The Bulletin of The Medical Alumni Association of Bassett Medical Center Spring 2018 THE CUPOLACooperstown, Vol. XXII No. 1 Alumni Celebration Scheduled Columbus Day Weekend in Cooperstown The Bassett Medical Alumni Association will celebrate and dinner will be included in Saturday’s schedule of events. friendship and collegiality and offer participants the chance Tours of Bassett facilities and other Cooperstown attractions to explore current issues in medical education and health will be available. care, with a family reunion in Douglas DeLong, M.D., Cooperstown on October 5 and executive vice-president of 6, 2018. The reunion will provide the Alumni Association participants a refreshing encourages present and past reconnection to the core medical staff, faculty and of their medical career alumni to participate in this ambitions—taking care of special gathering. According people in the most beneficial to DeLong, “This will be an way possible. Presenters will opportunity for those of us include Bassett alumni from who have experienced across the U.S., current Bassett’s high-quality clinical medical staff and faculty, training to pause and consider residents and medical students. our good fortune, and a time A replay of a popular aspect to learn about what is new in from the previous reunion Medical Education at Bassett will be offered on Saturday and think about the field at afternoon. Dubbed “IMY Talks” large.” Furthermore, DeLong these sessions mimicked a trend in the world of idea-sharing. expresses the hope that, “alumni will join in idea-sharing Named in honor of Mary Imogene Bassett, these are intended about the future of medical education and explore how to be “Innovative Mostly Medical Yarns.” Speakers are asked together we may ensure its continuance at Bassett.” to offer succinct (no more than 12 minutes in length) If you wish to help with this event, please contact DeLong creative talks on any topic. The goal is to offer six diverse, at [email protected]. thought-provoking and engaging presentations. Save the dates October 5 and 6, 2018 for this special An array of social events will offer alumni and their family weekend. A complete schedule of activities, presentations and members informal opportunities to reconnect with former additional information will be forthcoming. See page 2 for classmates, local friends and Bassett colleagues. A luncheon more information about visiting Cooperstown. I

