The St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery’s seventh annual Prohibition Party raised $36,955 for upgrades to SEMC. Pictured left to right are Debbie Cardinal, Cathy Moylan and Leslie Dziedzic.

The St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery’s seventh annual Prohibition Party raised $36,955 for upgrades to SEMC. The event was held in April at the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Co, 830 Varick Street, Utica, and was sponsored by Theresa Flemma, CFP^®, VP of M. Griffith Investment Services Inc.

Participants enjoyedSaranac beverages, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, a 1930s costume contest and a silent auction. Local musiciansStrung Sideways, Crushing June, Renaissance and The Other Guys performed throughout the Brewery. Proceeds from this year's event will be used to fund equipment, and patient programs and services at SEMC.

“On behalf of the Medical Center, I would like to thank the community for their continued support of this wonderful event and for helping us to raise the funds needed to make important improvements throughout the hospital,” said Andrea LaGatta, director of Development for the SEMC Foundation. “I also appreciate the Matt family’s partnership each year in hosting this unique and fun event.”

The SEMC Foundation also thanks event sponsors Theresa Flemma CFP^®, VP of M. Griffith Inc., Bank of Utica, Carbone Auto Group, IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter, UFCW District Union Local One, TeamHealth East and media sponsors Galaxy Communications and WKTV NewsChannel 2.

During the month of June the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) will be making service changes at both hospitals. The organization will be consolidating its Cardiac Services Program, including cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty procedures, to St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). Currently cardiac catheterizations and angioplasty procedures are performed at SEMC and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH). Open heart surgery is done at SEMC through the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute. MVHS will be closing a 15-bed medical/surgical unit at SEMC as well as consolidating a limited number of support services.

“These changes will help us to enhance our centers of excellence, support improved clinical quality and provide more efficient services for our patients and their families,” stated Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president and CEO of MVHS. “One of the goals of our hospital affiliation is to centralize services and care whenever possible, building on our expertise, and making the best use of our resources to ensure cost savings. While our financial performance is improving, we have, to date through April, experienced a $1.7 million loss for the system.”

The consolidation of the cardiac program to SEMC will centralize the service and support greater quality and efficiency. New medications that support the early intervention of heart disease are making a difference for patients, which have caused both FSLH and SEMC to see a decline in the number of procedures at both labs. The change will impact patients, medical staff and families in the community so the organization will be working to ensure that there is greater community awareness about where to go if you are experiencing a heart attack.

“Just like FSLH is the Regional Stroke Center, SEMC will build on its reputation as the Mohawk Valley Heart Institute and be the MVHS Center for Cardiac Care,”noted Perra. “We will be working with our Medical Staffs, Emergency Departments and First Responders on the transition and anticipate that we will have everything in place by late June or early July.”

The change also includes the closure of a 15-bed medical surgical unit at SEMC. Officials note that there is bed capacity on other units at SEMC to support the transition.

“In the past few years FSLH has closed two medical surgical floors,” commented Patricia Roach, MS, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of MVHS. “The trend for patient care is increasingly more outpatient focused and we are seeing a decline in the number of inpatient beds that we need on a regular basis.”

MVHS is also combining its two Central Scheduling Departments, one at SEMC and one at FSLH, into one as well as combining its FSLH Telecommunications and Service Response Center into one operation at FSLH.

“We have 48 employees who will be impacted by the changes,” stated Greg Howard, vice president of Human Resources. “The employees will have the opportunity to apply for other positions within the system. Throughout MVHS we have a number of openings for a variety of positions, especially nursing.

“The staffing changes involve both union and non-union employees,” noted Howard. “To date we have not reached an agreement, known as Effects Bargaining, with the three unions who are represented at the two hospitals. Such an agreement would allow union members to transition more easily from one campus to another. We are hopeful that we can come to an agreement soon as it will benefit our employees who are impacted by these changes.”

The unions include New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) – Local One, both at SEMC, and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) – Local 1126 at FSLH.

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Erin Gigliotti

UTICA – The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing (SECON) graduated 63 new nurses on Saturday, May 16, 2015. Of the 63 graduates, 46 attended weekday classes and 17 participated in the evening/weekend program. The 109^th graduation ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Utica, following a procession across Genesee Street.

