Laszlo Fuzesi, MD

Anne Cahill, MD

Frederic Joyce, MD

Katrina Abdalla, PA

Lindsey Byrnes, PA

Connor Gill, PA

UTICA, N.Y. – Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group has added a Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group and named the following to its medical staff. They are all practicing at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) and can be reached at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group in the Marian Medical Professional Building, 2211 Genesee Street, Utica at 315-801-8567.

Laszlo Fuzesi, MD, a specialist in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group and has admitting privileges at SEMC. Named chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, he specializes in operations on the heart, lungs, esophagus and other organs in the chest.

Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Dr. Fuzesi most recently served as the chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He was also surgical director of the Cardiac Transplant Program and an attending surgeon at Albany Medical Center.

Dr. Fuzesi earned his medical degree at Cornell University Medical College in New York, New York. He completed a general surgery internship and residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and a cardiac transplantation research fellowship at Columbia University, both in New York, New York. He is board certified in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery.

Anne Cahill, MD, a specialist in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, has joined the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group and has admitting privileges at SEMC. Dr. Cahill specializes in operations on the heart, lungs, esophagus and other organs in the chest and women’s cardiac health.

Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Dr. Cahill served as a cardiac and thoracic surgeon at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, New York. She has also served as associate professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Pocono Health System in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, and as medical director of both the Women’s Heart Center and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, California.

Dr. Cahill earned her medical degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She completed her residency in general surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, where she was chief resident. Dr. Cahill also completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery and transplant surgery at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She is board certified in Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Cahill is practicing at SEMC and will begin accepting new patients on Monday, September 14. She can be reached at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Group in the Marian Medical Professional Building, 2211 Genesee Street, Utica at 315-801-8567.

Frederic Joyce, MD, a specialist in Cardiothoracic Surgery, has joined the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group. He has been a member of the medical staff at SEMC and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) with admitting privileges since 1998. He has been a cardiothoracic surgeon with the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute since it began in 1997 and served as its surgery co-director from 2010 to 2011. He specializes in aortic and mitral valve surgery, hybrid coronary revascularization and intra-operative echocardiography.

Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Dr. Joyce practiced with the Mohawk Valley Surgery Group in Utica, New York. He has served as assistant professor of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark and as associate professor of Surgery at Albany Medical College in Albany, New York.

Dr. Joyce received his medical degree from Aarhus University Medical School in Aarhus, Denmark. He completed a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Rigshopitalet-Copenhagen University Hospital in Copenhagen and cardiothoracic surgery and echocardiography fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He is board certified in Thoracic Surgery, Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography and is a registered physician in Vascular Interpretation.

Katrina Abdalla, PA, has joined the staff at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group.

Prior to joining MVHS, Abdalla worked in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology as a medical assistant in Gaffney, South Carolina. Abdalla earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology, Chemistry and Pre-Med Studies from Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, and her Master of Health Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York.

Abdalla is certified as a physician assistant and in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Infection Control. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society for Physician Assistants.

Lindsey Byrnes, PA, has joined the staff at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group. Prior to joining MVHS, Byrnes worked at the Mohawk Valley Surgery Group.

Byrnes earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York and her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.

Byrnes is certified as a physician assistant and in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society for Physician Assistants.

Connor Gill, PA, has joined the staff at the MVHS Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Group.

Prior to joining MVHS, Gill worked at the Cardiovascular Group of Syracuse in Liverpool, New York and at the St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Emergency Department in North Syracuse, New York. Gill earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.

Gill is certified as a physician assistant and in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. He is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society for Physician Assistants.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed, and the New York State Legislature approved, $300 million in the 2015 New York State budget to help to ”create an integrated healthcare delivery system in Oneida County.” This legislation provides an incredible, once in a lifetime opportunity for us to build a new, freestanding hospital for our community. It is truly a game-changer for our region. 

The new hospital would replace the inpatient services currently provided at the St. Luke's Campus of Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare (FSLH) and at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). We estimate the project will cost approximately $500 million to $600 million, depending on the location, and take four to six years to complete. 

In recent months, the Board of Directors of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has been working with a number of different companies and agencies to determine the appropriate site for the new facility. Our primary goal is providing exceptional healthcare to our community. With that as our focus, we will choose the best-suited location, work collaboratively with our community leaders, and keep the project as affordable as possible.

