ALBANY MED

TODAYKNOWN FOR OUR EXPERTISE. CHOSEN FOR OUR CARE.

Albany Med Nurses Honored for Excellence by the Patients They ServeIn January, the Times Union put out a call to people all over the Capital Region: Tell us about a nurse who’s made a difference in your life.

The community responded in force. And this month, during National Nurses Week, May 6 – 12, four Albany Med nurses are among a select group honored as part of the newspaper’s “Salute to Nurses” initiative.

Andrea Graffeo, MS, RNC, an Albany Med employee since 1979, was chosen as a “2015 Nurse of the Year” from more than 560 nominations. Connie Barber, RN, CCRN, Cheryl Clow, RN, and Colleen Umholtz, MS, RN, were honored as “2015 Nurse of the Year Finalists.”

All four have served Albany Med for more than two decades or longer. When asked about their work, they all emphasized their belief in staying positive, no matter what life brings, and the deep appreciation they have for their fellow nurses at Albany Med, with whom they feel they share the honor.

Andrea Graffeo, The Birth Place: “Working here has taught me how many truly compassionate people I’m surrounded by every day, and how, working together, we can do phenomenal things. Nurses, physicians, techs—it’s a team effort, always. My entire career has been spent here and to see the way the Medical Center has expanded has been so exciting.”

Connie Barber, Department of Neurology: “I work with Alzheimer’s patients, and I’ve learned to take this approach: Today is your best day. That’s true for all of us. None of us know what’s ahead. There’s a sense of loss with Alzheimer’s, but we have patients who’ve started painting for the first time in their lives, and you should see some of the remarkable things they create.”

Cheryl Clow, Division of Genetics and Metabolism in the Department of Pediatrics: “I don’t look at nursing as a job. It’s more of a vocation—something you take home with you. You think about your patients when you get home, the ones who’ve had

the hardest days. If you’re a spiritual person, you pray for them. We try to always be an example of hope; when you’re in pain, it’s hard to see that. And it’s our job, I think, to try to bring that out, even if it’s only a glimmer.”

Colleen Umholtz, Department of Pediatrics: “I’m continually struck by the resiliency of my pediatric patients. When my daughter told me she wanted to go into nursing, I said, You need to be prepared to work hard. You need to be there for both your patients and their families. And you always, always have to strive to be positive.”

An Albany Med physician and Albany Medical College alumnus has been selected to receive one of the most prestigious honors in American scholarship for his groundbreaking work in developing and disseminating advanced brain mapping techniques in the United States and Italy.

Anthony Ritaccio, MD, ’84, J. Spencer Standish Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery and vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Albany Medical College, has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar, an honor awarded by a board appointed by the president of the United States.

“I could have never anticipated that following my passionate interest in deciphering the brain would have resulted in such a meaningful and preeminent honor,” said Dr. Ritaccio, who directs the Epilepsy and Human Brain Mapping Program and the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory at Albany Med.

As a Fulbright recipient, Dr. Ritaccio joins the ranks of distinguished scholars who have become

presidents, heads of state, judges, ambassadors, CEOs and university presidents. Fifty-three recipients have earned Nobel Prizes.

Since 2012, Dr. Ritaccio and Gerwin Schalk, PhD, associate professor of neurology and research scientist at the Wadsworth Center, have led an international academic partnership supported by a multi-million dollar grant from the European Union to create a research lab in Italy that may someday help those who are paralyzed or disabled communicate with computers and a new generation of prosthetic devices using only their thoughts.

Modeled after the brain-computer interface (BCI) lab at Albany Med/Wadsworth, the BCI lab is the first of its kind in southern Italy.

“Senator Fulbright believed that international scholarly exchange is the most potent and humanizing process in foreign policy,” Dr. Ritaccio said. “I hope my efforts are worthy of his vision.”

J. Lo Steps Out for Children’s Hospital Patients / pg. 3

VOLUME 10 NUMBER 5 | MAY 2015

Dr. Anthony Ritaccio Receives Prestigious Fulbright Award

Jennifer Lopez

See more tributes to our nurses at: www.amc.edu/CelebrateNurses

Dr. Anthony Ritaccio, ´84

From left: Albany Med nurses Cheryl Clow, Colleen Umholtz, Andrea Graffeo and Connie Barber.

2 | ALBANY MED TODAY | APRIL 2015

SPOTLIGHT ON THE SATELLITES:

Albany Med North Greenbush and Albany Med The Neurology GroupAlbany Med North Greenbush, which has established a reputation for providing residents of Rensselaer County and beyond with easy access to a wide range of Albany Med specialists, is adding neurological care to its roster of services.

