׉?ׁB!בCט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://q-xlY-ErGkEbQ3XVY2ga797bSJSJvVV8KG8NbK1Z1jg `׉	 7cassandra://3MaiYYD3onw1WdLJG1uDRbvKghMla3gg9KppyzPSZ8g͆`s׉	 7cassandra://KzI5_4e72zGFODPo2oJYq-_eBgCf03iAfQ95ZbKa3r8((` ׉	 7cassandra://pS_Ws3pRcMf7IWnek6pp03JoOIn11HELvZRCMubrB4Y =͠]cj,\ט   (u׈   CNSvu  נcj,\ف B9ׁH *http://www.upstatefoundation.org/chpalumniׁׁЈנcj,\؁ 0ˁ̐9ׁHmailto:greenek@upstate.eduׁׁЈ׈Ecj,\׉EHealth Alumni Connection
Medical Imaging to launch online BPS degree programs
Health Professions Alumni Association News
Winter 2020
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
will follow, with an online program
beginning in Fall 2021. All coursework
will be delivered through the University’s
online learning system, with video and
audio presentations from Upstate faculty.
Clinical components of the degree will be
offered at various locations throughout
New York state.
Medical Imaging alumni routinely work with students at Upstate University Hospital.
From left, with a new GE scanner installed last summer at the hospital are: Joe Santos ’16,
Class of ’20 students Ashley Kodjo, Morgan Gagliostro and Amanda Brady, Jen Robbins ’06,
Jen McBurnie ’00/’04, Dana Mills ’94, and MIS Program Chair Kerry Greene-Donnelly ’95.
Robbins and McBurnie are clinical instructors.
The Medical Imaging Sciences department
announced the first online degree offering
in the College of Health Professions. The
Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)
in Computed Tomography (CT) online
program will begin in Fall of 2020. The
BPS degree is designed for Radiologic
Technologists who have an associate
degree or higher, to provide additional
education for specialization in advanced
imaging modalities.
The flexibility offered through online
education will allow the MIS program
to service individuals in their home
communities, thereby decreasing the cost
of education, providing clinical rotations
and opportunities for employment close to
home, while also assisting clinical partners
in employee recruitment.
For more information on the online
degree programs or becoming a clinical
affiliate, contact Kerry Greene-Donnelly,
department chair, at greenek@upstate.edu
or 315-464-6928.
Alumni Association unveils new strategic plan
The Health Professions Alumni Association is proud to be
the first of Upstate Medical University’s alumni associations
to complete a Tier 2 Strategic Plan aligned with the overall
institutional strategic plan. The College completed its
own Tier 2 in late 2018, where it identified “enhancement
of alumni relations” as a strategic priority. The Alumni
Association’s new plan dovetails well in support of this and
other College priorities.
The Health Professions Alumni Association has adopted new
vision, mission, and values statements, and selected three primary
objectives to focus on over the next several years. Implementation
strategies are underway.
“Our purpose is to ignite a sense of alumni pride by enhancing
opportunities for graduates to engage with the alumni association,
which will serve as a resource to enhance their professional
career,” said Health Professions Alumni President Anthony
Kurec, MS ’86, MASCP, MLT(ASCP) DLM. “This strategic
plan is a living document that will help us achieve these goals.”
Watch your mailbox – we may be contacting you for your insights
as we prepare for the future of the alumni association.
Vision
The Health Professions Alumni Association is the primary resource to connect, strengthen, cultivate, and nourish the College of Health Professions.
Mission
The mission of the Health Professions Alumni Association is to foster lifelong relationships to ensure financial support for the
College and its mission to educate a continuous source of quality health care professionals.
Values
Integrity  Engagement  Tradition  Service  Generosity  Inclusion  Mentorship  Stewardship
www.upstatefoundation.org/chpalumni
Professions
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Professions
Alumni Connection
Alumni Connection is published by
the SUNY Upstate Medical University
Health Professions Alumni Association.
Distribution is free to college alumni,
faculty, staff, students and friends.
