Peter Lombardo

I am a native of Rochester, New York and graduated from the University of Rochester and Albany Medical College. After an internship at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital and two years as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, I had the privilege of training in dermatology under Carl Truman Nelson at The Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.   My fellow residents there were A. Bernard Ackerman and William G.Atwood, both deceased members of the Society. After the completion of my dermatological residency at Columbia and a year of medical residency at St. Luke’s Hospital, I joined the Columbia Dermatology Department.  When Dr Alexander Young, a member of this Society, became the Director of Dermatology at St Luke’s Hospital, I took over his private practice in Manhattan. I practiced medical and surgical dermatology for fifty years there and was responsible for its growth and development over that time.  When I retired in 2016, the practice consisted of several dermatologists and it remains a viable practice today as Sutton Place Dermatology, providing the full range of dermatological services to our community.

I was elected to the Society in 1977, when, along with Dr. Nelson, some of the great figures of New York dermatology were still alive and members of the Society, such as Anthony Domonkos, Rudolph Baer, Anthony Cipillaro, Orlando Canizares and Dr Leonard Harber.  I have seen the election of many outstanding members over the years.   As a resident in dermatology I had the privilege of attending the 100th anniversary of the Society and as a senior member the 150th anniversary last year.

Throughout my career, I maintained an appointment in Dermatology at The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.  I taught medical students and residents not only with didactic lectures but especially with bedside teaching in the clinic, the hospital and also in my private practice. Students and residents were welcome to rotate through the office.  I taught them clinical dermatology but also the mechanics of running a busy practice and how to treat and manage patients and their concerns and problems.   Many of the third year students who rotated through dermatology at St. Luke's hospital became familiar with my lecture on “the cutaneous manifestations of secondary lues”.

I have been active in dermatological organizations and through the years have served as president of a number of societies, including The Manhattan Metropolitan Dermatological Society, The New York Dermatological Society, The New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery and as Chair of the dermatology section of the New York Academy of Medicine.  For many years I was a delegate to the Advisory Council of the American Academy of Dermatology and served also as a member of the Ethics committee and the Nominating committee of that organization. .  I have been a member of the House of Delegates of the Medical Society of the State of New York for many years.

In 2012 I had the honor of serving as the president of The New York County Medical Society, only the third dermatologist to serve in its 200+ year history.  I followed the presidency of David Sibulkin, a member of this society who preceded me by several years.  I was recognized with honors for this activity from The American Academy of Dermatology in 2015.

I have been proud to be a physician and dermatologist and have the privilege of practicing in New York City and being a member of this venerable society. I continue to enjoy the friendships and benefits that accompany this profession