PHILADELPHIA — The Saint Joseph’s University Alumni Association presented Lesly A. D’Ambola, D.O. ‘82, a native of Newark, N.J., with the Rev. Joseph S. Hogan, S.J., Award in recognition of her dedication and service.
The event was held at the annual Hogan and Ignatius Awards Brunch on Sunday, Sept. 26, at noon in the Chapel of St. Joseph-Michael J. Smith, S.J., Memorial on St. Joseph University’s Philadelphia campus.
The award is given to an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies Christian principles and outstanding loyal service to the University.
A champion of the poor, D’Ambola has dedicated her life to service and the betterment of underserved populations in New Jersey. For the past decade, she has served as medical director at St. Luke’s Catholic Medical Services, and has been on the medical staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center.
Through its affiliation with the Camden Diocese and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine, St. Luke’s provides a full range of medical and health services for the poor, uninsured and under-insured in Camden.
In 2009, St. Luke’s had 6,500 patient visits through office, nursing home, home visits, and inpatient care. St. Luke’s is proud to be one of the Holy Name of Camden Ministries, in which Sister Helen Cole, SSJ, serves as executive director and which also includes Holy Name School, Guadalupe Family Services, and Camden Center for Law and Social Justice.
D’Ambola’s passions for service and medicine developed at SJU and later grew while she served as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. D’Ambola graduated cum laude from SJU in 1982 with a degree in psychology. She was a member of Psi Chi, the national psychology honors society, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-medical honors society.
As a Jesuit Volunteer in San Jose, California, D’Ambola worked with adult psychiatric patients in a ministry of Catholic Charities. Afterward, she returned to northern New Jersey and directed programs for the homeless in Jersey City.
D’Ambola received her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1994, and completed her residency in internal medicine at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark. She has remained active at both her alma maters, teaching as an assistant professor of medicine at UMDNJ-SOM and serving terms as both vice president and president of SJU’s Medical Alumni Chapter.
She is a member of Sacred Heart Church in Camden.
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