Alumni Director: Mary Knepper
Writer: Kristen Penfield
Design: John Danial Design
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Anthony Kurec, MS ’86
Vice President
Joseph Nicoletti, RRT ’76, RN
Treasurer
Robert Sunheimer, CLS ’74
Erik Boergesson, BS ’95, RRT-NPS
Joseph Colello, RRT ’12
Susan Corieri, MT ’84
Laura Dell’Aiera, CP ’14
Trevor Farnsworth, MS, PA-C ’12
Mary Gleason, RT ’18
Brian Goodrich, RT ’14
Thomas Grady, RT ’88
Allison Lewis, PA ’12
Christine Pastore, DPT ’13
Josephine Przepiora, MT ’00/MS ’10
Nicole Tomasello, CP ’11
Jim Vossler, MT ’81
Gabriel Yankowitz, DPT ’83
Emeritus
David Clemente, MIS ’93
Michelle Pisik, MIS ’72
Ex-Officio Members
Mantosh Dewan, MD
Interim President,
Upstate Medical University
Eileen M. Pezzi, MPA
VP for Development,
Upstate Medical University
Katherine Beissner, PhD, PT
Dean, College of Health Professions
Mary Knepper
Health Professions Alumni Director
Send address corrections to:
Health Professions Alumni Office
Upstate Medical University
750 E. Adams Street – CAB 326
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-464-4416
chpalum@upstate.edu
RT student remembered as strong
and compassionate
Lucy Reff proudly takes
a selfie on her first day
of clinical
It is especially
difficult when the
Upstate campus
experiences the
untimely loss of
a student who is
on the threshold
of a new stage in
life, almost ready
to begin their
professional career.
In January, second
year Respiratory
Therapy student Lucy Reff lost a brief battle
with a sudden illness.
Lucy’s name will live on at Upstate,
though. Her family and friends are raising
funds for an endowed scholarship as a
tribute to her many accomplishments. The
Clayton, NY, community where she grew
up has been especially supportive.
The scholarship will be awarded to a second
year RT student based on excellence in
clinical performance.
“This was an area where Lucy really
shined,” said RT Program Chair Claire
Aloan, MS, RT, RRT-NPS, FAARC
(AAS ’74). “She was just wonderful with
patients and had a gift for teaching.”
Her family noted that Lucy was “strong,
tough, and spoke her mind with ease and
respect.” She loved the outdoors, dance,
and animals, and was an accomplished
equestrian. Lucy’s desire to help others
led her to choose the path of Respiratory
Therapy, and also made it easy for her
family to make the decision to donate her
organs.
Lucy was a 2014 graduate of Thousand
Islands High School and a 2017 graduate of
Jefferson Community College with an Allied
Health Degree. She was set to graduate from
Upstate Medical University in May of 2019.
She and Skyler Weston had set a wedding
date for the following August.
The first Lucy Reff Scholarship was awarded
last summer to Suad Velic, RT Class of
2020. “I very much appreciate this award,”
said Suad. “I may have only known Lucy for
a short period of time, but this award will
allow her memory to be everlasting. I am
proud to be the recipient of the Lucy Reff
Scholarship.”
To help grow the scholarship endowment,
call 315-464-4416 or give online at
www.upstatefoundation.org/chpalumni/
donate
Grant award will help launch summer program
for urban high school students
The Green Family Foundation
awarded a $23,000 grant to support
a five-week summer pilot project
at Upstate’s College of Health
Professions. The program will
introduce underrepresented and/
or economically disadvantaged
Syracuse city high school students
to the wide array of health care
professions – not just jobs but
lifelong careers that can provide a secure economic future for these students while helping to
increase diversity in the local health care workforce.
Using a case-based design structured around human organ systems, students will explore
anatomy, physiology and pathology as well as diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
that expose them to a variety of health careers. Classes will include library skills,
communication/presentations, leadership development and ongoing interaction with Upstate
faculty and students.
Give online at
2 | SUNY Upstate Medical University
www.upstatefoundation.org/chpalumni or call 315-464-4416.
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Winter 2020
׉	 7cassandra://hXcPMrAO6On4Rnn4vpJplCHRjdccu0WlbLbNv1M3H5U(` cj,\׉E@Upstate opens new state-of-the-art simulation center
Upstate Medical
University has opened a
new $11 million teaching
center that will simulate
real-time responses to
medical emergencies
in the ICU, labor and
delivery, the operating
room and in any setting
where health care
is delivered.