Message from the President of the Medical Alumni Board of Directors I’m really excited to return as President The Alumni Association was formed in the early 1990s of the Bassett Medical Alumni Association, and has become an integral part of the ever-growing as 2018 is a reunion year. Your alumni Bassett health system. The group meets annually, advises board has a great weekend planned, on distribution of the Medical Education Endowment funds, October 5 and 6, and we’d really like to plans events like this year’s reunion, and receives updates on see as many of you as possible. There the current state of Bassett. Speaking of which, we express will be noted speakers, IMY talks (the our thanks to Vance Brown, M.D., for nearly four years of Bassett version of TED talks), social excellent leadership, and a warm “welcome back” to gatherings, and the opportunity to return Bill Streck, who re-assumed the reins as CEO of Bassett to your medical roots in the beautiful Healthcare Network in April. Kenneth Wilkins, village of Cooperstown. We promise an I’m looking forward to serving as President. Let us hear M.D., President, Board of Directors Indian summer weekend! from you. We’d really like to include your recent doings in Please don’t miss the rest of this edition the updates section. Finally, mark your calendars for the of The Cupola. My favorite is always the Alumni News, where Bassett Family Reunion, October 5 and 6, 2018. Hope to you can see what some of your colleagues are doing these days. see you then. I The Cupola is the newsletter of the Medical Alumni Columbia-Bassett Program Class of 2018 Match Association of Bassett Medical Center. The The 2018 class of the Columbia-Bassett by an Anesthesiology residency at the Association was founded Program entered the NRMP Main Residency University of Utah to provide support and Match this year. Their results are: Sarah Harney, M.D., Pediatrics residency at recommendations to Surbhi Agrawal, M.D., Obstetrics and Brown University/Rhode Island Bassett’s Medical Education Department; to assist in Gynecology residency at NYU School of Lauren Onofrey, M.D., Internal Medicine recruiting medical students, Medicine residency at University of Washington house staff and attending Jemma Benson, M.D., Internal Medicine Rachel Severin, M.D., Preliminary Internal staff; and to provide financial support to develop residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital Medicine residency at Icahn School of Medicine and enhance medical Eric Bland, M.D., Psychiatry residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt, followed by a education at Bassett. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Dermatology residency at NYP Hospital-Weill The Medical Alumni Stephanie Colello, M.D., Medicine-Pediatrics Cornell Medical Center Association of residency at Hospital of the University of Justin Spring, M.D., Psychiatry residency Bassett Medical Center Pennsylvania at Northwestern University Officers President Rachel Criswell, M.D., Family Medicine Deferred: Kenneth W. Wilkins, Jr., M.D. residency at Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Karel-Bart Celie, M.D. New Bern, N.C. Brandon Garcia, M.D., Transitional Year Christopher Clayton, M.D. President-Elect residency at Bassett Medical Center, followed Christopher Jackson, M.D. I James Murray, D.O. Rochester, N.Y. Executive Vice President Douglas M. DeLong, M.D. Cooperstown…A Perfect Destination for an Autumn Visit Cooperstown, N.Y. The Farmers’ Museum has enriched its visitor Board of Directors experience with new structures and programs. Officers On Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, Madiha Alvi, M.B., B.S. the museum will host a Tractor Fest providing Jacqueline A. Bello, M.D. visitors the opportunity to see classic and Wendy Bergman, M.D. modern tractors. John L. Chamberlain, M.D. In June 2017, the Clark Sports Center unveiled Steven S.T. Ching, M.D. a major renovation that was two years in the James T. Dalton, M.D. John S. Davis, M.D. making and added 56,000 sq. ft. of new Merideth S. Davis, M.D. facilities. The alterations include a 7,000 square John Dier, M.D. foot fitness center, a third pool and expanded aquatics area, and a rock climbing wall in the Nathaniel Doro, D.O. Autumn view of Otsego Lake from Peter R. Gray, M.D. The Farmers’ Museum lobby. Fitness rooms provide spaces for more Keonna D. Johnson, M.D. classes and a game room offers electronic Do you remember the natural beauty, the Alan J. Kozak, M.D. games that require kids to be active to play. friendly community and historic atmosphere of Erin McKay, D.O. If you are visiting from out of the area, make Cooperstown? It still retains that charm even Bruce L. McClennan, M.D. your reservation now. Cooperstown continues though Bassett and Cooperstown’s other major David E. Newman, M.D. to offer a wide range of accommodations from institutions have undergone significant changes Stephanie S. Oceguera, M.D. the luxury resort to campgrounds. For more over the past three decades. Anush Patel, M.D. information about lodging options, visit the Whether you completed your residency in Donald O. Pollock, M.D. website www.cooperstownchamber.org Sarah M. Ricketts, M.D. 1960 or 2000, you will be impressed to discover that The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Eric Rubin, M.D. New rock G. Theodore Ruckert IV, M.D. Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers’ climbing wall Timothy Whitaker, M.D. Museum and the Clark Sport Center have seen at the Clark Ex Officio major renovations. Sports Center William F. Streck, M.D. The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Chief Executive Officer Museum continues to tell the story of America's The Cupola is published pastime. It offers 14 exhibits with interactive three times a year. Please technology and multimedia presentations about send comments and news, including change of address the history of the game. Special exhibits focus information to: Editor, on the game’s most recognizable stars, aspects The Cupola, Office of of the sport’s development over time, and those Medical Education, Bassett Medical Center, One Atwell who have contributed to its history. Road, Cooperstown, NY At Fenimore Art Museum, in addition to 13326 or e-mail permanent exhibitions of American fine and folk [email protected]. art, the museum also houses an extraordinary Alan J. Kozak, M.D. Editor collection of American Indian art. In the fall, Marianne Bez visitors are invited to see a special exhibit Assistant Editor featuring the works of 20th-century FLAT Graphics photographer Imogen Cunningham. Design and Production