College President Varinya Sheppard, MS, RN and Christine Menard, MS, RN and Bev Plant, MS, RN, CNE, deans of Student and Faculty Development, presented the graduates with their Associate in Applied Science degrees. Senior class advisors Kimberly Gizzi, MS, RN and Shannon Holtslag, MS, RN presented them with their SECON pin.

Scott Perra, FACHE, president/ CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), welcomed the graduates, faculty, staff and participants. The commencement address was given by Albert D’Accurzio, MD, senior vice president / chief medical and quality officer of MVHS.

The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc., and registered by the New York State Education Department.

Graduates by Hometown:

Boonville
Emily E. Lee
Taylor L. Pritchard

Brewerton
Erika J. Reakes

Canton
Michelle R. Barkley

Castorland
Anna M. Garrison

Clay
Laura A. Tolbert

Copenhagen
Autumn N. Moser

Cornwall
Ashley N. Ramsey

Deansboro
McKenzie B. Taylor

Delanson
Alisha B. Soucy

Durhamville
JoAnn M. Foster

Endwell
Laura A. Kaczmarczyk

Feura Bush
Karen E. Segerberg

Fort Plain
Kirby M. Edick
Svetlana Huhko

Frankfort
Patrick J. Fraccola
Jennifer Vabishchevich

Gloversville
Dallas B. Wager

Herkimer
Lyndsay A. Bala
Amy E. Bueno
Amy E. Johnston

Ilion
Kimberly E. Costello

Johnstown
Janaye M. Gray

Leonardsville
Courtney C. Sullivan

Little Falls
Jordan E. Buckbee
Kaitlyn A. Hearn

Lowville
Dana J. Roes

Marcy
Tracy M. Vincent

Middleville
Bonnie L. Smith

Mohawk
Heather E. Hight
Geoffrey P. Lawton

Mohegan Lake
Emily A. Alicea

Munnsville
Vanessa M. Douthit

Nassau
Amber L. Dietrich

New Hartford
Celine Plaisime
Dana L. Siriano

Old Forge
Anne B. Rundell

Oneida
Samantha R. Learned

Oriskany
Jennifer L. Winchell

Oriskany Falls
Elizabeth R. Zombek

Rome
Brittany M. Corey
Douglas M. Yates

Sauquoit
Sarah M. Conley
Shannon K. Conley

Schenectady
Carli F. Rogan

St. Johnsville
Sally A. Rush
Erica D. Smith

Utica
Alexis E. Barretta
Besire Fetahaj
Tammy A. LeFever
Liana L. Myalik
Anita Nadarevic
Kumari Regmi
Milagros E. Roman
Lacey R. Schultz
Cheri A. VanEtten

Verona
Heidi A. Van Lieshout

Wallkill
Nicole R. Somer

Waterville
Amy L. Godfrey

West Winfield
Shelby L. Griffiths

Whitesboro
Erin E. Costello
Nicole M. DeBernardis
Ethan K. Myers

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

(From left to right) Sharon Jensen, Alice Browar, Melanie Bowie, Carol Pecor and Thomas Waters are honored for their 45 years of service at the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) employee and volunteer recognition event at Hart’s Hill Inn on Wednesday, May 13.

(From left to right) Beverly McNally, the top individual volunteer honoree, and Sue Warwick, recipient of the John Weakley Award, at the MVHS employee and volunteer recognition event at Hart’s Hill Inn on Wednesday, May 13.

On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) honored the organization’s top employees and volunteers at a recognition event held at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro. MVHS recognized 1,142 employees who reached milestones in service ranging from 5 years to 45 years of service and an additional 311 employees who have been with the organization for more than 25 years. The top honorees, with 45 years of service, included:

• Melanie Bowie, Nuclear Medicine, St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC)
• Alice Browar, Cardiac Rehab, Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH)
• Sharon Jensen, Nutrition Services, FSLH
• Barbara Mierek, Operating Room, FSLH
• Carol Pecor, Maternity Services, FSLH
• Thomas Waters, AC 3 Medical/Surgical Unit, FSLH

MVHS also honored two employees with the prestigious Denise Taurisano and John Weakley Awards in recognition of significantly fostering a positive work environment with excellent customer service, professionalism, responsiveness, compassion and a caring nature. The awards are named after Denise Taurisano, a SEMC Radiology employee, and John Weakley, a volunteer and greeter at FSLH, who exhibited all of these qualities and were an inspiration to all who had the pleasure of working with them before their passing.