The aim of the Upstate
Simulation Center is to
improve patient safety
and patient care, as well
as build highly-trained
multidisciplinary health
care teams.
This new and
sophisticated learning
environment, totaling about 8,600
square feet, will become a hub of
teaching and training for students from
all areas of the health professions.
The patients in the Simulation Center
are eight high-tech manikins that can
be programmed to reflect a seemingly
endless range of medical complications.
They can have convulsions, breathing
difficulties, pharyngeal swelling,
cardiac issues or another warning sign
or symptom that learners might face
in a real patient. An expectant mother
Dr. Erik Rufa works with DPT student Quinn Searles in the new Simulation Center.
Rufa is director of education in the University’s new Simulation Center.
manikin can exhibit difficulties during
delivery. Rounding out the family of
manikins are a baby and child.
“The skills that will be examined and
taught here won’t simply be limited
to the practice of intubation or other
invasive procedures,” said Director
of Interprofessional Education and
University Simulation Darren Carboni,
MBA, CAS-HSMP. “We’ll address
things that actually happen in the patient
room, such as visit from a case worker
or from a clergy member.”
“It’s a learning center for
everyone,” Carboni said.
Health professionals and
learners from throughout
the region will be able
to take advantage of
the Upstate Simulation
Center. Carboni went on
to note that opportunities
for regional partners are
limitless. For example,
a small regional hospital
may use the space
for training on new
procedures, or perhaps to
address new protocols
for a small hospital
emergency room.
The Upstate Simulation
Center is part of a
coordinated network of simulation
resources that, together, provide
realistic intra- and inter-professional
experiential learning at Upstate. The
center complements Upstate’s Clinical
Skills Center that features 22 exam rooms,
closed-circuit monitoring, and state-ofthe-art
medical equipment. In this space
students shape their “bedside manner” and
clinical skills with standardized patients or
actors role-playing as patients.
Excerpted from Upstate Online
Students hear message of collaboration at White Coat Ceremony
The College of Health Professions
welcomed 174 incoming students last
Fall – more than any other college
at Upstate. The annual White Coat
Ceremony was held in August at
the Oncenter Convention Center in
downtown Syracuse.
Event sponsor Nascentia Health was
represented by Chief Clinical Officer
Andrea Lazarek-LaQuay, MS, RN.
“As students learn together, lean upon
each other and find success in their
individual programs, they will need to
apply that same collaboration to their
practice,” Lazarek-LaQuay said. “By
approaching patient care as a team we
can leverage our individual talents and
knowledge to provide patients with the
best care possible.”
Andrea Lazarek-LaQuay of Nascentia Health, right,
with alumni association President Tony Kurec and
Dean Katherine Beissner
New students by program were: Behavior
Analysis Studies (4), Clinical Perfusion
(12), Clinical Laboratory Science (30),
Medical Imaging Sciences (29), Physical
Therapy Education (40), Physician Assistant
Studies (34), Radiation Therapy (12)
and Respiratory Therapy Education (13).
Looking for a leadership opportunity?
The Health Professions Alumni Association Board of Directors provides important oversight and guidance, and is a key connection with
alumni, the college, our students, and the community. It is possible to participate long-distance if you do not live in Central New York.
Contact us at chpalum@upstate.edu or call 315-464-4416 for information about serving on the board.
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Winter 2020 | 3
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We extend our gratitude to the alumni, faculty, students and friends who contributed to the Upstate College of Health Professions
Alumni Association 2019 annual campaign, including restricted funds and endowments. Donors are listed below according to gifts
received between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019.
A.C. Silverman Society*
Named in honor of respected pediatrician, epidemiologist and public health administrator A. Clement Silverman, the society
recognizes donors who have given cumulative lifetime gifts of $2,500 or more to the alumni association and/or have given
annually for 10 or more consecutive years. Special thanks to Founding Members who have given for 27 years – every year since
the alumni association was formed.
