Albany Med Remembers Heart Care, Education Leader Dr. Julio Sosa

The Albany Med community mourns the loss of Julio Sosa, MD, longtime director of Albany Medical Center's Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and inspiration behind the College’s preeminent faculty development and recognition program. Dr. Sosa passed away Oct. 9 at age 95.

Dr. Sosa performed the region’s first balloon angioplasty in 1979 and made many contributions throughout his career to advances in catheter systems and angiography. He mentored dozens of medical students and junior faculty, with his passion for medical education eventually leading to the founding of the Sosa Academy of Medical Sciences at Albany Medical College in 2005.

The Academy, whose goal is to train medical students to become compassionate and responsible, was made possible by a donation of $1.5 million to the college by entrepreneur Phil Morse, who worked with Dr. Sosa since 1969 on numerous cardiology projects including the development of the Morse Manifold and the Sosa Contrast Delivery System. After decades of collaboration, the two pioneers formed the Sosa Academy.

The Sosa Academy of Medical Sciences recognizes excellence, rewards achievement, and promotes innovation in the education of health professionals. Membership in the Academy is selective and recognizes outstanding contributions as an educator at Albany Medical College.

Ann E. Rutter, MD ’08, senior associate dean of academic administration, is the Julio Sosa Chair of Medical Education at Albany Medical College.

“To fulfill the mission of the Sosa Academy, each year the college proudly recognizes faculty and staff who have contributed significantly to the educational life of the College through their teaching, mentorship, or the development of instructional methodology,” said Dr. Rutter. “I’m proud to hold the endowed Sosa Chair as a symbol of Dr. Sosa’s passion and dedication to advancing our next generation of learners.”

A celebration of Dr Sosa's life will be planned at a later date.