2 THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 Bassett Healthcare Network Heart Care Institute Welcomes New Announces Transition in Leadership Chief of Cardiovascular Services In mid-March, Ralph H. Meyer, chairman of the Bassett Mun K. Hong, M.D., a nationally Healthcare Network Board of Directors, announced that recognized interventional cardiologist, William F. Streck, M.D., will return to the organization to has joined Bassett Healthcare Network assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer as Chief of Cardiovascular Services. (CEO) of Bassett Healthcare Network. The announcement Hong comes to Bassett after three years follows the decision by current Bassett Healthcare Network as chairman of the Department of CEO Vance M. Brown, M.D., to step down, effective April 20, Cardiology at MedStar Southern 2018, in order to pursue opportunities outside of Bassett. Maryland Hospital Center. Prior to that, “The board is appreciative of Dr. Brown’s leadership over he was director of the cardiac the past nearly four years,” said Meyer. “During that time the catheterization lab and interventional Mun K. Hong, M.D. network has successfully undertaken a number of initiatives cardiology at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s in response to a difficult and ever-evolving health care Hospital in . Hong also spent seven years as environment. We are fortunate now to have Dr. Streck, who is director of cardiovascular intervention and research at New intimately familiar with Bassett and experienced in health care York Presbyterian Hospital–Cornell Campus in . policy, agree to return as part of a plan to complete the network Given the rural nature of Bassett’s eight-county service corporate restructuring initiated by Dr. Brown last year.” region, Hong is interested in working with the heart care team Streck served as Bassett’s President and CEO from 1984 to to increase access through the capabilities of telemedicine, 2014. He then joined the Healthcare Association of New York particularly for patients who lack transportation or have State as Chief Medical and Health Systems Innovation Officer. mobility issues that keep them homebound. He’s also hoping In that capacity, he has worked the last three years with to engage patients more proactively in their care to head off and health systems across the state on emerging preventable conditions. models of care, population health initiatives, risk management “I’m an interventional cardiologist by training, but I would strategies, and physician relationships. prefer that patients don’t need my interventional care. I feel Upon his return to Bassett, Streck will be tasked with strongly that preventive cardiology must be part of the developing a long-term leadership strategy for Bassett equation. We need to collaborate with our patients so they Healthcare Network. Last fall, as part of the corporate understand what can cause heart disease, which risk factors restructuring, William LeCates, M.D., was appointed acting they can modify, and how to be healthier.” I president of Bassett Medical Center and will be president of Bassett Medical Center when the network CEO transition is completed. As President of Bassett Medical Center, LeCates’ responsibilities will include patient care, quality and F. Todd Wetzel, M.D., Joins Network safety, strategy, financial management, and recruiting. I as Chief of Orthopedics Orthopedic and spine surgeon F. Todd Physician Employment Opportunities in Wetzel, M.D., has been named as Chief the Bassett Healthcare Network of the Department of Orthopedics. Wetzel comes to Bassett from Temple Thinking of a career move? Do you know another University School of Medicine in physician seeking a position in an award-winning network Philadelphia where he was Professor of of six hospitals and 30 regional sites? Consider these Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery openings in Central New York and Cooperstown. since 2004, and the Vice Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Deputy Director Rural Community Health and Sports Medicine since 2008. F. Todd Wetzel, M.D. Emergency and Trauma Services “We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Wetzel join our medical group,” notes Bassett Healthcare Endocrinology Network Chief Clinical Officer Steven Heneghan, M.D. “He is a Family Medicine respected and well-known figure in the world of orthopedic Family Medicine Residency Program Director surgery and a highly skilled spine surgeon. Todd brings a great deal of experience to bear on the program at Bassett that Gastroenterology will benefit patients, clinicians and the network as a whole.” Internal Medicine Among Wetzel’s key goals are to increase orthopedic Otolaryngology services throughout the network and improve communication via electronic medicine for patient care and patient access. Rheumatology “I want to improve rural quality care delivery and Urology accessibility, and I found this opportunity at Bassett attractive because of the ability to work with a group of For more information visit: outstanding physicians in a rural academic health care http://recruitment.bassett.org/physician-jobs/ setting. Bassett impressed me as a mobile organization or call the Medical Staff Affairs office at with the accountability of an academic institution but with 607-547-6982. the ability to be a bit more agile and encourage growth,” explains Wetzel. I

THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 3 THE BASSETT FAMILY ALBUM — ALUMNI NEWS

Please keep your notes and photos coming!

