Alumni Board
This board is the governing body of the VP&S Alumni Association. Members are responsible for implementing a variety of programs and initiatives to support the goal of achieving maximum alumni engagement.
Officers
Anne Covey '94
- President
Anne Covey '94 is a highly accomplished vascular and interventional radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York. Her clinical expertise focuses on the minimally invasive treatment of liver and biliary tract cancers, specifically through procedures such as tumor embolization and the management of blocked bile ducts. As a prominent researcher in interventional oncology, she has authored over 100 publications and two textbooks, with a particular interest in improving outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma. Dr. Covey also holds several national leadership roles, including serving as a Trustee for the American Board of Radiology and the Interventional Radiology Section Editor for the American Journal of Roentgenology.
![Anne Covey '94]()
Members
Christin Drake ’06
Christin Drake ’06 is a double board-certified psychiatrist and Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she serves as the Vice Chair for Diversity and Health Equity. Her clinical expertise focuses on women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry, specifically treating mood and anxiety disorders related to pregnancy, infertility, and perimenopause. In addition to her leadership as the Director of the Women’s Mental Health Clinic at Woodhull Hospital, she maintains a private practice in SoHo specializing in psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Dr. Drake is also a dedicated mentor and faculty advisor, recognized for her advocacy in health equity and medical education.
William Gomez '82
William Gomez '82 is an orthopaedic surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute in Hamilton, NJ. He is head orthopaedic surgeon for the Trenton Thunder/NY Yankees AA affiliate, The College of New Jersey, and Hopewell Valley High School.
Dineo Khabele '94
Dineo Khabele '94 is the Mitchell & Elaine Yanow Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is a recognized physician-scientist with extensive clinical and translational research experience in gynecologic oncology, with a focus on ovarian cancer.
Vin K. Mathur '01
Vin K. Mathur '01 is a double board‑certified radiologist and neuroradiologist based in Modesto, California, and a 2001 VP&S graduate. He completed surgical training at NewYork‑Presbyterian/Cornell, followed by specialized training in neurological surgery and neuroradiology at Saint Louis University. He now practices at Sutter Health Memorial Medical Center and Stanislaus Surgical Hospital, focusing on advanced diagnostic imaging and the surgical management of complex neurological conditions. A member of Alpha Omega Alpha, he is also an active leader in the professional community.
![Vin Mathur'01]()
Babak Joseph Mehrara ’93
Babak Joseph Mehrara ’93 is the Chief of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service and the Peter G. Cordeiro Endowed Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is a leading physician‑scientist specializing in oncologic reconstruction and microsurgery. His NIH‑funded research focuses on cancer‑related secondary lymphedema, including the role of inflammatory T cells in lymphatic dysfunction and the development of new surgical and medical therapies. His laboratory also examines how obesity and tumor lymphatics influence immune responses.
Dariush Mozaffarian '95
Dariush Mozaffarian '95 is a world‑renowned cardiologist and public health scientist, serving as Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, where he also directs the Food is Medicine Institute. His clinical work in cardiology complements his extensive research on diet, cardiometabolic health, and evidence‑based policy, with more than 600 scientific publications. A leading advocate for the “Food is Medicine” movement, he has earned numerous honors, including the 2025 VP&S Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Medical Research and recognition as one of Thomson Reuters’ “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.”
David Skaggs '89
David Skaggs '89 is a world-renowned pediatric orthopedic surgeon and the Executive Vice Chair of Orthopaedics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he also serves as the Director of Pediatric Orthopaedics. His clinical expertise centers on complex spinal deformities, including scoliosis and kyphosis, with a pioneering focus on robotic-assisted and minimally invasive surgery. As a prolific researcher and innovator, he has authored over 300 peer reviewed publications and holds multiple patents for spinal implants used globally. Dr. Skaggs is a leader in surgical safety, advocating for radiation-free imaging in children, and serves as the Founding President of the Pediatric Spine Foundation, which maintains the world’s largest database for pediatric spinal care.
Zahrah Taufique '15
Zahrah Taufique '15 is a double board‑certified pediatric otolaryngologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, where she leads Pediatric Otolaryngology at NYU Langone Hospital–Long Island. A graduate of VP&S and Columbia Business School, she completed residency at NYU and a fellowship in pediatric ENT and facial plastic surgery at the University of Minnesota. Her clinical expertise includes complex airway management, cleft and craniofacial surgery, ear reconstruction, and pediatric head and neck tumors. Her research focuses on robotic‑assisted surgery, patient safety, and health equity. A Castle Connolly “Rising Star” and New York Magazine “Top Doctor,” she is also an advocate for global health and asylum seekers.
Annabelle Volgman '84
Annabelle Volgman '84 is a prominent cardiologist and a leading advocate for women's cardiovascular health. She is the co-founder and medical director of the Rush Heart Center for Women in Chicago, the first heart program in the city dedicated exclusively to female patients. Holds the Madeleine and James M. McMullan-Carl E. Eybel, MD, Professor of Excellence in Clinical Cardiology and Vice-Chief for Academic Affairs in the Division of Cardiology at Rush. A key leader in the "Go Red for Women" campaign, noted for her commitment to raising awareness about heart disease in women.
![Annabelle Volgman '84]()
Robert A. Whittington '90
Robert A. Whittington '90 is a distinguished anesthesiologist and academic leader currently serving as the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Development, Mentorship and Recognition at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Whittington is an NIH-funded investigator specializing in geriatric anesthesia. Faculty Development: He is a recognized advocate for mentoring programs designed for women, underrepresented minorities, and LGBTQ+ faculty in academic medicine.
