Page 13 - Buzz Magazine - Issue No 2 Winter 2021 | University of Rochester

Sanul Corrielus ’98M (MD) grew up in Haiti, one of nine
children. When he was three years old, his father took a

job in the U.S. that allowed him to better provide for his family.
Throughout his childhood, Corrielus spoke with his father
often by phone, and he dreamed of reuniting with him, someday.

by KRISTINE KAPPEL THOMPSON

hat dream came true when, Today, Corrielus runs Corrielus HOW DID YOUR ROCHESTER
T at 17 years old, Corrielus Cardiology in Philadelphia, where EDUCATION HELP YOU BECOME
moved to Brooklyn to live with he has lived for 23 years. He is THE PHYSICIAN YOU ARE TODAY?
his father. He finished his last year also the CEO for Suave Concierge, The biopsychosocial approach—
of high school and then enrolled a personalized medical service which the medical school founded—
at Brooklyn College. Soon after, that provides custom care to help has become the cornerstone of my
his father got sick. prevent heart disease. In addition, practice. As medical students, we
Corrielus founded the Community were taught that the relationships
“I watched heart disease Cardiovascular Initiative (CCI), we have with our patients—our
consume my father,” says a program that partners with fellow community members
Corrielus. “I vividly recall how community agencies, churches, and neighbors—is of paramount
little he knew about his condition. and organizations such as the importance. Understanding,
It was as though he was fighting Centers for Disease Control and knowing, and respecting my
in a war without any basic the American Heart Association to patients helps me provide the
understanding of how to defend educate underserved community best health care I can.
himself.” His father died within members about good heart health.
a year of their reunion. WHO ARE YOUR HEROES?
Corrielus serves as a program Besides my father, my 93-year-old
“Looking back on my formative committee leader, too, with mother is another hero of mine.
years, it feels like I was being the University’s Black Alumni She taught me so much about
trained for war,” he says. “It’s Network. “Dr. Corrielus truly perseverance and resilience.
just that I didn’t know that the has a heart of gold,” says Karen Then there’s Dr. Timothy Benson.
war I’d be fighting would be Chance Mercurius, associate He was my medical school
against heart disease.” Losing vice president of Alumni and roommate, classmate, and friend.
his father launched Corrielus Constituent Relations. “His passion Tim died two years ago. Before he
on his quest to become a for educating and uplifting others passed, he wrote me a note on
cardiologist. His wish: to is inspiring, which helps people— the back of his business card that
empower people with the his patients, community members, I will never forget: “To my brother,
knowledge and tools to take and our alumni and friends—live to succeed greatly, you must serve
care of their heart health. longer, happier, and healthier lives.” profoundly.” Tim got it. He was a

good doctor and the kind of human
being that inspires others to be
all they can be.

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