PLATINUM SOCIETY
Gifts of $15,000 - $24,999
Green Family Foundation*
-new member
The Upstate Foundation, Inc.*
GOLD SOCIETY
Gifts of $5,000 - $14,999
Drs. Michael and
Colleen O’Leary*
SILVER SOCIETY
Gifts of $1,000 - $4,999
College of Health Professions
Dean’s Office
Jacqueline M. Kerschbaum*
Sandra L. Madejski*-26 years
New York State Society
of Perfusionists, Inc.*
Ryan and Jamienne Price
Mr. Robert E. Purcell
Mr. and Mrs. Carl O. Reistrom*
SpecialtyCare, Inc.
Robert L. Sunheimer*-12 years
James L. Vossler*
Gabriel E. Yankowitz, DPT
Lynn M. Cleary, MD
and David B. Duggan, MD
Mr. and Mrs. Mo Cleaver
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Colbert
Ms. Lori M. Durand
Kathryn Furgal*
Pamela R. Gramet, PhD*
Mr. and Mrs.
Michael A. Mammolito
Joan E. O’Brien*-21 years
James C. and Margaret W.
Pontious Foundation
Mr. Joseph Rappa, Jr.
Laura and Mark Reff
Ms. Genevieve Saya
Mr. Amar Varma
Dr. and Mrs.
Howard L. Weinberger
BENEFACTOR
Gifts of $100 - $499
Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Amo
Anonymous*
Deborah M. Augustine
David L. Bacon*-12 years
Allison M. Bagnell*-27 years
Kevin J. Reistrom Memorial Scholarship
“Kevin J. Reistrom left a legacy of
compassionate, knowledgeable and
personalized care, which I hope to
emulate while I practice. Thank you for
considering me worthy of this honor.”
Girolamo “Gino” Mammolito
DPT Class of ’20
BRONZE SOCIETY
Gifts of $500 - $999
Claire A. Aloan
Dale L. Avers, PhD, DPT
Sandra M. Banas
4 | SUNY Upstate Medical University
Barbara J. Bartynski*-26 years
Zackary Beckman
Katherine L. Beissner, PhD
Mr. Miles Bintz
Mr. George Bogenschutz
Mr. Todd R. Bogenschutz
John F. Boland
David A. Boyland, DPT
Mr. John Brady
Kimberly L. Brisson
Colette Calame
Mr. Robert Cantwell
Eugene Hannah
Brian J. Harnett
Cheryl M. Haskins
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Heneka
Marie Horan
Nedda J. Howk*-24 years
Teresa Ierlan
The Thomas Grady Scholarship for Radiation Therapy
“I am happy to have the alumni
association and the Grady family who
believe in me and are willing to assist
financially in order for me to continue
working toward my dream. I am beyond
thankful.”
Natalya Danylyshyn
Radiation Therapy Class of ’20
David J. Caponera
Mr. and Mrs.
Harold G. Carpenter
Cerow Agency, Inc.
Cheney Tire, Inc.
Katherine E. Constable
Susan B. Corieri
Genevieve J. Covelli
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce P. Coyne
Amy C. DeBlois, DPT
Mr. and Mrs.
Thomas J. Dillenback
Anne DiStefano
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dixon
Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Docteur
Jill A. Dungey, DPT
Tierney L. Dygert
Mr. Frank Gall
Brian Goodrich
Helen C. Goreham
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Grady*
Susan S. Graham*-18 years
Linda W. Graves
Barbara Haas
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Karen Jaeger-Summers*
Patricia A. John
Johnny D’s
Maria A. Kaminski*
Terry R. Kaminski*
Bokkyu Kim, PhD
Mary Knepper
Anthony S. Kurec
L. P. Thompson Insurance
Agency LTD
LabCorp
Mr. Thomas LaClair
Rev. Reginald V. Lancaster and
Dr. Karen R. Wilkinson
Rhoda Lange
Glenn K. Lee
George C. Maihafer
Mr. and Mrs. Chester Massari
Mary C. McCann
Nancy L. McManus
Kerry J. McNiven*-24 years
Craig M. McRobb
Kathryn Messinger
Kathleen A. Miller
Winter 2020
׉	 7cassandra://C_FdnN1m6yF7_Q1VR1nmvlxy-MY7dj48s-JcBsrpzpw!` cj,\׉E3Barbara Gonnella Memorial Scholarship
“I am proud to attend a school with
such a supportive alumni community. I
will do my best to merit this recognition
from the Gonnella family and the alumni
association.”