Robert Tan, director of Medical Imaging for MVHS, is the 19^th recipient of the Denise Taurisano Award. Tan has been an employee at SEMC since 1980 and has served as a staff radiologic technologist, quality control technologist, assistant manager and manager of the Department of Radiology. Tan received his certificate as a radiologic technologist from the St. Elizabeth School of Radiography.

Sue Warwick, director of Volunteer Services and Guest Relations for FSLH, received the inaugural John Weakley Award. Warwick has been an employee at FSLH for 40 years and is responsible for guest relations, service excellence and oversight of the Volunteer Services Department. She works with staff and leadership to review patient satisfaction results and assist in the development of action plans to improve patients’ experiences as well as overall patient satisfaction performance.

In addition to employees, MVHS also recognized volunteers who gave of their time in 2014. In total, 562 men and women volunteered at FSLH and SEMC in 2014 and generously gave 75,500 hours of service — the equivalent to the number of hours worked by 39 full-time employees. MVHS honored 114 volunteers and volunteer groups who reached milestones in cumulative service ranging between 100 and 49,500 hours.

Beverly McNally of New Hartford was the top individual volunteer honoree with 16,000 hours of service. She began volunteering at FSLH in 1992 and currently serves on the Faxton St. Luke’s Volunteer Association Board. McNally coordinates all merchandise purchases for the gift shop at the Faxton Campus, as well as scheduling and training of the volunteers who work there.

The Arc of Oneida-Lewis Chapter’s Arnold Avenue Day Habilitation Group was the top group volunteer honoree with 49,500 hours of service. These dedicated individuals help assemble charts and patient folders, assist with clerical projects and volunteer on site at SEMC in the Food and Nutrition areas.

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

Media Contact
Jacquie Klotzbach
Digital Media and Project Specialist
(315) 624-5602
jklotzba@mvhealthsystem.org

Caregiver of Distinction Award Winners

Nurse of Distinction Award Winners

During National Nurses Week, the Mohawk Valley Health System honored 23 employees with Nurse and Caregiver of Distinction awards and scholarship awards, which were presented on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at its Nurses Week celebration dinner.

The following employees were honored:

Nurse of Distinction Award

• Lynn Crowley, RN
  Charge Nurse, Ambulatory Surgery, St. Luke’s Campus
• Katherine Dellerba, RN
  Registered Nurse, Neuro/Peds Unit, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Shannon Holtslag, RN
  Nursing Education Instructor, St. Elizabeth College of Nursing

Caregiver of Distinction Award

• Luisa Batista
  Care Attendant, Critical Care Unit, St. Luke’s Campus
• Crystal Brown
  Nurse Technician, 3C, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Russell Milano
  Ward Clerk, Pediatrics, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Leslie Paulson
  Department Secretary, Radiation Medicine, Faxton Campus
• Christina Rios
  Nurse Technician, 4C/Special Care Unit, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Gina Welch
  Unit Secretary, Maternity, St. Luke’s Campus

Scholarship Awards

Bice Nursing Scholarship

• Tara Millson, BSN, RN
  Infection Prevention

Dolores Martellotto Nursing Scholarship

• Emily Scholefield
  Nurse Technician, St. Elizabeth Campus

Faxton Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Scholarship

• Christina Elacqua, RN
  6th Floor, St. Luke’s Campus

Irene Defazio Advanced Nursing Scholarship

Bachelor’s Level

• Brittany Bonanza
  Nurse Technician, St. Elizabeth Campus

Master’s Level

• Liane Chlus, BSN, RN
  Quality Management

Lucy M. Kellogg Relief Society Scholarship

• Brandi Sullivan, BSN, RN
  Nurse Clinician, Education Services
• Gabrielle LaDue
  Nurse Technician, St. Elizabeth Campus

