Ralph F. Józefowicz ’82M (Res), ’85M (Res), ’86M (Flw)

Dr. Ralph Józefowicz is a professor of Neurology and Medicine and associate chair for education in the Department of Neurology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He serves as director for the second year medical student course “Mind, Brain and Behavior” and as co-director for the third year Neurology Clerkship. In addition, he is the program director of the Neurology Residency.

Dr. Józefowicz earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology, with honors, from Johns Hopkins University in 1975 and his doctorate degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1979. He completed residencies at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Internal Medicine in 1982 and in Neurology in 1985, as well as a fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases in 1986.

For over 30 years, Dr. Józefowicz has proudly served the School of Medicine and Dentistry. His illustrious tenure began in 1984 when he accepted the position of instructor of Neurology. He has held numerous faculty appointments including assistant professor, associate professor, professor, associate chair, and director of educational programs.

Fondly referred to as “Dr. J” by his students, Dr. Józefowicz’s teaching accomplishments are numerous and include: the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education from the Alumni Association of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1998; the Distinguished Teacher Award from the American Neurological Association in 1998; and the Robert J. Glaser Alpha Omega Alpha Distinguished Teacher Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges in 2002. In 2010, he received the A.B. Baker Lifetime Achievement Award for Neurologic Education from the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Józefowicz then earned the Edithe J. Levit Distinguished Service Award from the National Board of Medical Examiners in 2011; the Chair’s award from the American Brain Foundation in 2015; and the President’s Award from the American Academy of Neurology in 2016.

Not only has Dr. Józefowicz had a profound impact on students locally, but also those studying around the world. He earned the Fullbright Scholar Award for Lecturing in Neural Sciences, Neuromuscular Diseases and Clinical Neurology at the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum—one of the oldest universities in Europe—in Krakow, Poland in 1993. In 2003, he was made an honorary professor and in 2014, he was awarded the Merentibus Medal “for great services rendered to Jagiellonian University.”

Dr. Józefowicz has held numerous leadership positions in several national medical societies and has served on the boards of directors of the National Board of Medical Examiners, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He currently serves as treasurer of the American Brain Foundation, chair of the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties, and chair of the Joint Investment Committee of the American Academy of Neurology. 

A generous supporter of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Józefowicz started a perpetual medical education exchange program with Jagiellonian University, which supports students’ travel and living expenses. Active in the community, Dr. Józefowicz is the founder and director of “The Psalmtones” barbershop quartet. He is a member of the St. Anne RC Church Choir, the Krakow-Rochester Sister Cities Committee, and the Polish Heritage Society of Rochester.