Jessica Mabile, MT ’19
Mr. William Munn and
Ms. Elizabeth Chapman
Dr. and Mrs.
Rudolph J. Napodano
Robert J. Nettle
Kevin M. Neville, DPT
James M. O’Connor
Heather E. Odden, DPT
Dr. and Mrs. Stuart B. Paster*
Mr. and Mrs.
Christopher T. Peck
Ms. Candie Pecor
Michelle M. Pisik*
Jesse A. Reap*-20 years
Robinson Farms
Mr. and Mrs. Gary H. Rushmer
Seco Industrial
Rehabilitation Inc.
Ms. Kimberly Sekel
Ms. Katherine A. Semelsberger
Fawn A. Spagnola
Timothy J. Stayer
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Stiefel
Wendy S. Stockwin
Marie L. Stuart*-27 years
Patricia Sullivan Leisy
Mr. and Mrs. David E. Taylor
Martha S. Tepperberg*
-new member
Ms. Anelyn Tolentino
Tricia’s Rondette Restaurant, LLC
United Technologies
W.D. Mechanical, Inc.
Monica Wang
Mr. Roger W. White, Jr.
Fritz K. Winderl
Sheila A. Young
Mr. and Mrs.
Martin Zonnenberg
FRIEND
Gifts Up to $99
Kyle R. Adams, DPT
L. James Aikens, Jr.
Ms. Jill D. Bach
Ms. Linda L. Bach
Mr. and Mrs.
E. Jefferson Bannister
John O. Barr, PhD
Sheree Lyn Batson
Stacy B. Benner
Bergeron Health Care
Flocast LLC
Cara M. Bernard
Erik Jon Boergesson
Jennifer Boergesson
Ms. Gail Bogenschutz
Ellyn J. Brinsko*-27 years
Ms. Marcia Campany
Robert W. Carlson*
-new member
Elizabeth Carnevale Finch*
-23 years
Mr. and Mrs. Duane Chalk
Sue and Ron Clark*-12 years
Margaret A. Clifton
Ms. Amanda Colon
Ms. Kaleigh Comstock
Anthony P. Cusano
Michael D. Darrow
Ms. Stephanie E. Davies
Terry E. Davis-Clark
Ms. Rhada O. Decker
Ms. Carolyn C. Delaney
Mr. and Mrs. Steven DeMay
Michelle R. Dolphin, DPT
Linda F. DuLong*-27 years
Patricia L. Eggleston*-23 years
Thomas J. Eggleston*-23 years
William M. Eklund
Joanne E. Estey-Gomber
Caitlin M. Farruggio, DPT
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Favret
Ms. Petra Ferguson
Mr. and Mrs. David Flanders
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew C. Foisy
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Fox
Teresa A. Futia Marra
Mr. and Mrs. Russell A. Gallup
Karen A. Gebo
Linda L. George
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel L. Grant
Dr. Rebecca and
Mr. Benjamin Greenblatt
Ms. Laura G. Hall
Mark F. Harvey
Ashley R. Hein
Kelle J. Matthews
Mr. Edward A. Maziarz
Homer H. Merrifield
Ms. Jane E. Meyers
Michael W. Morris
Mr. and Mrs. William N. Mott
Dr. and Mrs.
Christopher G. Neville
Ms. Elizabeth J. O’Brian
Mr. and Mrs. Arnie O’Reilly
Elizabeth A. Palumbo
Larry T. Peacock*-27 years
Kristen Penfield
Ms. Bonnie Perkins
Ms. Deborah J. Phinney
Josephine Przepiora*-14 years
Susan M. Rauer
Carol A. Recker-Hughes, PhD
Robert J. Councilman Scholarship
“This alumni support means more than
just receiving a monetary gift to help with
school. This support means being accepted
into the Upstate family, knowing you are
not alone on your journey. I am honored to
have been chosen for this award.”
