Carolyn Pass, Class of '66 and Richard Susel, Class of '66
The legacy of Drs. Carolyn Pass and Richard Susel continues to shine brightly throughout MELA and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Through their extraordinary commitment to medical education, mentorship, innovation, and philanthropy, they helped shape generations of physicians and educators. Today, their impact lives on through the support of their family, who continue to honor and advance the vision they established.
Drs. Pass and Susel were highly respected physicians, educators, and leaders whose accomplishments earned the admiration of colleagues, learners, and the broader medical education community. Dr. Pass, a distinguished dermatologist, served on the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine for more than two decades and contributed extensively to the field through research, scientific publications, and scholarly works. Dr. Susel was a renowned ophthalmologist, educator, and mentor who held teaching appointments at both the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine while serving patients throughout the Baltimore region. Together, their dedication to patient care, scholarship, and medical education earned them widespread recognition and admiration throughout the medical community. Their enduring legacy lives on through the University of Maryland School of Medicine Academy of Educational Excellence and the Carolyn J. Pass, MD '66 and Richard M. Susel, MD '66 Leadership Training and Innovation Endowment, which continue to foster and celebrate excellence, leadership, and innovation in medical education.
Today, we honor the enduring legacy of Drs. Pass and Susel through the annual presentation of two awards in their names at MELA's Fall Education Day. These awards recognize educators who exemplify the leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence that Drs. Pass and Susel championed throughout their lives and careers. Although they are no longer with us, their spirit, generosity, and dedication remain woven into the fabric of MELA. Through the continued stewardship and support of their family, their vision endures, inspiring educators and learners alike and ensuring that their remarkable legacy will continue to benefit the School of Medicine for generations to come.