Albany Med The Neurology Group, which joined Albany Med’s Community Division in 2014, begins seeing patients at this location in May. The office is located at 101 Jordan Road in North Greenbush.

“We’re looking forward to providing quality care to the same population we’ve served these past 23 years in a brand new office,” said John Verdini, DO. “We’ll also continue to nurture our relationships with the many community physicians here in Rensselaer County.” He will be joined by Valerie Whitney, PA.

Their fellow caregivers at Albany Med North Greenbush look forward to welcoming them. “This is a terrific office,” said pediatric gastroenterologist Cary Qualia, MD. “Things run very efficiently, and we have an excellent staff.”

Dr. Qualia is one of five pediatric subspecialists who see patients at North Greenbush, where both children and adults are treated.

Practitioners at the North Greenbush site specialize in neurology, gynecology and urogynecology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric neurology, pediatric neurosurgery, pulmonary and critical care medicine, sports medicine and thoracic surgery.

To schedule an appointment at Albany Med North Greenbush, please call (518) 264-1180. To schedule an appointment at Albany Med The Neurology Group, please call (518) 274-1974. A list of all providers can be found at: www.amc.edu/north_greenbush.

America’s Most Distinguished Prize in Medicine to be Presented in MayThe 2015 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research will be presented in May to two scientist/inventors who developed widely used modern research technologies that promise to accelerate medical discoveries. They are:

• Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD, D.H. Chen Professor, Professor of Bioengineering, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, Howard Hughes Medical Investigator, and

• Xiaoliang Sunney Xie, PhD, Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University, Director of BIOPIC at Peking University.

The $500,000 award has been given annually since 2001 to those who have altered the course of medical research and is one of the largest prizes in medicine and science in the United States. It will be formally awarded this month during a celebration at Albany Med.

The prize was established by the late Morris “Marty” Silverman, a businessman and philanthropist who grew up in Troy. A $50 million gift commitment from the Marty and Dorothy Silverman Foundation provides for it to be awarded annually for 100 years.

“These two prolific scientists saw a need for new technology to help move their research forward and then actually developed it. Researchers

worldwide are now using their techniques, including novel imaging and sequencing, which are fast providing insights into previously mysterious biological functions, especially those in the brain,” said Vincent Verdile, MD, ’84, the Lynne and Mark Groban, MD ’67, Distinguished Dean of Albany Medical College and chair of the Albany Prize National Selection Committee.

Dr. Deisseroth pioneered the groundbreaking technology known as optogenetics in an attempt to better understand the mysteries of psychiatric illness and of the brain itself. This technology inserts genetically altered microbial proteins called opsins into mammalian brain cells, where pulses of light can control, turn on or off, specific kinds of neurons, even deep within the brain.

This has allowed scientists to better determine which nerve-cell circuits are playing a role in specific behaviors. It is revolutionizing brain research, providing insight into not

only psychiatric diseases such as depression and bipolar disorder, but also Parkinson’s disease, addiction and chronic pain.

Dr. Xie also used light-induced signals, in this case fluorescence, to probe previously invisible single molecules in living cells. The experiments, one described in 1998 in Science that allowed researchers to monitor enzymatic reactions of a single enzyme molecule in real time, and another reported in 2006 in

Science and Nature that made it possible to watch the process of gene expression in a live cell one molecule at a time, allowed gene regulation to be investigated at an unprecedented level.

Dr. Xie has played a leading role in the advancement of the field of single-cell biology and single-cell genomics.

Dr. Karl Deisseroth, left, and Dr. Xiaoliang Sunney Xie

From left: Dr. Cary Qualia, patient Kyle Wilkins and third-year Albany Medical College student Jillian Kazley at Albany Med’s North Greenbush location.

Closer to Home and Farther AwayValerie Whitney, PA, center left, is proud to provide residents of Rensselaer County with Albany Med’s expert care closer to where they live. She is also known for crossing international borders to do the same. Whitney makes yearly medical mission trips to the Dominican Republic, providing primary care and urgent care services to villagers in the central region of the country. “In unique situations, I will call my Albany Med colleagues to discuss a case,” she said, proving that our region’s lifeline has a very extended reach.

SAVE THE DATESpecial Albany Prize Grand

Rounds Lecture and Q&A SessionPresented by the 2015 Recipients

of the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research

Friday, May 15, 2015 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.

Albany Medical College, ME-700 The lecture is free and open to the public.

To register, contact Carter Chaskey at Chaskec@mail.amc.edu or 518-262-8043.

