Ralph S. Greco

• Name — Ralph Steven Greco • Born — 25 May 1942 • Birthplace — Bronx, New York City, U.S. • Died — 31 March 2019 • Place of death — Stanford, California, U.S. • Occupation — Professor • Alma Mater — Mount Saint Michael Academy Fordham University Yale University School of Medicine • Workplaces — Stanford University • Website — ralphsgreco.com

Greco attended Mount Saint Michael Academy (1956 - 1960). In 1964 Greco began the study of medicine at Yale University. During his junior year he decided to pursue surgery and was accepted into the Yale Training Program. He interned in 1968-69 and also was an American Cancer Society Fellow. He also served as a surgeon at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti. This began a lifelong commitment to healthcare in Haiti as well as a passion for Haitian art. He completed the chief residency at Yale in 1973.

Greco accepted the offer of Stanford University to become the J & J Chair, Chief of General Surgery and Director of the General Surgery Training Program effective July 1, 2000. From 2001 to 2005, Greco modernized and developed subspecialties in surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, minimal access surgery and trauma.

In this time frame Greco began his work on resident well being. This path was determined by one of his chief residents who, 5 months after graduation, committed suicide. First he worked with a small number of faculty and residents to create a well being program entitled Balance in Life, which became a model for others. Greco received the 2011 John Gienapp Award for lifetime contributions to GME, the highest honor given by the ACGME.

Greco married to Irene L. Wapnir, M.D., professor of surgery at Stanford. Together they had 3 children. He died on March 31, 2019, at the age of 76.