgeon in chief of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and vice dean of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Cedric J. Priebe, Jr., passed away on January 19, 2019, at the age of 88. The visiting lectureship's purpose of advancing the education of Stony Brook's pediatric surgeons was one of his dreams. The resumption of this lecture series will ensure that his legacy lives on.
Thank you to the Division of Pediatric Surgery's chief, Dr. Kenneth Gow, for his leadership in relaunching the lectureship and for hosting the event. And much appreciation to Dr. Michael P. La Quaglia for his informative presentation.