We have narrowed our review to two sites, the St. Luke’s Campus of FSLH and downtown Utica. The board has voted to build at the downtown site. The general area for the location is across from the Utica Auditorium between Oriskany and Columbia Streets. We recognize that a new hospital downtown can provide a catalyst for the revitalization of the City of Utica and the entire Mohawk Valley. We look forward to working with our governmental partners and local business and community leaders on moving this option forward. Throughout the planning and implementation of this new building, it is critical that MVHS continue to be financially sound and able to provide quality medical care for the entire community.

In the event the downtown site proves not to be financially viable, we will move on to our second site option at the St. Luke’s Campus, which the board feels will also serve the community well. 

The Mohawk Valley Health System is an affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center. The two organizations affiliated in March 2014. 

Rashid Girshab, MD

Ranjit Mandhare, MD

Apurva Shah, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group has welcomed the following providers to the Hospitalist Program. All may be reached through the Hospitalist Program Office at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Rashid Girshab, MD, a 2015 graduate of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program, has joined the MVHS Hospitalist Program as an attending physician.

Dr. Girshab earned his medical degree from St. Matthew’s School of Medicine, St. Mathews University, Grand Cayman. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Medical Society of the State of New York. During work in Flint, Michigan, Dr. Girshab helped establish a practice as a Patient-Centered Medical Home and was an asthma and diabetes educator. In addition, he has experience in intensive care, nursing homes, home visits and family planning clinics.

Ranjit Mandhare, MD, a 2015 graduate of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program, has joined the MVHS Hospitalist Program as an attending physician.

Dr. Mandhare earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Saint Maarten. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Management and Information Systems from the University of New Orleans in Louisiana. Dr. Mandhare is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Medical Society of the State of New York.

Dr. Mandhare is certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. As a medical volunteer in Oakland, California, he organized town hall meetings to educate the medical community and patient population on managed healthcare and upcoming changes. He speaks Hindi in addition to English.

Apurva Shah, MD, has joined the MVHS Hospitalist Program as an attending physician.

Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine in Antigua and Barbuda. He completed his internal medicine residency at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan, where he served as internal medicine chief resident. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.

Dr. Shah is internal medicine board eligible and certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Central Venous Access and the Arterial Line. Dr. Shah speaks Gujarati and Hindi, in addition to English. 

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Amanda Roublick, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group has welcomed Amanda Roublick, MD, to the East Utica Medical Office.

Dr. Roublick earned her medical degree from the University of California in San Diego, California. She served as chief pediatric resident during her pediatrics residency training at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, where she was named the Pediatric ICU Resident of the Year in 2014. Dr. Roublick earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Biopsychology from the University of California in Santa Barbara, California.

She is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Basic Life Support and as a Neonatal Resuscitation Program provider. Dr. Roublick speaks Spanish in addition to English.

Dr. Roublick is accepting new patients and can be reached at the MVHS East Utica Medical Office, 1256 Culver Avenue, Utica, at 315-738-7186.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Andrew T. Pellecchia, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group has named Andrew T. Pellecchia, MD, director of Advanced Endoscopy at its new Gastroenterology and Advanced Endoscopy Group.

Dr. Pellecchia performs advanced, interventional endoscopic procedures including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), volumetric laser endomicroscopy (VLE), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), choledochoscopy, as well as endoscopic surgical procedures including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic suturing.

Dr. Pellecchia's professional interests include EUS diagnosis and staging of malignancies, advanced imaging and endosurgical management of dysplastic Barrett's esophagus, endosurgical resection of gastrointestinal polyps, tumors and superficial malignancies and other nascent advanced endoscopic technologies.

Prior to joining the MVHS Medical Group, Dr. Pellecchia was a member of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s (FSLH) Gastroenterology Department since 2012, while affiliated with Digestive Disease Medicine of Central New York. He has held attending positions at Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, New York, and Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown, New York.

Dr. Pellecchia earned his Doctor of Medicine from SUNY Upstate Medical University’s College of Medicine in Syracuse, New York, and his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York.

