NEOMED lost a dear friend and colleague in David Santoro, Ph.D., who died Jan. 29, 2017. Dr. Santoro served as an adjunct professor of behavioral sciences and then family and community medicine at NEOMED from the school’s beginning.
A clinical psychologist and professor emeritus of psychology at Cleveland State University, Dr. Santoro taught medical interviewing skills at NEOMED, starting with the charter medical college class in 1977. He continued to do so, magnificently, right up through 2016. His teaching included training and mentoring three generations of faculty who taught medical interviewing, as well as working as a faculty rater for the M1 clinical skills assessment. Wherever Dr. Santoro’s students practice today, we know they’re better doctors and that patients get superior care in no small part because of his good work.
Dr. Santoro was an outstanding educator, therapist, and mentor. His gentle nature, kind manner, wonderful sense of humor, humility and humanism touched everyone he met. While he will be sorely missed by his colleagues here at NEOMED, Dr. Santoro leaves a legacy of service and excellence in medical education that will endure for years to come.
Submitted by Paul J. Hartung, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine