Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD receives School of Medicine Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

Jeffrey L. Ponsky, MD, EMBA, FACS (MED ’71, MGT ’90) celebrated for his transformative contributions as a pioneer in surgical endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery, was recognized during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend as the recipient of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award. 

After earning his CWRU medical degree in 1971 and completing his residency at University Hospitals, Ponsky joined the faculty as director of surgical endoscopy. In 1979, he co-developed percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)—a landmark innovation that revolutionized minimally invasive patient care worldwide. He later served as director of surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, executive director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center at Cleveland Clinic, and Oliver H. Payne Professor and chair of CWRU’s Department of Surgery.

A former president of both SAGES and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), Ponsky spearheaded advancements in flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy that reshaped modern surgical practice. He earned his Executive MBA from CWRU’s Weatherhead School of Management in 1990 and previously served as associate dean of alumni affairs. In recognition of his enduring impact, the American College of Surgeons named him an Icon in Surgery.