Dr. Pellecchia is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Dr. Pellecchia is accepting new patients. Patients will be seen in Suite 222 in the Professional Office Building at the St. Luke’s Campus. Dr. Pellecchia can be reached at 315-624-6076.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Patients Who Engage with Post-Discharge Follow-Up Calls are Far Less Likely to be Readmitted

NEW YORK and Utica, N.Y. (September 8, 2015) – With the specific goal of reducing hospital readmissions and ensuring patient safety, St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) and health-tech provider CipherHealth announced today the successful results of a pilot program centered around post-visit follow-up calls. SEMC is part of the New York State DSRIP program, a reimbursement program from the federal government aimed at care coordination and reducing unnecessary readmissions, and partnered with CipherHealth to help reach its DSRIP goals around reducing 30-day readmissions. Using CipherHealth’s advanced outreach solution VOICE, SEMC experienced a reduction in readmission for all four patient populations involved in the pilot: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia (PNEUMO). The organization used the post-discharge follow-up solution to reach out to these specific patient population groups after they were discharged from the hospital.

SEMC piloted VOICE from February through June 2015. With VOICE, follow-up calls are made between three and four times over a 30-day period, post-discharge from SEMC. The results were significant:

· Readmission rates among patients who engaged with VOICE just once over the 30-day period following discharge reduced by 56 percent.
· Readmission rates among patients who engaged with all post-discharge calls over the 30-day period reduced by 75 percent.
· The patient population with the highest percentage of engagement with calls and requiring calls back were CHF patients. In fact, more than one third of the concerns requiring staff intervention were from CHF patients.

SEMC worked to make sure patients were aware that they would receive a VOICE call after leaving the hospital and educated patients on what the process would look like. As a result, SEMC saw good levels of patient engagement with VOICE calls. Among patients enrolled into the pilot, 80 percent were reached and SEMC found that 45 percent of patients reached required a call back from staff to provide additional support.

The medical center has also leveraged the data provided by VOICE calls to manage patients during the discharge process and, as a result, the rate of post-discharge intervention calls has reduced since the start of the pilot. For instance, SEMC learned that symptom management was a primary issue among the patient populations involved in the pilot program. Armed with this knowledge, SEMC was able to focus on educating patients about symptom management during the inpatient stay.

“The implementation of an advanced outreach solution has allowed us to ensure that our patients are staying on track and we can intervene in a timely manner when they need additional support,” said Kim Witchley, director of Social Services and Care Transitions for the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), which includes SEMC. “VOICE has helped to reduce readmission rates and we are looking to do a second pilot program with the other hospital in our system.”

“SEMC was very focused on getting readmission rates down,” said Andrea Nortey, account strategist for CipherHealth. “We couldn’t be more proud of the impact VOICE has had for the hospital and its patients.”

About SEMC
SEMC is a Catholic,not-for-profit healthcare organization that affiliated with Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) as the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) in March 2014. Both SEMC and FSLH serve the geographic area of Oneida, Herkimer and Madison counties. SEMC includes one inpatient campus - 2209 Genesee Street, Utica, NY (main) and St. Elizabeth Medical Arts (outpatient) - 4401 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, as well as a network of primary and rehabilitation care sites in Oneida and Herkimer counties that includes the MVHS Medical Group. Learn more atwww.stemc.org.

About CipherHealth
Since 2009, CipherHealth has been innovating and delivering products to help care providers effectively and efficiently provide quality of care for their patients. By harnessing technology to improve patient outcomes and experiences, CipherHealth and its suite of products focus on the evolution of patient care. CipherHealth is based in New York City and was named “Best Place to Work in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare(2014).

About Voice
Voice is a secure, web-based platform that makes comprehensive, interactive post-discharge follow-up calls to patients. A highly customizable solution, Voice also provides and provides feedback on patient issues in real time for faster nurse intervention and multi-level executive reporting. The goals of Voice are to reduce preventable 30-day readmissions and increase top box HCAHPS scores while maintaining a high level of patient satisfaction.

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Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
Mohawk Valley Health System
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org
315-624-5581

Leo P. Sullivan, MD

Leo P. Sullivan, MD, has been named medical director of Trauma Service at the St. Elizabeth Campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS).

Dr. Sullivan has practiced medicine in the area for more than 24 years.

Dr. Sullivan received his Doctor of Medicine from New York University in New York, New York. He completed a residency in surgery at New York University and another surgical residency at Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island, New York.

Dr. Sullivan is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Surgery – Surgical Critical Care.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

The St. Elizabeth Trauma Center of the Mohawk Valley Health System and Midstate EMS will host the 29^th annual Trauma Symposium on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2, 2015, at Vernon Downs Casino and Hotel in Vernon, New York.