Jacob Naples
Respiratory Therapy Class of ’21
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. Hurley
Mark F. Jackson, DPT
Ms. Christine P. Jaspersohn
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Joensen
Mary C. Kilpatrick*
-new member
Jon J. King
Kailey C. Kinsella
Susan M. Lawlor
Ms. Dana Levitt
Mark Liberti
Gerard C. Lubitz
Brenda M. Luther
Elie Mala*
Meenakshi Malhotra, PhD
Ms. Kristine Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Mascott
Jeannine Masucci
Carol V. Mattheis
Ifrah Saleem
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford E. Schell
Bernd-Ulrich Schwarz
Kathryn A. Shaw
Deacon Bernard E. Slate
Gary M. Smith
Jean M. Stewart*-11 years
Pamella S. Swierczek
Stephen F. Swierczek
Beth A. Tschorke*-23 years
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Turcotte
Susan A. Vlahakis
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel A.
Weatherstone
Kenneth P. Weber*-21 years
Richard L. Withington, MD
David F. Wolfe*-22 years
Robert J. Wright
Publications  Awards  Promotions  Mission Trips
Send your news to: chpalum@upstate.edu
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Winter 2020 | 5
׉	 7cassandra://VUfUmtoCvMJ87OwMmQya4oMYBwi077ceJ2Asq3tbsJE"` cj,\́cj,\ˁ(בCט   (u׉׉	 7cassandra://R6b0JbNebEN6sMEWjeOPE32uiOy3I2qjrMe4fUYwTlY %`׉	 7cassandra://f1iRGM10O899mM6nAicIIfaq_k_uHTfKnh6Jr9wl8qcͅz`s׉	 7cassandra://GZB4voEwb-qrdr2gnzP07fPAbi8ttUzranBvAOj9xQQ'` ׉	 7cassandra://Z8jN94Y0jIO4KCEcQ7FBhE-nZm70j9ppsu4Wf3rDaJY *͠]cj,\ט  (u׉׉	 7cassandra://UVfeG_XI2yAsMkzP6ZrD86yoWA-Jfa8cU0MmXAQNAP0 +`׉	 7cassandra://_rRYMzcO-b9rPLnyZV7N4q4cMseywR5qNJeqa2yRMA0͏Z`s׉	 7cassandra://H43wway8KZamF_Plv2EFBOnadWkKBTyq2Yf76fJixR4&` ׉	 7cassandra://lkXEZ_7UIkXDiR9RP4UP1a6ltzwCw7ehDSoU52yra8Q n͠]cj,\׉ESCLS professor named Academy
Fellow of the American
Association for Clinical Chemistry
Paul Johnson, PhD, MBA, DABCC,
FAACC, associate professor in the
Department of Clinical Laboratory
Sciences, has been named an Academy
Fellow of the American Association for
Clinical Chemistry (AACC). It is the
academy’s highest honor. The AACC is
an international scientific and medical
professional organization dedicated
to clinical laboratory science and its
application to health care.
Johnson joined the Upstate Medical University faculty in 2012,
where his primary research focus has been on diagnostic utility
of concussion injury biomarkers in human subjects with a goal
of improving early diagnosis. He developed an online training
module for clinical biochemists for which he was honored with
co-authors on a featured cover story in the December 2018 issue
of Clinical Chemistry journal.
Radiation Therapy program gets
new treatment planning system
Dana Betti and Chelsea Merine,
Class of 2021, work on one of the
Radiation Therapy program’s treatment
planning systems.
“We are lucky to
have just installed
this February a brand
new radiation therapy
treatment planning
system for our students
to use,” said Tierney
Dygert, RTT, RT
’09, clinical education
coordinator for Radiation
Therapy. The feature
sheet for the Varian
Eclipse workstation
notes that “the system
simplifies radiation
therapy planning for
the standard treatment
modalities and allows clinicians to efficiently create and verify
the optimal treatment plan for their patients.”
With the new system, Radiation Therapy students are
exposed to the actual system they will be utilizing during
their clinical rotations.
“Our students have the advantage of practicing on the
computer at any hour while on campus, so they can feel ready
to tackle their clinical requirements,” Dygert continued.