Marjorie Lockwood Scholarship

• Brianna Button, BSN, RN
  MVHS Medical Group East Utica Office

M. A. Guiney Nursing Scholarship

• Dana Roes
  Nurse Technician, Intensive Care Unit, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Andrei Brutsky
  Processing Tech, Central Sterile, St. Elizabeth Campus

Shirley Tibbitts Pye Memorial Scholarship

• Minerva Vasquez
  EKG Technician, St. Elizabeth Campus
• Autumn Van Etten
  Nurse Technician, St. Elizabeth Campus

Medical Executive Nursing Scholarship

• Sarah Button
  Unit Secretary, 6th Floor, St. Luke’s Campus
• Anna Garrison
  Care Attendant, AC 2, St. Luke’s Campus

Photos attached: During National Nurses Week, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) honored 23 employees with Nurse and Caregiver of Distinction awards and scholarship awards, which were presented on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at its Nurses Week celebration dinner.

Photo #1 (left to right): Lissette Grimaldi, MS, RN, assistant vice president of Nursing for MVHS with Caregiver of Distinction award winners Gina Welch, Christina Rios, Leslie Paulson, Russell Milano, Crystal Brown and Luisa Batista.

Photo #2 (left to right): Lissette Grimaldi, MS, RN, assistant vice president of Nursing for MVHS with Nurse of Distinction award winners Shannon Holtslag, RN, Katherine Dellerba, RN, and Lynn Crowley, RN. 

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

Amber Dietrich

Tracy Vincent

Ashley Ramsey

Jennifer Winchell

UTICA – St. Elizabeth College of Nursing has announced its 2015 Weekday and Weekend Valedictorians and Salutatorians.

Weekday Valedictorian – Amber Dietrich

• Of Nassau, New York
• Daughter of Jeannette and David Dietrich
• Graduate of the Academy of Christian Leadership in Valatie, New York

Weekend Valedictorian – Tracy Vincent

• Of Marcy, New York
• Daughter of Diane Phillips and Louanne and Russell Clawson
• Graduate of Poland Central High School
• Mother of twins: Landon and Gage Vincent, age 5

Weekday Salutatorian – Ashley Ramsey

• Of Cornwall, New York
• Daughter of Donna and David Ramsey
• Graduate of Cornwall Central School

Weekend Salutatorian - Jennifer L. Winchell

• Of Westmoreland, New York
• Married to Charles Winchell
• Daughter of Phyllis and Joseph Kierpiec
• Graduate of Westmoreland High School
• Mother of one daughter: Kayla, age 12

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

UTICA -- The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing Scholarship Committee has announced the following recipients of the 2015 spring scholarships: 

Class of 1957 Scholarship

Susan Burr, Weekday Freshman

Woman’s Christian Association Scholarship

Amber Dietrich, Weekday Senior
Dana Roes, Weekday Senior
Brittany Corey, Weekend Senior
Rebecca Evans, Weekend Freshman

Nancy Roman Memorial Scholarship

Cheri VanEtten, Weekday Senior

Marion Weynachter Memorial Scholarship

Ashley Ramsey, Weekday Senior
Alisha Soucy, Weekday Senior

Vyner Memorial Scholarship

Anna Garrison, Weekday Senior
Cierra Halladay, Weekday Freshman
Svetlana Huhko, Weekday Senior
Allyson Shaw, Weekday Freshman
Jessica Walker, Weekend Freshman
Heather Spanfelner, Weekday Freshman

Mohawk Valley Health System and the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing faculty and staff congratulate all of the scholarship winners.

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The MVHS Medical Group Management Team (left to right) is Mamie Bowdish Aquino, Christine Grabski, RN, Brad Crysler, Shannon Mathewson, Dr. Michael Attilio, Karen Casab, RN, Amy Ferguson-Victor and Marie Barnes.