The conference begins Thursday at 6 p.m. with dinner and a presentation by William Halinan, RN, MS, EMT-P, titled “There’s No Crying at a Rescue.”

Friday’s presentations begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Presentation topics include:

• “50 Shades of Blue – We Are All on the Same Team”
• Scene and Evidence Protection• Spinal Trauma – “New Thinking”
• Active Shooter
• Cardiac Trauma
• Real Pain Management. 

This activity has been submitted to the Emergency Nurses Association for approval to award contact hours. The Emergency Nurses Association is accredited as an approver of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This activity has also been submitted for approval for contact hours from the American Association of Respiratory Therapists. Midstate REMAC has approved this conference for three hours of Basic Life Support (BLS) and three hours of Advanced Life Support (ALS) Continuing Medical Eduction (CME) for all level of EMS providers.

For more information or to register for this year’s event, visit www.stemc.org/trauma or call 315-801-8127.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Nicholas Qandah, DO

UTICA – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group has welcomed Nicholas Qandah, DO, to the Neuro Sciences Group/Neurosurgical Specialists Office.

Dr. Qandah earned his medical degree from Midwestern University AZCOM in Glendale, Arizona. After completing Neurosurgical Residency training at the Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, Dr. Qandah was awarded the AO Complex Spine Fellowship in Orthopedics and Neurosurgery at the University of Washington-Harborview in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Qandah returned to the Virginia Tech Carilion Clinic and served as the director of the Complex Spine Program for Neurosurgery and assistant professor of Neurosurgery for the Residency Program.

Dr. Qandah is board certified in Neurosurgery and a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Dr. Qandah treats patients with back and neck pain, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and herniated discs.

He has special interest and expertise in:

• Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
• Complex Spinal Surgery
• Surgery for Adult Scoliosis
• Brain Tumors
• Spinal Tumors
• Failed Previous Spine Surgery
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery
• Placement of Spinal Cord Stimulators
• Spinal Fractures
• Neuro Trauma

Dr. Qandah is accepting new patients and can be reached at the MVHS Medical Group – Neuro Sciences Group/Neurosurgical Specialists Office, 86 Genesee Street, New Hartford, NY 13413, at 315-624-4101.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

MediCamp student Rawan Aly removes a cast on a mannequin with the help of William Gaetano, MD, MPH, Emergency Department physician at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) hosted two medical camps for teens ages 15 through 18 in July at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH). MediCamp demonstrates to teens how a hospital operates and provides them with the opportunity to explore different departments for potential career endeavors. 

Twenty-one teens participated in the camps, which included tours of the Emergency Departments, Operating Rooms, Pharmacies and Nursery, as well as the inside of an air ambulance. Students received CPR training, stroke and respiratory education, and practiced their newly acquired skills.

“MediCamp is a great way for students considering a career in healthcare to learn about the inner workings of a hospital and the many fields of study available to them,” said Amy Weaver, BS, RN, CCRN, nurse clinician at FSLH.

View our July/August 2015 MVHS Insider.

W. Anthony Mandour, MD

UTICA– W. Anthony Mandour, MD, has received St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s (SEMC) annual Edward Gaffney, MD, Memorial Award for 2015. Dr. Mandour is a urologist with Associated Medical Professionals of NY in New Hartford, New York.

“Dr. Mandour is a past president of the St. Elizabeth medical staff and exemplifies quality, personalized care. Throughout his distinguished career, he has practiced urology in this community and has provided compassionate care to all, based on the highest academic principles,”said Robert P. Fleischer, MD, Medical Staff president at SEMC.“In addition, he has maintained close ties to the community and has been actively involved in the cultural life of the Mohawk Valley. He serves as a role model for new physicians entering our community and is a most deserving recipient of this Edward Gaffney, MD, Memorial award.

”In 2012, the SEMC Medical Staff established the award in memory of Edward Gaffney, MD. Dr. Gaffney passed away in 2011 after many years of dedicated service to SEMC and its patients.

The award is given to an active member of the SEMC Medical Staff who represents Dr. Gaffney’s ideals and practice of upholding old-fashioned, professional values, which include dedication to quality patient care and attention to detail. Other qualities required are: continual improvement of medical knowledge for self and others, respectful and a genuine caring attitude toward all hospital staff including administrators, physicians, nurses, technicians, housekeepers, dietary and all other support staff. Also required are communication directly with others, use of medical knowledge learned throughout one’s career and participation in medical staff leadership.

