Dr. Ralph E. Schlossman was a renowned physician in New York State for over 50 years. He mentored many medical students and physicians, including two individuals who later became President of the Medical Society of the State of New York. He not only leaves a legacy of service to the profession of medicine, but a legacy of service and leadership to his country as he proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1958. He served as Chief Flight Surgeon of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing and Commander of the 31st Tactical Hospital. He was the flight surgeon of a wing of the first generation of supersonic fighter bombers and one of the first physicians to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Dr. Schlossman cared for numerous patients and enjoyed turning their frowns into smiles and laughter with his warm sense of humor. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine and held teaching positions at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, the New York Hospital Weill College of Medicine of Cornell University, and the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, Dr. Schlossman was a regular health news contributor to Queens Public Access Cable TV.

Throughout his career, he was an attending physician at State University Hospital in Brooklyn and New York Hospital Queens. In December 1958, Dr. Schlossman joined both the Medical Society of the County of Queens and the Medical Society of the State of New York and served faithfully on numerous committees and in multiple officer positions. Dr. Schlossman served as President of the Medical Society of the County of Queens in 1970-1971; served on the MSCQ Board of Trustees from 1972-1984 and subsequently as its Chair for over twenty years and was serving as Trustee Emeritus until his passing. Dr. Schlossman was the recipient of the Medical Society of the County of Queens highest honor, the MSCQ Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Schlossman served as President of the Medical Society of the State of New York in 1998-1999; and served on the MSSNY Board of Trustees from 2001-2005 and as its Chair in 2004-2005. Dr. Schlossman was the recipient of the Medical Society of the State of New York's highest honor, the Henry I. Feinberg Award for Leadership. He was a longtime delegate from the MSCQ to the MSSNY and from the MSSNY to the American Medical Association.

The Ralph E. Schlossman, MD Humanism in Medicine Award was created in 2019 to commemorate and honor Dr. Schlossman who departed from us in January 2019. A family physician, he cared for generations of patients for over half a century. He was deeply admired by his colleagues who elected him as President of our county medical society as well as our state medical society. He also loved to teach medical students and residents. We will always remember him with love as a man of leadership, dignity, and integrity.

This award will be given annually to one outstanding physician who has cared for patients in the county of Queens and has taught residents and/or medical students with compassion, dedication, and professionalism. Presentation of the award will begin in 2020.