Wearing a Miracle Band also helps remind people that children’s hospitals like ours rely on donor support to provide lifesaving care.

Get one today by visiting: www.mymiracleband.org.

Ten-year-old Melodies Center patient Skyler Castro, of Thurman, shows off her Miracle Band. To support her in her battle with bone cancer, her friends are also wearing the bands reading “Skyler Strong.”

JAMES J. BARBA, JDPresident and Chief Executive Officer

KIM FINEExecutive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

STEVEN M. FRISCH, MDExecutive Vice President of IDS and Hospital Systems General Director

WILLIAM C. HASSELBARTHExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER OFFICERSVol. 10, No. 5may, 2015

Albany Med Today is published monthly by the Department of Policy, Planning and Communications at Albany Medical Center. Comments and story suggestions can be directed to Public Relations at (518) 262-3421 or albanymedcommunications@mail.amc.edu.

KENNETH COLLOTONSenior Vice President, Center for Innovation

JOHN DEPAOLAExecutive Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer, Albany Medical College

LOUIS FILHOUR, RNSenior Vice President for Clinical Quality

CATHERINE HALAKANSenior Vice President for Human Resources

LEE R. HESSBERGSenior Vice President and General Counsel

NOEL HOGANSenior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer

KEVIN M. LEYDENSenior Vice President for Business Development and Strategic Partnerships

DENNIS P. MCKENNA, MDSenior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Medical Director

HENRY POHL, MDVice Dean for Academic Administration

FRANCES SPREER-ALBERTSenior Vice President of Finance

FERDINAND VENDITTI, MDVice Dean for Clinical Affairs

GEORGE T. HICKMAN Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer

GARY J. KOCHEMExecutive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

VINCENT VERDILE, MDThe Lynne and Mark Groban, MD ’67 Distinguished Dean at Albany Medical College and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs

Patient Praises Doctor Following Innovative Surgery, First in Upstate New York Tony Cleghorn, of Colonie, was beginning to lose hope. For most of his adult life, the 54-year-old computer programmer had suffered from breathing problems, but in recent years the condition had steadily worsened.

“I was coughing all the time,” Cleghorn said. “I’d been to all kinds of doctors—allergists, pulmonologists, respiratory specialists. No one could figure out what was wrong.”

In 2014, Cleghorn was referred to thoracic surgeon Charles Bakhos, MD, who recognized the problem and offered an innovative surgical solution.

Cleghorn, Dr. Bakhos said, was suffering from a collapsing airway, a weakness or “floppiness” in the walls of the windpipe.

Known in the medical community as airway malacia, Dr. Bakhos called the condition “under-recognized” and said that it can be “very frustrating and debilitating for patients, like having bronchitis or pneumonia that never goes away.” The condition occurs in five to 10 percent of patients with significant respiratory diseases.

After treating and monitoring Cleghorn for three months, Dr. Bakhos determined he would be a good candidate for a tracheoplasty, a promising new procedure in which a surgical mesh is implanted in the wall of a patient’s trachea, reinforcing it and minimizing the possibility of continued collapse.

The surgery offers certain patients a longer-term solution than the common treatments, which include inhalers, medication and the temporary solution of surgical stenting.

In January, Dr. Bakhos performed a tracheoplasty on Cleghorn, the first in Upstate New York.

Dr. Bakhos said he hopes to make the procedure more readily available in the Capital Region.

Cleghorn, for his part, is enormously thankful for his efforts. “I’m still healing,” he said, “but I feel a whole lot better. I can breathe in and out much more easily. I consider Dr. Bakhos a miracle worker. He finally solved a problem I’ve been fighting for years.”

ALBANY MED TODAY | MAY 2015 | 3

Tony Cleghorn, left, and Dr. Charles BakhosA New Kind of Bling to Show Support for Young PatientsSuperstar entertainer Jennifer Lopez is lending a hand to help children’s hospitals across the country, including the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Med.

She is inviting people across the nation and beyond to order and wear a free, sunny “Miracle Band” to show solidarity for young patients facing life’s toughest circumstances—and to express support for the team of caregivers, families and advocates that fight to make these children well.

Her work is part of a national campaign through the Children’s Miracle Network, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health care for millions of young people around the world. The network includes more than 170 hospitals across the U.S. and Canada, including the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital.

