This month is rich with health awareness efforts from Heart Month to National Kidney Month, spotlighting the importance of prevention, education, and community health. No surprise that two Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) members were recognized with awards, noting their accomplishments and contributions to the Western Pennsylvania medical community: Dr. Stanley Marks, Chairman of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center, and Dr. Kalathil K. Sureshkumar, Medical Director for the Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Program at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH).
Dr. Marks, also a past ACMS president, will be awarded the 2026 PNC Elsie Hillman Distinguished Scholar Award on March 26 at the BeSpoke Bash, hosted by the Rush to Crush Cancer non-profit. The award recognizes those who support and contribute to advancements made in cancer research at UPMC Hillman.
“Administratively, he has built Hillman into being a world-class cancer center for our city, not only in designing the facility, but staffing it with real talent in the world of oncology,” said ACMS Board Chairman, Dr. Keith Kanel, who has worked alongside Dr. Marks for over 30 years. “He is also quite an amazing guy in the community. He has done critical work in the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and other charities.”
During his time with ACMS, Dr. Marks was active in committees, attended many events, and helped the organization connect with young physicians.
“He’s really been a role model for the complete physician: dedicated to his patients, transformational to his students, committed to his community, and a scientific giant,” Dr. Kanel said.
Dr. Sureshkumar, an ACMS member, was honored with the Medical Achievement Award at the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Gift of Life Honors on Saturday, March 7, for his work in transplant nephrology.
“In the Western PA area, there’s only two transplant programs, UPMC and AGH; he’s always been the face of the program at AGH,” said Dr. Khaled Nashar, Chief of Nephrology at Allegheny Health Network, who has worked with Dr. Sureshkumar since 2011. “He’s the one that helped the program grow, and he always advocated for patients, especially in underprivileged communities, to increase their chances of getting life-saving transplants.”
In his years at AGH, he has provided outstanding clinical care to patients, personally trained and mentored residents, fellows, and junior faculty, along with publishing over 100 peer-reviewed papers, some nationally recognized.
“I think an accumulation of all his contributions over the years made him more than worthy of receiving this recognition,” said Dr. Nashar.
About the Allegheny County Medical Society
Founded in 1865, the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS) represents more than 2,000 physicians and medical students in Allegheny County. ACMS works to advance public health through education, advocacy, service, and support for physician well-being while promoting the highest standards of medical care and strengthening the physician–patient relationship
