Distinguished Service Citation
Alisan Goldfarb
Class of 1971
Awarded 2016

“Picture yourself in 10 years. You will get a job, but you will not have a private practice.” Alisan Goldfarb’71 heard this prediction during a job interview, and decades later she is still proving that interviewer wrong.

A true pioneer for women in the surgical field, Alisan started as a biology major at Beloit College. Her favorite professor, William Brown, recalls that “she was the kind of student every professor would want.” After Beloit, she attended Mount Sinai School of Medicine, finishing her medical degree in 1975 and moving on to the Mount Sinai Medical Center for her residency in general surgery.

Though trained as a general surgeon, she quickly found her specialty in breast surgery. She was influential in establishing the treatment of breast cancer at Mount Sinai by recognizing the holistic needs of patients. She created a resource group for patient education and sought psychosocial support for her patients and their families. She later opened her own practice in New York, proving that early doubter wrong. In an online review, a patient described Alisan as “a skilled surgeon but, most important, a caring human being.” Colleagues agree, noting that Alisan often exceeds expectations because she is compassionate and dedicated.

As an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Alisan is helping to educate the next generation of surgeons. She has also contributed to many textbooks and journal articles throughout her career.

Alisan is a past president of the New York Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group and has been recognized with several honors, including the American Cancer Society’s prestigious Physician of Distinction Award in 2011. The honor recognizes individuals making a tremendous impact in the field of oncology. Yet even with such an impressive career, Alisan says her greatest achievement is her son, Andrew.

For her commitment to persevering and breaking new ground for women in her profession, and for her dedication to patient care and to training the next generation of doctors, the Alumni Association is proud to call Alisan Goldfarb a Beloiter, and to bestow upon her the Distinguished Service Citation, its highest honor.