UTICA –Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) affiliated in 2014 to form the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). As MVHS celebrates its first anniversary, the medical group offices of the two former organizations have joined together under a common name: MVHS Medical Group. The new primary and specialty care network encompasses 32 locations and 130 providers. Last year, the two groups combined had more than 272,600 patient visits.

“Although the name MVHS Medical Group replaces the names of Adirondack Community Physicians (ACP) and St. Elizabeth Medical Group, patients and their families will see few, if any, changes,” said Michael Attilio, MD, medical director for the MVHS Medical Group. “They will still see their same physicians and providers at the same locations.Patients may also continue to use theironline patient portals.”

The ACP medical offices are accredited as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The recognition notes their use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term provider/patient relationships.

“The Patient Centered Medical Home is a model of care that holds significant promise for better healthcare quality, improved involvement of patients in their own care and a reduction of avoidable treatments and costs over time,” said Brad Crysler, executive director of the MVHS Medical Group. “The model promotes partnerships between each patient and his/her provider. The provider manages the office visit and works with referral physicians throughout the treatment of the patient. We anticipate that in the coming year our entire MVHS medical group will be moving to this model of care.”

Setting up the practices to be more accessible to patients with pro-active follow up means healthier patients, who have fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits in the long run.

“One advantage we have as a large group is our ability to have office locations and provide services throughout the Mohawk Valley,” notes Dr. Attilio. “Our future goals include looking at areas that are underserved, lacking primary care providers, and expanding our reach to make primary and specialty care more accessible. Another advantage is our relationship with the SEMC Family Medicine Residency Program. Working with physicians who are completing their residency in our area at one of our affiliated hospitals provides us with increased opportunities for physician recruitment.”

“The collaboration of our two medical groups is a very positive step for health care in our communities,” said Crysler. “We are excited about our future and the impact we will be able to make as we care for our patients and families.”

Office locations include Barneveld, Boonville, Clinton, Herkimer, Little Falls, Mohawk, New Hartford, Utica, Sauquoit, Town of Webb (Old Forge), Washington Mills, Waterville and Whitesboro.

To view an updated list of providers and the 19 primary care locations, visit http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/adirondack-community-physicians or http://www.stemc.org/community-locations/. In addition, there are a Children’s Health Center, a Women’s Health Center, general, orthopedic and neurological surgeons’ offices, a Breast Care Center and two Urgent Care centers available through the group. 

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

UTICA – Every 10 minutes someone is added to the national transplant list. On average, 21 people die each day in the U.S. while waiting for a transplant. Being part of a national register saves lives.

April is Organ Donation Awareness Month. To support that, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is offering registration opportunities at two hospitals. Individuals may register for organ donation at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center cafeteria on Monday, April 13 from approximately 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the cafeteria on Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare’s St. Luke's campus on Tuesday, April 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This is important to local communities, as more than 10,000 New Yorkers are currently on the waiting list because need far exceeds the supply. A young stroke victim who was an organ donor at MVHS made a difference in 10 other lives in March when his family honored his wishes.

MVHS is committed to ensuring that families of each potential organ, tissue and eye donor are informed of their options to donate in a manner that encourages discretion and sensitivity with respect to circumstances, views and beliefs of the patient and the patient’s family. In addition, Holland Farms is supporting the Organ Donation Awareness program by selling half-moon cookies with blue and green icing (the program’s colors) each Tuesday and Thursday in April. Proceeds will benefit the Center for Donation and Transplant.

Individuals who are interested in organ, tissue and cornea donation may enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry by visiting www.nyhealth.gov or through the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.

For more information about the above events, contact Shaina Kaye, Hospital and Community Services specialist, Center for Donation and Transplant, at (518) 264-8740 or skaye@cdtny.org.

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 $300 million in the 2015 New York State (NYS) budget to help to ‘create an integrated healthcare delivery system in Oneida County.’ His proposal was part of a $700 million recommendation to support Upstate New York hospitals. The proposal for Oneida County became a reality with the approval of the budget this week.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community and we are extremely grateful to the Governor and our legislators,” commented Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). “Last fall we began exploring the concept of a new, free-standing hospital. To be able to move forward with this concept changes healthcare in our community and enhances what we are able to do for the region.”

