A Community Honors Andrew Levey's Enduring Impact
On June 12, Tufts Medical Center hosted a special Grand Rounds event celebrating the establishment of the Andrew S. Levey Professorship at Tufts University—an enduring example of what a community of donors can achieve together.
The professorship was made possible not by a single gift, but by a collective of alumni, division members, colleagues, patients, friends, and family who came together in honor of Andrew Levey. Their shared commitment reflects the deep respect for his leadership and the lasting impact he has had on the field. Together, they established an endowed professorship that will support faculty leadership, research, education, and patient care for generations to come.
Held in the Wolff Auditorium, the celebration brought together leaders from across Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medicine, alongside the many donors whose generosity established the professorship. Throughout the program, speakers reflected on Andrew Levey's extraordinary contributions as a researcher, innovator, clinician, and mentor. Over the course of his career, he helped shape the modern understanding of chronic kidney disease and advanced the tools and clinical guidelines used by physicians around the world to diagnose and manage kidney disease. Equally important was his influence on the people around him—as a devoted physician, trusted colleague, and mentor who inspired generations of trainees and faculty.
Reflecting on those themes, Provost Caroline Attardo Genco and Dean Helen Boucher spoke about the importance of faculty leadership in advancing discovery, education, and patient care. Mark Sarnak, chief of the Division of Nephrology, recognized the remarkable community of supporters whose collective philanthropy created a lasting tribute to Levey's contributions at Tufts and across the field of nephrology.
In his remarks, Levey reflected on the importance of mentorship, scholarship, and collaboration—values that shaped his career and continue through this professorship. The program also featured a lecture by the inaugural holder of the professorship, Wendy McCallum, MD, MS, whose work reflects many of the same commitments to research, innovation, patient care, and mentorship. Her presentation explored the evolving understanding of cardiorenal syndrome and the role of long-term research in improving outcomes for patients with complex heart and kidney disease.
The event concluded with a reception, offering attendees an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the achievement together. More than a recognition of one individual's accomplishments, the gathering highlighted the power of collective philanthropy—demonstrating how a community united by shared purpose can create a lasting legacy in research, education, and patient care.