PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dr. Philip Volastro a former chief of staff at Berkshire Medical Center and a longtime rheumatologist, has been placed on the BMC Honor Roll, joining 25 previous honorees recognized for their exceptional commitment to the provision of health care to the Berkshire community.

Volastro was honored by Berkshire Health Systems at the annual BMC Physician Recognition Dinner, held on May 6 at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

"Phil served with great distinction on the BMC medical staff for nearly 35 years, and his legacy reaches far beyond his medical specialty," said Timothy Doherty, chairman of the BHS board of trustees.

Volastro was the first rheumatologist in Berkshire County, beginning his practice in 1972. He received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, completed his residency at Hahnemann Hospital and a fellowship in rheumatology at Yale New Haven Hospital. From 1970 to 1972, Volastro served as a major in the Air Force.

He was chairman of the Department of Medicine at BMC from 1979 to 1981 and chairman of Berkshire Rehabilitation Service from 1978 to 1980. Near the end of his distinguished career at BMC, Volastro was chief of staff from 2001 to 2003. In 2006, he retired and became an emeritus physician.

Created in 1992 and displayed in the lobby area of BMC, the Honor Roll was established to "recognize in a permanent way members of the medical staff whose work has brought honor and distinction to the profession and to the institution."

Previous recipients are Drs. Daniel Dorman, Herbert Glodt, Franklin Paddock, George Porter, Ralph Zupanec, Robert Cella Sr., John Gowdey, Rita Jacobs, Samual Tarnower, Robert Tracy, Peter Nikitas, Clement Curd, Howard Kanner, Alan Michelson, George Vazakas, Raymond Austin, G. Thomas Stowe, Joel Curran, Gerald Haidak, J. Ryder Neary, Robert McInerney, Ricardo Cordon, Elliot Greenfield, Richard Lynch and Parvis Sadighi.