According to hospital officials, the Governor’s recommendation in early January was a most welcome surprise and was in addition to a proposal submitted in December under the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program. DSRIP is a federal and state initiative designed to improve and coordinate care for Medicaid recipients and those without insurance. The funding for the DSRIP project has not yet been announced.

Officials say building a new hospital is costly, estimated at $460 to $500 million. They note that the $300 million helps to lay the foundation for funding. MVHS would still need additional financial support from federal and state governments, lending institutions and philanthropic support from the community.

The new hospital would replace the inpatient care currently provided at the St. Luke’s Campus of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). The project is estimated to take four to six years to complete and there are a number of steps that need to happen even before the first shovels are in the ground.

“One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘where would we build a new hospital?’ and we don’t know yet,”noted Perra. “We are working with Steve DiMeo and Mohawk Valley EDGE to look for potential sites in our area. EDGE has tremendous resources and their support is invaluable. It will take time, research and planning to determine the best location.”

The final determination for the site will be made by the Board of Directors of the MVHS. And officials caution that while many are interested in where the new hospital will be located– there is a long list of additional items that need to be decided. In the next 12 to 18 months a plan for the hospital, size, structure, location, services and staffing needs to be fully developed. Administration and the Board of Directors also need to work on a transition plan for the current FSLH and SEMC buildings and will work with the NYS Department of Health to complete a Certificate of Need (CON) application for the new project.

“This is the beginning of a long and important journey,” said Perra. “We are excited and we recognize what an enormous responsibility this is for our Board of Directors, medical staffs and employees. We only have one chance to get this right and that is what we intend to do. We want to build a new hospital for the families that we serve, one that will make a difference for generations to come.” 

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. 

# # #

Erin Gigliotti

Hamilton College student, Emily Chan, listens to the heartbeat of patient Michael Toscano as Troy Slover, MD, observes at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

UTICA, N.Y. – Five Hamilton College students interested in health careers spent last week shadowing physicians in the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program. This is the eleventh consecutive year for the program entitled “A Week in the Life of a Family Medicine Resident.” Students participating were Milinda Ajawara, Emily Chan, Sarah Macy Lawler, YingBin Mei and Tshering Sherpa.

The students’ days began at 7 a.m. with morning meeting, during which residents and medical students gathered for presentations on a variety of medical conditions and case studies. From 8 a.m. until late afternoon they shadowed residents in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, OB/GYN and Pediatrics at St. Elizabeth and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare, or one of several satellite offices nearby.

Residency is a critical three-to-seven-year period (depending on the specialty) of medical education during which recent medical school graduates begin to officially practice medicine on their own.

Students saw a wide range of patients in the family medicine offices – from babies to geriatric patients.

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

Daniel Welchons, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – Daniel Welchons, MD, has joined the Associated Medical Professionals (AMP) Urology practice in New Hartford, New York, and has admitting privileges at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Dr. Welchons earned his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency in urology and internship in general surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. He is a member of the American Urological Association and the American Medical Association.

Dr. Welchons is accepting new patients and can be reached at AMP Urology, 2 Ellinwood Drive, New Hartford at 315-724-1012.

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

Shazia Chaudhry, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group has welcomed Shazia Chaudhry, MD, to the North Utica Medical Office – Trenton Road. She has privileges at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

Dr. Chaudhry received her Doctor of Medicine from Spartan Health Sciences University in St. Lucia, West Indies, after also attending Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Brooklyn College, City University of New York in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Chaudhry completed her residency in Family Practice at the West Jersey-Memorial Family Practice Residency in Voorhees, New Jersey.

Dr. Chaudhry joins the practice of Dr. Oleg Dulkin and Dr. Tatyana Misyulya. Dr. Chaudhry is accepting new patients and can be reached at the North Utica Medical Office – Trenton Road, 417 Trenton Road, Utica at 315-797-5810. 

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

Anne Mathews, MD

UTICA, N.Y. – Anne Mathews, MD, has been named medical director of Inpatient Rehabilitation at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services of Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS).

