Dr. Chong Park to Receive 2015 Maurice C. Waltersdorf Award

Created: April 14, 2015  |  Last Updated: January 16, 2020  |  Category:   |  Tagged:

WASHINGTON, PA (April 7, 2015) — Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) is pleased to announce the 2015 Maurice Cleveland Waltersdorf Awards recipient, alumnus and gifted cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Chong S. Park ’83.

The Maurice Cleveland Waltersdorf Awards Luncheon will be held April 21 at noon at the Rivers Club at One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. The cost to attend is $20 per person. Attendees should register by April 16, and can register online at  www.jayconnected.com/waltersdorf15, by calling 724-223-6075, or by emailing Amy  Lloyd at alloyd@washjeff.edu.

A highly respected and nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon, Chong S. Park, MD, currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Jefferson Hospital, which is part of Allegheny Health Network.

Dr. Park has been a valued member of Jefferson’s physician leadership team for many years, both as a clinician and in medical staff leadership roles. He has served as Chair of the Department of Surgery and Medical Director of the Allegheny Health Network Cardiovascular Institute at Jefferson Hospital.

Under Dr. Park’s leadership, Jefferson Hospital has achieved national acclaim for its excellent outcomes and quality initiatives, including its exceptional care for cardiovascular and thoracic patients. The Cardiac Surgical Program has achieved the highest three-star ratings from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its excellence in caring for its complex cardiac surgical patients. Of the participating hospitals that submit data for analysis, only approximately 10 to 15 percent of heart programs in the nation achieve this prestigious distinction.

The Heart Program has received national recognition during his tenure from outside agencies, including The American Heart Association and Health Grades. Jefferson Hospital was the first healthcare facility in Pennsylvania to earn the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Heart Attack Receiving Center accreditation and also recently celebrated its 5,000th open-heart procedure since the Cardiovascular Institute opened more than a decade ago.

Dr. Park serves as a member of several hospital committees at Jefferson, providing his expertise and experience to the carotid stent committee, credentials committee, environment and infection control committee, and the health information technology committee physician advisory group.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry at Washington & Jefferson College and his medical degree at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He completed residencies in cardiothoracic surgery at Allegheny General Hospital and in general surgery at Brown University.

Dr. Park is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, National Board of Medical Examiners and American Board of Thoracic Surgery. His professional affiliations include the American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Medical Association, Pennsylvania Medical Society and Allegheny County Medical Association. He also served on the board of trustees at Washington & Jefferson College and was a board member for the American Heart Association in Pittsburgh.

The Maurice Cleveland Waltersdorf Awards for Innovative Leadership recognizes outstanding alumni and students of Washington & Jefferson College who attain a high level of achievement and exemplify the spirit and leadership qualities manifested by Dr. Maurice C. Waltersdorf.

The Waltersdorf Awards honor the late Dr. Waltersdorf, who served as a professor and chairman of the Department of Economics at the College for 32 years. He initiated numerous innovative changes that shaped the Department of Economics and its students.

About Washington & Jefferson College

Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work.