The Sol Katz Professorship of General Internal Medicine

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The Professorship was established in 1977 through the generosity of Sol Katz, a prominent businessman and distinguished alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania Class of 1949.

Sol Katz was Chairman of Distribution International Corporation and Strick Corporation in Fairless Hills, PA, and presently is chairman of Solomon International. He has been a committed and generous supporter of the University and is highly regarded in the community for his business and civic leadership.


 

Judith A. LongCurrent Chairholder
Judith A. Long, MD

Judith A. Long, MD is Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, and until July 2022 Director of the Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) at the Corporal Michael J. Cresenz VA Medical Center.  

As Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Dr. Long oversees 152 faculty and instructors who deliver clinical care at multiple large clinics, three hospitals, and a long-term care hospital (LTACH). Last year, DGIM faculty completed within Penn Medicine roughly 75,000 clinical visits for 30,000 plus patients and were responsible for managing over 10,000 acute care hospitalizations. Community partnerships supported by Dr. Long and the Division include working with a City Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, Puentes de Salud, and Prevention Point.  

Dr. Long has extensive research experience directing clinical research trials to improve outcomes for vulnerable patients with chronic diseases. Recent and ongoing trials have tested the effectiveness of peer mentors, community health workers, technology, and behavioral incentives. She is also helping to run a large implementation science trial introducing age-friendly health system (AFHS) evidence-based practices into the VA. Her work has been funded by NIH, PCORI, the VA, and Foundations. 

Dr. Long also actively engages in training health services and policy researchers. She is a former Director of a HRSA T32, the Penn RWJ Clinical Scholars Program, the Penn National Clinician Scholars Program and the Penn Master of Science in Health Policy Research. She has extensive experience mentoring fellows and junior faculty and is or has been the primary mentor of several NIH and VA funded career development award recipients. 

 

Previous Chairholders

  • John M. Eisenberg, MD 1977–1992
  • Sankey V. Williams, MD 1992–2008