The 24-bed unit is dedicated to the rehabilitation of people with disabilities from stroke, head injuries, amputation, spinal cord injury, multiple traumas and other disabling conditions. The unit is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), the international agency responsible for setting the standards for delivery of superior rehabilitative care.

Dr. Mathews received her Doctor of Medicine and completed an internship at Trivandrum Medical College Hospital in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Long Island College Hospital and a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, both in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Mathews is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with subspecialty board certifications in Pain Management and Neuromuscular Medicine.

Dr. Mathews is a partner at Central New York Physiatry in New Hartford, New York, and can be reached at 315-724-1410.

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

Dianna Scranton, RN, BSN

Jennifer Michel-Farley, RN

Stacey Walton, RN, BSN

UTICA, N.Y. – The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has made the following staff announcements.

Dianna Scranton, RN, BSN, has been named nurse manager for Emergency Services at MVHS. Prior to this position, she served as assistant nurse manager of the St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Emergency Department (ED). Scranton has also held positions at SEMC as a nursing supervisor, ED assistant nurse manager and as charge nurse in the ED and on the Oncology Unit.

Scranton received her associate in Nursing from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing and a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing.

Jennifer Michel-Farley, RN, has been named assistant nurse manager for the ED at Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH). Prior to this position, she served as a staff nurse in the ED at SEMC and at Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York.

Michel-Farley received her associate in Nursing from Mohawk Valley Community College, located in Utica, New York, and an associate in Veterinary Technology from State University of New York at Canton, in Canton, New York.

Stacey Walton, RN, BSN, has been named assistant nurse manager for the ED at SEMC. Prior to this position, she served as ED clinician and in the Nursing Education Department at SEMC.

Walton received her associate in Nursing from St. Elizabeth College of Nursing and her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Utica College of Syracuse University. 

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

Sauquoit Valley High School athletes raised $1,500 to benefit local patients and their families receiving care at the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Breast Care Center.

UTICA, N.Y. – This past month, Sauquoit Valley High School athletes raised $1,500 to benefit local patients and their families receiving care at the Mohawk Valley Health System’s Breast Care Center.

The Girls JV and Varsity volleyball programs hosted their 8^th annual “Think Pink” game on Friday, January 22, 2016, at Sauquoit Valley Middle School. The event featured a special presentation to honor breast cancer survivors, raffles, a bake sale and “Think Pink” items for purchase to benefit local charities.

Former Sauquoit volleyball coaches, Lindsay Kidder and Darleen Philpotts, began the “Think Pink” fundraiser to raise awareness and provide support to those affected by the disease. Both coaches had family members diagnosed with the disease. The tradition is carried on by current coaches, Meghan Welcher and John Lindberg, with guidance by Kidder and Philpotts.

“We are extremely grateful to the students of Sauquoit Valley High School for making this donation to our Breast Care Center,” said Nancy Butcher, MBA, executive director of the MVHS Cancer Center. “Our patients and their families will benefit greatly from the generosity of these athletes, their teams and the community.”

Sauquoit Valley High School volleyball players (left to right):

Front Row: Sydney Gifford, Maryanne Lewandrowski, Julia Prichard, Caitlynn LoGalbo, Kassie Berry, Samantha Canarelli, Gianna Arcuri, Kimberly Whittaker
Middle Row: Morgan Screeder, Kacey Simmons, Brianna Nassar, Brittany Inglis, Brittney Kuhn, Rachel Madden, Ashton Leary, Alyssa Burline

Back Row: Emily Burline, Kira McClusky, Rachel Wiebel, Ashlee Lallier, Abbey Mielnicki, Kiley Lazarek, Mandy Brennan, Alexa Luke, Kylie Mierek

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

UTICA, N.Y. – The St. Elizabeth College of Nursing (SECON) Scholarship Committee has announced the following recipients of the 2016 spring scholarships and awards:

Class of 1957 Scholarship
Caitlin Bingham
Lindsey LaFountain

Woman’s Christian Association Scholarship
Alyssa Brennan
Alissa LaScala
Cristiana DeFazio
Emily Scholefield 

Anna Krukonis Memorial Scholarship
Moon Burke
Maurice Luck III
Susan Burr
Brittany Skidmore

Marion Weynachter Memorial Scholarship
Amanda Bohling
Kayleigh Olsen
Lindsey Hellinger
Phyu Win
Katherine Medina
Arthur Zemanek
Elizabeth Narolis
Vadim Zhushma

Vyner Memorial Scholarship
Kristen Beckwith
Sonia Garcia
Nicole Chandler
Dan Howard 

Sister Walter Marie Memorial Scholarship
Sarah Allen
Rebecca McCauley

Mohawk Valley Health System and the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing faculty and staff congratulate all of the scholarship winners. 