“Without these treatment planning systems, and dosimetry in
general, we wouldn’t be able to accurately or safely deliver
radiation to our patients.”
6 | SUNY Upstate Medical University
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Winter 2020
ACCOLADES
At the Fall Faculty
Convocation in
September, the
Chancellor’s Award
for Excellence in
Teaching was awarded
to Michelle Dolphin,
DPT ’06, PT, MS,
OCS, of the Physical
Therapy Education department. Dolphin received the
award from Upstate Medical University Interim President
Mantosh Dewan, MD, left, and Dr. Stephen Glatt, chair of
the Upstate Faculty Council.
The President’s Award for
Excellence in Teaching was
awarded to Bruce Searles, MS
’93, LP, CCP, right, chair of
Cardiovascular Perfusion. Also
honored was Anne Starowicz
from the dean’s office in the
College of Health Professions,
who received the Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in
Classified Service.
Sheri Tooley, BSRT ’09, RRTNPS,
CPFT, AE-C, FAARC, has
been named president-elect of the
American Association of Respiratory
Care (AARC), the professional
association serving Respiratory
Therapists in the US and around the
globe, with over 50,000 members.
Tooley has been an active member
of AARC since 1982. She is a 2009 graduate of Upstate’s
advanced program in Cardiorespiratory Sciences and is an
adjunct professor for the College of Health Professions. She
is a member of the Upstate Medical University Chapter of
the Lambda Beta Society and is completing her thesis for an
MS in Respiratory Education.
׉	 7cassandra://GZB4voEwb-qrdr2gnzP07fPAbi8ttUzranBvAOj9xQQ'` cj,\׉EAlumni Association supports faculty enrichment
The Health Professions Alumni
Association awards funds in support
of faculty and staff professional
development through two alumnisupported
endowments, the Donald C.
Goodman Endowment for Faculty
Enrichment and the Cynthia Anne
Novak Memorial Endowment for
Professional Development.
The 2020 recipients were announced
in February. The Donald C. Goodman
Award will go to Carol Sames, PhD,
and Erin Wentz, PhD, of the Physical
Therapy Education department. The award will support their
Starting Pregnancy with Robustness for Optimal Upward
Trajectories (SPROUT) project to collect pilot data for a
moderate intensity prenatal exercise program. The project will
actively involve DPT students.
From left, 2020 faculty enrichment award
recipients Erin Wentz, Mark Spooner and
Carol Sames
Mark Spooner, MIS ’86, MRI Instructor
and Clinical Coordinator for Medical
Imaging Sciences, was selected to receive
the Cynthia Anne Novak Memorial Award.
He will attend via live simulcast the 4-Day
Basic MRI/Registry Review course taught by
William Faulkner, to help him better prepare
students for the ARRT advanced level
certification in MRI.
Trevor Farnsworth, MS, PA-C ’12, chair of
the alumni board’s review committee, said,
I am excited about this year’s recipients.
Both applications carried the spirit each
award embodies. I am confident each will contribute to student
preparation, contribution to the medical literature, and overall
advancement of the already high caliber of the College of Health
Professions. Congratulations Mark, Carol and Erin!”
Upstate PT professors, students, alumnae present
at national conference
Upstate’s
Physical
Therapy
Education
program
was proudly
represented at
the American
Physical
Therapy
Dr. Dale Avers gave the
Carole B. Lewis Lecture
at the APTA Combined
Sections Meeting in Denver
Association’s
(APTA) 2020
Combined
Sections
Meeting (CSM)
in Denver in February. Faculty, alumnae
and students presented at CSM, the largest
physical therapy conference in the country.
Upstate PT Professor Dale Avers,
PhD, DPT, PT, FAPTA, delivered the
prestigious Carole B. Lewis Lecture. Her
topic was “We Can Do Better – Aging
and the Value of Physical Therapy.”
Dr. Avers is past associate editor of the
Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy
and past president of the Academy of
Geriatric Physical Therapy. Dr. Avers
noted, “Effectively treating aging
individuals requires a paradigm shift from
a mechanistic “fix it” approach (you can’t
fix aging) to a management approach;
whereby the physical therapist coaches a
SUNY Upstate Medical University
person through various manifestations of
their chronic diseases, building capacity to
achieve the desires of the person.”