The award includes a $1,000 donation in the name of the recipient to a cause to be chosen by the recipient from five choices determined by the Medical Executive Committee, plus a plaque to the individual.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Randy Johnson, RT/RRT

Linda Moda, RT, RRT

Cathy Olah, RRT

UTICA – Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has named leaders of Respiratory, Advanced Wound Care and Sleep Disorders services.

Randy Johnson, RT/RRT has been named director of Respiratory Advanced Wound Care, Respiratory Care Services and the Sleep Disorders Center for MVHS. In this position, Johnson maintains operations to include both clinical and administrative responsibilities for Advanced Wound Care, Respiratory Care Services and the Sleep Disorders Center.

Johnson has been director of Respiratory Care Services at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) since 2007. Prior to that position, Johnson served as a respiratory therapist and cardiopulmonary supervisor at healthcare organizations throughout the United States, as well as in the US Army Reserves.

Johnson earned his Associate of Applied Science and his certification in Respiratory Therapy at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York. He received specialty training as a combat medical specialist and respiratory specialist in the US Army at the 331^st General Hospital in Utica, New York and earned his Bachelor of Science in Professional Development and Advanced Patient Care at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Linda Moda, RT, RRT has been named assistant manager of Respiratory Services at FSLH. In this position, Moda assists the director of Respiratory Services to maintain daily operations, including both clinical and administrative responsibilities at FSLH.

Moda has been an employee at FSLH since 1991, serving as a respiratory therapist in Cardiac Testing and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Most recently, she served as supervisor of Respiratory Therapy at FSLH. Moda earned her Associate of Science in Respiratory Care at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York.

Cathy Olah, RRT has been named assistant manager of Respiratory Services at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). In this position, Olah assists the director of Respiratory Services to maintain daily operations, including both clinical and administrative responsibilities at SEMC.

Olah has been an employee at SEMC since 1989, serving as a respiratory therapist, consult therapist and day charge therapist. Olah earned her Associate of Science in Respiratory Care at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York and is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care at Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Carly Sperati, RTT, BS

UTICA – Carly Sperati, RTT, BS has been named chief radiation therapist of Radiation Oncology for the Cancer Center at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). In this position, Sperati maintains clinical operations for the Radiation Oncology Department.

Sperati has been an employee at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare since 2002, serving as a staff radiation therapist and, most recently, as lead radiation therapist. In May, she won the 2015 Outstanding Allied Healthcare Professional Award, presented by the Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley Region and the Medical Societies of the Counties of Chenango, Oneida, Oswego, Herkimer, Madison and Cayuga.

Sperati earned her associate’s degree in Math and Science from Jefferson Community College in Watertown, New York and her bachelor’s degree in Radiation Therapy at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. 

UTICA – Effective immediately, Mass will begin on both Saturdays and Sundays at 7am in the St. Marianne Cope Chapel at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. This is a permanent change that includes holidays such as Easter and Christmas and Sundays during Lent.

The public is always welcome to attend and to utilize the hospital chapel.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Sandra Fentiman 
Manager, Marketing / Community Outreach
Mohawk Valley Health System
(315) 801-8195
sfentiman@mvhealthsystem.org

UTICA – The City’s Fourth of July parade will begin at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Saturday, July 4 and proceed north to the Memorial Parkway. Parade staging will begin at 9:30am and the parade itself will begin at 11am. Genesee Street will close to traffic for the parade at 11am until approximately 1pm.

During that time, and for the duration of the parade, ambulances and other emergency vehicles may enter the St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) campus via Ballantyne Brae.

SEMC employees and medical staff may use the Ballantyne Brae entrance next to Parking Lot C, after approaching from Oneida Street. If stopped by police or security, staff members should identify themselves as an employee or member of the medical staff and show their name badges.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Sandra Fentiman 
Manager, Marketing / Community Outreach
Mohawk Valley Health System
(315) 801-8195
sfentiman@mvhealthsystem.org

UTICA – Mohawk Valley Health System invites patients, residents, families and staff members of all faith traditions to join together in prayerful meditation in regular sessions called Prayerful Pauses. Prayerful Pauses will be held each Wednesday at 2:30pm in the following rotation:

First Wednesday: St. Marianne Cope Chapel at SEMC

Second Wednesday: St. Luke’s Campus Chapel

Third Wednesday: Faxton Campus Chapel

Fourth Wednesday: St. Luke’s Home Chapel.