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

Steven A. Levine, DO, FCCP, FAASM

UTICA, N.Y. – Steven A. Levine, DO, FCCP, FAASM, a specialist in Sleep Medicine, has joined the MVHS Sleep Disorders Center as its medical director.

Dr. Levine has been medical director of the Mohawk Valley Sleep Disorders Center at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) since its inception in 1996. Dr. Levine was a partner with Pulmonary Critical Associates from 1991 until his departure January 2016 to become full-time medical director of the MVHS Sleep Disorders Center. He is the founding medical director of the sleep center, which is the longest-standing accredited sleep center in the Mohawk Valley.

Dr. Levine earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York, his Master of Science in Biology from Long Island University in Brookville, New York and his Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

He completed an internship/residency in Internal Medicine at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, and a fellowship in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York. Dr. Levine is a double-boarded sleep specialist physician and holds a total of five board certifications: in Sleep Medicine from the American Board of Medical Specialties/American Board of Internal Medicine (ABMS/ABIM) and the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, a Diplomate, American Board of Sleep Medicine and Diplomate, American Board of Internal Medicine, Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Levine is accepting new patients and can be reached at the MVHS Sleep Disorders Center on the fourth floor in the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing building at the SEMC Campus, 2209 Genesee Street, Utica at 315-801-3484.

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

Theresa Flemma, senior vice president of M. Griffith Inc. (front row, center) and friends celebrate at the 7th annual St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation Prohibition Party hosted at the F.X. Matt Brewery.

Utica, N.Y. - The St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Foundation and F.X. Matt Brewery will hold the 8th annual Prohibition Party on Friday, April 8, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the historic F.X. Matt Brewing Co, 830 Varick Street, Utica. The event is sponsored by Theresa Flemma, CFP®, senior vice president of M. Griffith Investment Services Inc.

Tickets cost $45 per person if purchased by Friday, March 25, and $50 per person if purchased after March 25. Admission includes Saranac beverages, hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, a 1930s costume contest and a silent auction. Local musicians All Tuned Up, Crushing June, Renaissance and The Other Guys will perform throughout the Brewery. Participants should be 21 and over, please. Fifty percent of the ticket price is a tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation. Proceeds from this year's event will be used to fund equipment, and patient programs and services at SEMC.

“On behalf of the Medical Center, I would like to thank the Matt family for their partnership with the Foundation to host this one-of-a-kind event that the community looks forward to each year,” said Andrea LaGatta, director of Development for the SEMC Foundation. The Foundation also thanks event sponsors Theresa Flemma CFP®, Senior Vice President of M. Griffith Inc. and media sponsors Mix 102.5 and WKTV NewsChannel 2.

A limited number of tickets are available and the Foundation anticipates selling out early for the event. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.stemc.org/foundation, call 315-801-4441 or email asquires@mvhealthsystem.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the SEMC Foundation Office at 2209 Genesee Street, Utica, or the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. Gift Shop/Tour Center at 830 Varick Street, Utica.

Photo Attached: Theresa Flemma, senior vice president of M. Griffith Inc. (front row, center) and friends celebrate at the 7th annual St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation Prohibition Party hosted at the F.X. Matt Brewery.

Sitting from left to right: Becky Marusic, Theresa Flemma, Lisa Firsching
Standing from left to right: Mike Marusic, Chuck Spinelli, Jill Wynne, Doug Wynne, Lori Flemma, Ed Flemma, Alana Flemma, Jason Flemma, Tom Firsching, Craig Horak, and Alan Horak

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