1950s radiology at the Strong practice pediatrics. She Donald Pollock, M.D. Memorial Hospital in Rochester, remains busy working with (Medicine Resident 1955-58, N.Y., two years building MRI the refugee community in Chief Medicine Resident facilities in Melbourne and Boise, Idaho. 1958-59, Attending Physician Hobart, Australia, until 1967-99) was feted for his finally settling in 1996 in 88th birthday with a large Prescott, Ariz. as family and community founder and medical gathering. He is pictured director of an imaging below with Debbie center. Wickstrom Dickenson, R.N. (Nurse reports he retired in Practitioner 1978-99) who September 2016. When worked with Pollock at the not at home in Prescott, Edmeston Health Center. he and his wife divide their time between a The Darrow family on vacation in Jackson, WY. cabin in northern Utah and Hermosillo, Mexico The Smith family enjoying a Christmas visit to Hawaii. Joseph P. Berley, M.D. where they have four sons (Medicine Resident 1987-90) and eight grandchildren. Kenneth W. Wilkins, M.D. entered Occupational (Medicine Resident 1980-84) Medicine in 1992 and has 1970s and his wife Dru (pictured enjoyed working on disease Walter Franck, M.D. below) enjoyed a magnificent prevention while employed (Attending Rheumatologist trip to Antarctica where by various corporations. 1973-2015, Physician-in-Chief they saw penguins, whales, In 2011, he began his own 1980-2009, Director of other birds, seals, and consulting practice, Precision Medical Education 1995-2002, plenty of ice! Occupational Health 1960s Senior Associate Dean at Management, Inc. based in Bassett Medical Center, Bruce McClennan, M.D. Canandaigua, N.Y. He writes, College of Physicians and (Rotating Intern 1967-68) “Overall it has been a Surgeons 1998-2015; reports that although retired, fantastic experience, and Co-Director of Columbia- he is serving as a medical through my work I have been Bassett Program 2009-15) advisory board member for able to positively impact our continues to be involved Koios Medical Company and clients’ companies and their with Bassett. He is on the he has been working with employees in the areas of committee to interview their artificial intelligence health and welfare, medical applicants seeking entry to (AI) algorithm for reading surveillance, mental health, the Columbia-Bassett breast ultrasounds and substance abuse, and general Medical School Program. imaging for women with wellness!” He and his wife In the summer of 2017, he dense breasts. He writes, Teresa will be celebrating their was invited to join the “It has been an exciting 25th wedding anniversary Bassett Medical Center learning experience and one this year. Board of Trustees and he is where I can use my many now a vice-chair of the contacts in the healthcare 1990s Board, serving on the arena.” He recently delivered Alan James, M.D. (Medicine Education, Executive, an honorary lecture at the Mark D. Darrow, M.D. Resident 1994-98) practices Joint Advisory and annual meeting of the (Medicine Resident 1983-86; allergy and immunology at Performance Improvement American Roentgen Ray Attending Physician 1988- Bellin Health in Green Bay, Committees. Society for which he is 93) is Director of Graduate Wisc. His wife, Amy, also a chair of the Senior Medical Education in the physician, specializes in Radiology section. 1980s Gwinnett Hospital System, Hospice and Palliative Cathy Sandstrom, M.D. and north of Atlanta, Ga. He Medicine. He writes, Karl T. (Ted) Wickstrom, C. Scott Smith, M.D. began there five years ago “Between us we have some M.D. (Rotating Intern 1969- (Transitional Year Residents to start a primary care interesting stories to tell… 70) after training at Bassett, 1980-81) have been busy training program. He writes, and I still enjoy advising and Rochester General, he ‘practicing’ for retirement “We have been successful in patients about other medical has had a career in many using their vacation time to creating three: Transitional problems beyond allergy.” locations including six years enjoy travels. Smith retires year, Family Medicine and at the University of Utah, after 33 years of Federal Internal Medicine. Surgery is Family to page 5 four years with Kaiser service in June preceded next, then I will retire!” Permanente in Denver, a by Sandstrom who retired Both his adult children are fellowship in interventional two-years ago from private physicians nearby.

