Dr. Ciongoli is past President and Vice Chairman of the National Italian American Foundation and presently NIAF’s Chairman. During his tenure at NIAF, Dr. Ciongoli launched a number of initiatives including the Gay Talese Writers Series for prominent Italian American authors at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has led delegations of business leaders on missions to Italy and Argentina to foster greater tourism and trade initiatives between the U.S. and abroad.

He is the author of 35 published articles and abstracts, medical and non-medical as well as three books; “Beyond the Godfather,” “Let Me In,” “Passage to Liberty.” He has appeared on several TV shows including McLaughlin ‘s One on One and The Dennis Wholly Show.

Dr. Ciongoli is a board certified neurologist. Currently, he is President of the Neurological Associates of Vermont and Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine (UVM).

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is a graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep and The University of Pennsylvania (Penn). After graduating from medical school in Philadelphia (PCOM ’68), he completed a general internship in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a year of internal medicine at UVM. Subsequently, he was the first Neurology Resident at UVM to be awarded the title of Chief Resident (1973).

Subspecialty interests and training:

1. Neurophalmology (Harvard University Medical School)
2. Neuropathology (AFIP – Walter Reed Hospital)
3. Neuroimmunology (Komune Hospitalet – Copenhagen, Denmark)
4. Neuroimmunology (Penn-College of Medicine, GRM ’74)

Dr. Ciongoli was the first non-Danish citizen to be awarded a Danish government fellowship. He was also awarded a NIB fellowship. He was appointed Physician Commissioner of the State of Vermont by three different Governors. Dr. Ciongoli was also appointed Senior Medical Officer of the United States Olympic Team in 1980 (Lake Placid, New York). He is listed in Who’s Who in American Medicine, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

Dr. Ciongoli is founding member of the Vermont Italian Colonial Association (VICA), a member of The Mutuo Soccorso, The oldest Italian American organization in Vermont and a past member of the Board of Governors of the Ethan Allen Club, the oldest continuous club in North America.