Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Kimberly A. Kranz, MD, FACP, as the Interim Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, effective April 1, 2026.
A triple-alumna of Stony Brook—having completed her medical degree, residency (serving as Chief Resident), and Geriatric Medicine fellowship here—Dr. Kranz is a quintessential leader within our institution. Currently Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine and serving as the Medical Director of the Internal Medicine Residents’ Clinic and Co-Director of the RSOM Primary Care Clerkship, she brings an ideal blend of educational prowess, clinical mastery, and administrative acumen to this interim role. 
Dr. Kranz is a dually board-certified expert in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, recently recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Geriatrics (2024–2026). Her leadership extends far beyond our campus; she is the Suffolk County District President for the New York American College of Physicians (NYACP) and the incoming Vice President of the Metropolitan Area Geriatrics Society (MAGS). Her work in educational innovation, particularly her award-winning "Jigsaw Teaching Method" for geriatric women’s health, has earned national acclaim and special distinction from MedEdPortal.
In her role as Interim Chief, Dr. Kranz will lead the division’s multifaceted mission, with a focus on:
- Strategic & Operational Leadership: Overseeing the management of one of our department's largest divisions and aligning its goals with the broader clinical and academic missions of the RSOM and Stony Brook Medicine.
- Clinical Excellence & Quality: Partnering with site directors to ensure high-quality primary and geriatric care, while collaborating with the Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) to meet and exceed established quality metrics.
- Educational Stewardship: Working with departmental education leaders to maintain the highest standards of training for our students, residents, and fellows in compliance with ACGME and LCME requirements.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Strengthening ties with the School of Nursing and the Stony Brook Center for Healthy Aging to promote integrated, patient-centered care models.
Dr. Kranz’s deep-rooted commitment to Stony Brook and her proven record as a visionary leader make her the perfect choice to guide the division during this period of growth and transition.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Suzanne Fields, Oberleder Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Division Chief, as she transitions into a Toll Professorship. Under Dr. Fields’ illustrious leadership, the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics (and until recently, Division of General, Geriatric, and Hospital Medicine) has witnessed impressive growth in both the primary care and hospitalist programs. We are forever indebted to her dedication to the education and patient care missions of our institution (please refer to https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/medicine/news_blog/fields-retirement for a detailed description of Dr. Fields’ accomplishments).
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Kranz for taking on the new leadership position and thanking Dr. Fields for her past contribution to the department.
Sincerely,
Vincent W. Yang, MD, PhD
SUNY Distinguished Professor
Simons Chair of Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Biomedical Informatics, and Physiology & Biophysics
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University