4 THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 Family from page 4 Elmira, N.Y. She has designed interactive touch-screen Joseph Dutkowsky, M.D. programs which allow the (Attending Surgeon 1995- user to manipulate the present) recently published ultrasound probe and the book Perfectly Human perform a virtual ultrasound which reflects his 30 plus and echo exam. Also, she is years of caring for and the lead author of the learning from persons with recently published paper, disabilities, their families, and "Ultrasound Assisted Keri Allen, M.D. those on the margins of Evaluation of Chest Pain 2010s society. Dutkowsky tells the in The Emergency stories of persons he cared Department" which Keri Allen, M.D. (Medicine for and who have taught him appeared in the American resident 2011-12) will complete many lessons, in the hope Journal of Emergency her ophthalmology residency that readers will discover the Kelly Currie, M.D. (General Medicine. from Palmetto Health USC wonder of life even in some Surgery Resident 2008-13) Ophthalmology in Columbia of life’s most trying times. is a Hand and Plastic/ Reggie Knight, M.D. (Vice S.C., in June 2018. She writes, Reconstructive surgeon in President - Medical Affairs, “I am proud to be an alum of 2000s St. Louis. She and her A.O. Fox Hospital and Bassett Healthcare.” husband Dean are very Director of Bassett Spine Brian White, D.O. Carolyn Wolf-Gould M.D. proud of their son Jackson Care Institute, 2008-present) (Transitional Year Resident (Attending Family Practice Luke (pictured above) who was recently named a 2004-05, Attending Physiatrist Physician 2017-present) will will be celebrating his first recipient of the State 2010-present) was primary be one of the keynote birthday soon. University of New York’s author on two chapters in the speakers at the Transgender newest edition of the Atlas prestigious Distinguished Deborah Colony, M.D. Health and Wellness 2018 of Image-guided Spinal Alumni Award. Knight is one (Attending Physician conference at the University Procedures. He has recently of three alumni being Emergency Medicine of Rochester Medical Center presented at the annual recognized in 2018 for 2005-08) is now teaching presenting the topic: meeting of the Academy of outstanding community, bedside ultrasound and From Margins to Mainstream: Academic Physiatrists Annual academic, and professional echocardiography at the A History of Transgender and Grand Rounds at the contributions. Arnot Ogden Hospital in Medicine in the U.S. I Rutgers School of Medicine.

What Do Retired Physicians Do for Fun?

A reminder: Who are the members of the Bassett Medical Alumni Association? You are past and current interns, residents and fellows. You are former and Photos by John Dier, M.D. current members of the senior doctoral staff. There’s a group in Cooperstown And you are students of who meet regularly for competitive ping pong and a few laughs together. the Columbia-Bassett Pictured L to R: John S. Davis, M.D., Medical School program Robert Dewell, M.D., Emery Herman, or students who spent M.D., and Peter Arquin, M.D. your final two years Not pictured: Herbert Marx, M.D. of medical school at Bassett.

THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 5 Residency 2018 Match Results Announced All of Bassett’s residency Internal Medicine Bishesh Shrestha, M.B., Brandon Garcia, M.D., programs had success in the Nancy Bethuel, M.D., B.S., International Medical NRMP Residency Match. St. George’s University College (Bangladesh) College of Physicians and The following is the roster of School of Medicine Anukrati Shukla, M.B., B.S., Surgeons (Columbia- the first postgraduate year (Grenada) Mandya Institute of Bassett Program) residencies for the 2018-19 Aneeqa Butt, M.B., B.S., Medical Sciences (India) Jennifer Kramer, M.D., academic year. Allama Iqbal Medical Nadir Siddiqui, M.B., B.S., University of Arizona General Surgery College (Pakistan) Jinnah Sindh Medical College of Medicine – Matthew M. Habib, M.D., Farah Deshmukh, M.B., University (Pakistan) Tucson Albany Medical College B.S., Tianjin Medical Harshith Thyagaturu, M.B., Rupin N. Parikh, M.D., Elizabeth A. Jacob, M.D., University (China) B.S., Navodaya Medical Albany Medical College Virginia Commonwealth Samir Jha, M.B., B.S., College (India) Lynn Shi, M.D., University School of Columbia University College of Medical Transitional Year Medicine Sciences, Bharatpur College of Physicians and Eugene Carragee, M.D., (Nepal) Surgeons Victor Janmey, M.D., Jacobs School of Medicine Vijaykumar Sekar, M.B., Stephanie A. Sutter, M.D., Connor S. Davenport, M.D., and Biomedical Sciences at B.S., Stanley Medical Weill Cornell Medicine University of Pittsburgh the University of Buffalo Center (India) School of Medicine Marissa L. Tan, D.O., Levi Smucker, M.D., Indiana Omid Shah, M.B., Ch.B., University of North Texas Andrew S. Ea, D.O., University School of Sheffield University School Health Science Center, University of New England Medicine of Medicine and Texas College of College of Osteopathic Biomedical Sciences (Great Osteopathic Medicine I Anne N. Young, M.D., Medicine University of Kansas School Britain) of Medicine – Kansas City

Alumni from page 8 Residents Awarded now a cardiologist, was doing a rotation at Bassett, and Kuzminski went to visit her. When it was time for Kuzminski Fellowship Positions to pursue a sub-internship, she contacted Bassett. The team attending was Alan Kozak, M.D., and the team resident was John Dier, M.D. The teaching was intense, and Kuzminski loved it. She found it difficult to return to Hawaii. She applied for a transitional internship at Bassett and came back. That was a very good year, but she had to return to Hawaii to finish her two years of integrated medicine. Kuzminski is an internist. “When I became an internist, it was the queen of all disciplines—because it was the most complicated and cerebral—I graduated from medical school in 1977.” She is still a champion of practitioners who do primary care, noting that “it’s very difficult work. An internist walks into a room and has to have a wide range of diagnostic skills—has to be able to hear a heart murmur, to feel a belly mass, and to ascertain what’s going on.” Today, although she is retired, she’s still very much involved in the community, and she still supports Bassett. “I always Photo Caption: (L to R) Charat Thongprayoon, M.D.; Karn Wijarnpreecha, M.D.; Ayesha Jameel, M.B., B.S.; and found great joy in reading medicine and learning and making Mathhar Aldaoud, M.D. diagnoses. That was always tremendously satisfying.” Describing herself, she said: “I’m a Bassett girl. I think Four residents completing their internal medicine residency Bassett will always be special, given its history.” successfully matched into prestigious fellowships. They are: If Bassett is special to you, you can also support medical Mathhar Aldaoud, M.D. (Internal Medicine), Cardiology education and superlative patient care by calling the Friends Fellowship, St. John Providence Hospital, Detroit, Mich. of Bassett at 607-547-3928. Ayesha Jameel, M.B., B.S. (Internal Medicine), Thank you! I Endocrinology, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Mass. Charat Thongprayoon, M.D. (Internal Medicine), Nephrology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass. See our latest news and updates at Karn Wijarnpreecha, M.D. (Internal Medicine), Bassett Medical Alumni Association Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education-Florida, Jacksonville, Fla. I

6 THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 IN MEMORIAM: BASSETT REMEMBERS Alumni: Please send copies of obituaries of former Bassett trainees, faculty or other members of the “Bassett Family” to [email protected]