George Fulk, PhD, PT, FAPTA, Upstate
PT program chair, DPT professor and
deputy editor of the Journal of Neurologic
Physical Therapy, presented work in
collaboration with students of the Upstate
DPT Class of 2020, Raktim Ghosh,
Samantha Romano and Jonathan
Thomas. Also involved in the presentation
were Upstate Library Reference Librarian
Amy Slutzky, PhD, MSLIS, AHIP, and
Karen Klingman, PhD, RN, associate
dean and professor at Upstate’s College
of Nursing. Dr. Fulk said “Students from
the PT program presented their research
findings on the impact of sleep disorders
on recovery of function after stroke. In
their systematic review, the students
found that people with stroke who also
had a sleep disorder generally had poorer
functional outcomes and participation
outcomes than people with stroke without
a sleep disorder.”
Upstate Associate Professor Christopher
Neville, PhD, PT, president of the
Foot and Ankle Special Interest Group
(FASIG) within the Academy of
Orthopedic Physical Therapy, presented
educational sessions in collaboration with
Anne Reilley, DPT ’14, PT, MS, GCS,
and Marianna Wingood, DPT ’12, PT,
GCS, CEEAA.
The American Physical Therapy
Association is a US-based individual
membership professional organization
representing more than 100,000 member
physical therapists, physical therapist
assistants and students of physical therapy.
Respiratory Therapy profession loses a “gentleman”
Associate Professor Emeritus Robert R. Fluck, Jr., 69, died on October 13, 2019.
Robert began his career at Upstate in 1975 as an instructor in the Respiratory
Therapy program where he was promoted to associate professor and served as the
department’s director of clinical education from 1984 to 2001. Claire Aloan, MS,
RT ’74, RRT-NPS, FAARC, associate professor and interim Respiratory Therapy
program director said, “Bob will be fondly remembered by his students and
professional colleagues as a highly intelligent gentleman with a wonderful sense of
humor and outstanding dedication to his chosen profession.”
Health Professions Alumni Connection
Winter 2020 | 7
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HAlumni Connection
Health Professions Alumni Association News
SUNY Upstate Medical University
326 Campus Activities Building
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, New York 13210
www.upstatefoundation.org/chpalumni/
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITY
Do you like to organize?
The Health Professions Alumni
Association is looking for volunteers to
help organize and archive our photo
library. This includes digital
and hard copy photos, recent
and from years past.
If interested, please contact us
at chpalum@upstate.edu
or 315-464-4416.
Behavior Analysis Studies students integral to new center
The new Golisano Center for Special Needs will provide
comprehensive, coordinated and scientifically based medical and
behavioral care for children and adolescents with many types of
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Along with significant expansion of capacity for clinical services
will come the need for additional skilled professionals. To that
end, the College of Health Professions has developed a new
Behavior Analysis Studies (BAS) master’s degree program. The
six-semester (24-month) program includes didactic instruction
and practicum experience, and is designed to prepare students to
apply data collection and analysis to implement evidence-based
treatments for individuals with autism.
Hank Roane, PhD, center back, and the team from the Family Behavior
Analysis Clinic welcomed Dean Katherine Beissner, seated right, Alumni
Director Mary Knepper, standing left, and several Upstate Foundation
staff members for a tour. The clinic will move into the Golisano Center
for Special Needs when it is completed. Roane is the clinic director and
chair of the BAS program.
When the Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital marked its 10th
birthday last September, officials announced a new $3 million
gift from Paychex founder and philanthropist Tom Golisano
toward establishing a center for special needs at Upstate
Golisano Children’s Hospital to help meet an urgent and growing
community need.
Behavior analysts are licensed health care professionals who
provide therapeutic services for individuals with autism and
related disorders. Service delivery might include conducting
assessments of problem behavior or language deficits, developing
treatments to reduce problem behavior and increase pro-social
behavior, consulting, and caregiver training.
The Center will also promote ongoing research into the root
causes of and new treatments for intellectual and developmental
disabilities, especially autism. Students in the BAS program are
active participants in the research.
The first cohort of three BAS students will graduate in May.
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