Grad Students Win Awards for ResearchAlbany Medical College graduate students were honored during the 36th Annual Graduate Student Awards Day in April. As a prelude to awards day, the Graduate Student Poster Research Day was held in March, where more than 100 students studying biomedical sciences, nurse anesthesiology and physician assistant studies presented their research projects. The top award, The Richard Miller Alumni Prize for the Most Outstanding Research Presentations, went to Wilson Yu, of the Center for Neuropharmacology and Neuroscience, and Scott Varney and Amanda McCabe, of the Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease.

JENNIFER LOPEZACTRESS, MUSICIAN, TV PERSONALITY, MOM

CMNHospitals.org

Give our kids every chance to get better.PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE THE MIRACLES ARE.

Like all moms, I’m always concerned about my children’s well-being. But sometimes they get sick. Sometimes they get hurt. That’s why I’m so grateful we have children’s hospitals. If any child needs a miracle, they’ll do everything in their power to make one happen. Please join me in giving sick and injured children every chance to get better. Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are. Give to your Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local, fundiing critical treatments, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support and find your member hospital at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

Give Todayto Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center

Walk for a Cause: Three Great Reasons to Lace Up This SpringWith everything blooming in the Capital Region, there’s no better time to step outside and make some personal strides that will help organizations working to improve the health of our area residents. Whether you’re walking or running, these opportunities offer people of all ages a chance to make a difference.

May 9 Hemophilia WalkSaratoga Spa State Park

The Bleeding Disorders Association of Northeastern New York (BDANENY) will host its first annual Hemophilia Walk and Spring Sprint to a Cure 5K. Participants will support BDANENY and the National Hemophilia Foundation in their effort to raise funds and awareness for those with bleeding and clotting disorders.

Join team captian Connor Sheppard, right in photo with his dad, Scott, at this family-friendly event.

May 30 Fifth Annual Freihofer’s Junior 3KStarting Line: Empire State Plaza, Albany

SportsSignup presents this 1.86-mile road race to promote an active, healthy lifestyle for girls and boys ages 9-14. The professionally timed race takes place on a closed course. A family member is allowed to participate and run along with his or her youth runner. Part of the registration fee will benefit the Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Med.

June 13 American Heart Association Heart Walk Empire State Plaza, Albany

Participants will take a one- or three-mile walk in the shadow of the state Capitol. The stroll is preceded by festivities that include fitness screenings and kids entertainment, and followed by a post-walk lunch. Suzie Mookherjee, MD, right, is spearheading Team Albany Med; she is also the president of the Capital Region chapter of the American Heart Association. The event supports efforts to fight heart disease, the nation’s number-one killer of men and women.

Albany Medical Center Foundation43 New Scotland Avenue (Mail Code 119)Albany, New York 12208(518) 262-3322 Fax (518) 262-4769Email: development@mail.amc.eduwww.amc.eduChange Service Requested

4 | ALBANY MED TODAY | MAY 2015

Hammers Up! We’re out to set another record as we launch “Hammers Up: The House that Albany Med Built.”

The Medical Center is sponsoring a Habitat for Humanity house—and we think we can rally enough volunteers in our ranks for a stellar effort. The Albany Med house is in Sheridan Hollow in Albany, and our summer dates to build are June 6, June 27 and Aug. 8. We are planning more dates throughout the summer to the end of 2015.

“Habitat in Albany has become a model nationwide,” said Pamela Sawchuk Brown, vice president for community development. “And we are very excited to contribute to the improvement of our neighborhoods—after all, Albany Med is committed to making Albany and our region a better, healthier place to live for everyone.”

Albany Med’s Habitat champions who will be recruiting your help include Heidi Blackwell, William Duax, Emilio Genzano, Mary Hand, Christine Hayes, Scott Heller, Donna Hogan, Zoe Isdell, Roslyn Jefferson, Katherine Keefe, RN, MSN, MHA, Matt Markham, Thomas Mocerine, Kelly Morrone, Laura O’Brien, Caitlin O’Callaghan, Arthur Pielli, Bob Pistilli, Carmella Ramnes, Sara Rindenello, Pamela Sawchuk Brown, Maria Sgarlata, Frances Spreer-Albert, Samantha Vining, RN, Katherine Wagner, MD, Theresa Weinman, Meghan Weygant and Donald Wiesenforth.

If you would like to help recruit volunteers and make this initiative truly successful, please contact Sara Rindenello at rindens@mail.amc.edu. Also, please watch the Intranet and email for more information.

C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S … AT A L B A N Y M E D

For more information, please visit www.bdaneny.org.

For more information or to register, please visit www.CapitalRegionHeartWalk.org; select “Find a Company;”select “Albany Medical Center;” join or create a new team.

For more information, please visit www.freihofersrun.com/3k.htm.