When he wasn’t on duty, Stephen E. Codella, MD—who served as a Pulmonary Nocturnist and then a Pulmonary Fellow in the Temple Lung Center—loved nothing more than turning on a Marvel movie or returning to the original Star Wars trilogy.
“I can’t tell you how many times Stephen and I saw Star Wars, either in the theater or on TV,” says his father, Mark Codella, MD. “And when he was ill, we had the opportunity to watch the Avengers movies in order.”
Even as his illness progressed—he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of soft tissue cancer—Stephen continued to do many of the things he loved: watch sci-fi, build Lego sets, play guitar, and spend time with family and friends. When he passed away in 2022, his loved ones came together to honor his memory, establishing the Stephen E. Codella, MD Memorial Foundation to support causes close to Stephen’s heart.
On November 15th, the Foundation hosted its first annual gala, of which Temple Health was a major sponsor. There, Stephen’s father and mother, Catherine Nicolaides, MD, and his sister, Alexandra Codella Piccione, presented an award named after one of Stephen’s favorite heroes, Iron Man, to Kartik V. Shenoy, MD. Dr. Shenoy, who is a Professor of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery and Associate Program Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, was one of Stephen’s mentors and friends.
“To know that Stephen’s family sees in me even a fraction of what he represented—a commitment to helping others find their strength and courage—is an honor that touches me deeply,” Dr. Shenoy told attendees in his speech. “Iron Man stands for a lot of what I saw in Stephen: resilience, intelligence, and a deep commitment to using one’s gift for the betterment of others.”
“While Iron Man might be fictional, his journey teaches us that, no matter the obstacles, we can rise to the challenge—not because we’re invincible, but because we’re willing to face our fears, our doubts, and even our flaws,” Dr. Shenoy continued. “That’s truly the embodiment of Stephen. Always selfless, always willing to help, and always overcoming obstacles in the name of coming to the aid of others.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Pulmonary Fellows
The gala also honored the first two recipients of the Foundation’s Pulmonary Fellowship Endowed Fund: Bilal Haider Lashari, MD, MScPh, Assistant Professor of Clinical Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, and Jin Sun Kim, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Thoracic Medicine and Surgery. While still Pulmonary Fellows, Drs. Lashari and Kim were chosen by Temple Lung Center faculty to receive financial support that allowed them to travel and present their research at the annual American Thoracic Society Conference.
“For our fellows, research isn’t just an academic exercise,” Maria Elena Vega-Sanchez, MD, Professor of Clinical Thoracic Medicine and Surgery and Program Director of the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, told attendees. “It’s a way to become leaders in their field and improve the care they deliver to patients. The opportunity to attend the American Thoracic Society Conference is one of the most transformative experiences we offer our fellows. This conference is a pivotal moment for our trainees, where they present their research, engage with experts, and gain inspiration for their future careers. The endowment fund alleviates some of the financial burden our fellows face, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: their education, their research, and their patients.”
According to Dr. Nicolaides, being able to support other Fellows is exactly what her son would have wanted. “Being a Pulmonary Fellow was what mattered most to Stephen,” she says. “He worked so hard to be one, and it was what he wanted most. He was so dedicated to the field, and he made a real impact during the pandemic. We know that if he were still here, he would be doing the same thing. Since he’s not, we want to help other fellows and empower them to carry on his legacy in his name.”
“We’re honored that both Dr. Lashari and Dr. Kim have chosen to stay on at Temple as Attending Physicians to serve the Philadelphia community,” adds Dr. Codella.
The True Meaning of Heroism
The Codella family also presented an award named after Star Wars’ Princess Leia to Barbara Brown: another one of Stephen’s mentors, and his high school biology teacher at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. It was in keeping with the night’s theme: that there are real-life heroes among us, and that sometimes, empowering others is the most superhuman thing we can do.
“The Iron Man Award captures what I hope to live up to in my career and my life: a belief in the power of knowledge, the importance of passion, and the value of inspiring others to be their best selves,” Dr. Shenoy told attendees near the end of his speech. “Stephen Codella embodied these values and used them to leave a lasting impact on everyone he encountered. As I stand here today, I feel that same call to action to continue carrying forward the spirit he brought to this world: a spirit of strength, kindness, and dedication. I encourage you all to do the same.”