Individuals are welcome to pause and pray or meditate on their own if there is a fifth Wednesday in the month.

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Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.

Sandra Fentiman 
Manager, Marketing / Community Outreach
Mohawk Valley Health System
(315) 801-8195
sfentiman@mvhealthsystem.org

Sara Truax, MHA, RN

UTICA – Sara Truax, MHA, RN has been named Orthopedic Program coordinator for Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). In this position, Truax acts as the primary point of contact for the Orthopedic Program and is responsible for monitoring and coordinating orthopedic services throughout MVHS.

Truax has been an employee at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) since 2012, serving as a nurse tech, a graduate nurse and a registered nurse (RN). Prior to her employment at SEMC, she was a physical therapy assistant at various healthcare organizations throughout the Mohawk Valley. She earned her Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy at Herkimer County Community College in Herkimer, New York, her Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration at Utica College in Utica, New York, her Associate of Applied Science in Nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College, in Utica, New York, and her Master Certificate in Six Sigma Healthcare from Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Garth Sanford, RN

UTICA – Garth Sanford, RN has been named nurse manager of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). In this position, Sanford maintains nursing operations to include both clinical and administrative responsibilities for the ICU.

Sanford has been an employee at SEMC since 2000, serving as a staff RN in the Special Care Unit (SCU) and as a staff RN and charge RN in the ICU. He earned his RN from Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York and plans to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

UTICA – Ten new doctors came to the area on Monday, June 15 to begin training in St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s (SEMC’s) Family Medicine Residency Program.

Residency Program Director Mark E. Warfel, DO, FAAFP, said the physicians will train and provide care at SEMC, the Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center on Hobart Street, St. Elizabeth Women’s Health Center and at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare as affiliates of Mohawk Valley Health System.

The Family Medicine Residency has 30 residents in training, 10 in each year of the three-year program.

"The Residency Program has brought more than 100 primary care physicians to the Central New York State region since its inception in 1975-76," said Dr. Warfel. "Nearly half of the 257family physicians completing the program have settled in Upstate New York, helping to alleviate a shortage of physicians."

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and by the American Osteopathic Association, and is affiliated with the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine; Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA and SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.

The new doctors are:

Matthew Blando, MD 
Dr. Blando was born in New Hartford, New York and graduated from American University of Antigua College of Medicine. He enjoys scuba diving, reading, martial arts and outdoor activities.

Saqib Chaudhry, MD
Dr. Chaudhry was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Medical University of the Americas (Nevis). He enjoys music production, chess, poker and basketball.

Brent Keen, MD

Dr. Keen was born in West Palm Beach, Florida. He graduated from American University of Antigua College of Medicine. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading, wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding and hiking.

Amar Luzic, MD
Dr. Luzic was born in Zenica, Bosnia, and relocated to Utica, New York. He graduated from University of Sarajevo Faculty of Medicine. He enjoys spending time with his family, reading about history and theology, playing chess and soccer.

Chaille Mintah, MD
Dr. Mintah was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine and enjoys playing and composing guitar music, drawing and playing basketball.

Michael Redner, DO
Dr. Redner was born in Rome, New York and graduated from University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. He enjoys outdoor activities, archery, racquetball and softball.

Nirav Shah, MD
Dr. Shah is from Elmwood Park, New Jersey. He graduated from St. Matthew's University School of Medicine (Grand Cayman) and enjoys martial arts, cooking, graphic design and photography.

Maureen Sullivan, DO
Dr. Sullivan was born in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She enjoys playing violin, running, photography and painting.

Ha Tran, MD
Dr. Tran was born in Lagi, Vietnam. She graduated from Ross University School of Medicine and enjoys traveling, cooking, arts and crafts, and watching documentaries.

Esther Ufot, MD
Dr. Ufot was born in Ubulu-Uku, Nigeria. She graduated from Nigeria University of Benin School of Medicine and enjoys karaoke and soccer.

(Click images for large version)

Matthew Blando, MD	Saqib Chaudhry, MD	Brent Keen, MD	Amar Luzic, MD
Chaille Mintah, MD	Michael Redner, DO	Nirav Shah, MD	Maureen Sullivan, DO
Ha Tran, MD	Esther Ufot, MD