Suffolk Reporter

The Stony Brook Medicine community is mourning the loss of Craig Lehmann, PhD, CC (NRCC), FACB, a renowned clinical chemist and innovator, who passed away on January 26. Lehmann's career spanned over five decades, during which he contributed significantly to education, health technology, and community healthcare initiatives.

Lehmann served as the dean of the School of Health Technology and Management from 1999 to 2018 and was interim executive dean of Health Sciences at Stony Brook from 2006 to 2010. His influence on the institution and its students was profound.

William Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine, stated: “Craig Lehmann was a true visionary in healthcare education and innovation. His leadership and pioneering work in e-health technology and patient care solutions have shaped the way we train future healthcare professionals. His legacy will endure through the countless students and colleagues he mentored and through the programs he helped build that continue to serve our communities.”

Lehmann was instrumental in advancing e-health technology with a focus on telemedicine to tackle socio-economic and healthcare challenges globally. He invented RxMonitor+, a device aimed at improving medication adherence in the U.S., potentially reducing significant annual costs associated with non-adherence.

Throughout his career, Lehmann led undergraduate and graduate programs in health sciences and was an esteemed lecturer at national and international conferences. He engaged with President Bush’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology regarding e-technology's role in addressing major diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular issues.

His scholarly output included numerous journal articles, textbooks on clinical laboratory science, and contributions to editorial boards such as those for the American Association for Clinical Chemistry’s Strategies and Solutions.

Lehmann received several awards acknowledging his contributions to education including the “Outstanding Contributions in Education Award from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry” among others. In recognition of his innovative spirit, he became a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2021.

Stacy Jaffee Gropack, PT, PhD, FASAHP, dean of the School of Health Professions remarked: “Dr. Craig Lehmann has left a lasting impact on the School of Health Professions with outstanding contributions...”

He is survived by his wife Susan M. Lehmann; sons Aaron and Jason; along with Jason’s wife Kathleen. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations within health sciences.