Stuart A. Babcock, M.D. naval officer and a stint as neurosurgeon in Portland Maine, Stuart A. Babcock, M.D., passed away the family moved to Cooperstown in 1977, where he joined at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Bassett to work with Robert Mackie, M.D., as Bassett’s in Fla. on December 14, 2015 following a second neurosurgeon. A Diplomate of the American Board 45-year career as a pediatrician in Palm of Neurological Surgery, Harris was Assistant in Clinical Beach County. After graduating from Neurological Surgery at Columbia P&S. He “retired” in Hamilton College, he attended the 2004 but continued as a very active Bassett consultant in University of Rochester School of neurosurgery and loved by his patients and their families. Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1964. Henry Weil, M.D., summed up his work ethic in a letter to He then completed a Rotating Internship at Bassett Hospital Harris’ close friend neurologist Mary Anne Whalen, M.D., “in (1964-65), followed by a Pediatric Residency at Strong 1986, when in one long night Dr. Harris took three emergency Memorial Hospital. He subsequently served four years head trauma cases to the operating room from three as a ship physician in the US Navy. After a Fellowship in separate accidents, I was his intern from internal medicine Neonatology at Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1971, he doing a required month of surgery. He applied the same began his practice in West Palm Beach as a pediatrician impeccable attention, judgment and compassion in each and neonatologist. He was one of the first neonatologists to case, returning to each family to give updates and to listen to practice in Palm Beach County and was credited with saving their thoughts and needs, and continuing this attentiveness literally hundreds of lives of newborn babies and children. well into the evening of the next day.” His long practice career afforded him the opportunity to Many who knew Bruce Harris thought of him as a treat several generations of families. He is survived by his Renaissance man. A near-professional pianist, he was an brother, Nelson Babcock and many other relatives. early board member of the Glimmerglass Opera, where he sang in nearly 100 chorus performances. He was a founder Richard D. Gerle, M.D. of the Voices of Cooperstown and served on the board of the Cooperstown Music Festival. He and his wife also sang Richard D. Gerle, M.D., of Wesley in the Catskill Choral Society. He described himself as Chapel, Fla., passed away at age 87 on grounded in medicine and harnessed by his beloved Lochiel September 20, 2017 after a brief illness. Farm near Cooperstown, where there were always fences He attended Denison University and to be pushed back, stone walls to be built, and endless went on to medical school at the buildings to be modeled, remodeled and painted. He was a University of Rochester School of member of Christ Episcopal Church, Cooperstown, where he Medicine (M.D. 1957). He then did a was a choir member, and vestryman. Rotating Internship at Bassett Hospital, Harris is survived by his beloved wife, Mona; daughter, followed by return to the U of R for a three-year residency Kirsten; and son, Colin, his 3-year-old grandson, Lucas Harris in Radiology. He came back to Bassett for one year as Mabille; sister, Nancy Rieser of New Zealand; and nephew, Associate Radiologist (1962-63). His further career in William Harris and family of New York. Radiology included positions at Emory University School of Medicine 1963-1965, Associate Professor of Radiology at C. Stephen Szlatenyi, M.D. SUNY Upstate College of Medicine 1965-1998. In 1979, he founded CNY Diagnostic Imaging, PC, specializing in C. Stephen Szlatenyi, Jr., M.D., 65, mammography. He had an extensive medical bibliography of Wakefield, R.I., passed away on and was a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, the March 3, 2017. Radiological Society of North America, and the American He was a physician in the emergency Roentgen Ray Society. In retirement he and his wife Janice department for Rhode Island Hospital (Bettinger) Gerle settled at the Saddlebrook Resort in and Kent County hospital many years. Wesley Chapel, Fla. He is survived by his wife and his three He also worked in the Wound Recovery daughters, their spouses and five grandchildren, his brother, and Hyperbarics Medical Center at Kent. Fred Gerle, and many nieces and nephews. He served as a member of the Disaster Medical Assistant Team of Rhode Island. Szlatenyi also ran a foundation called Bruce S. Harris, M.D. Health on Earth for many years. Szlatenyi received his medical degree from Albany Medical Bruce S. Harris, M.D., retired Bassett College, and was a Transitional Year Resident at Bassett in neurosurgeon, died at age 78 on 1977-78, before completing a Residency in Emergency March 31, 2018 from metastatic Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Valeria, children Chris Szlatenyi, A graduate of , Dena Ortiz and her husband Ernesto, his sisters Deb Tosoni Harris received his medical degree from and her husband Rocco, Judith Szlatenyi, and grandchildren Hahnemann Medical College in 1968 Frankie, Leticia Ortiz and nieces and nephews. I and completed neurosurgical training at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where he met and married his wife Mona (Skredsvig) Harris. After service as a

THE CUPOLA Spring 2018 7 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID THE CUPOLA Cooperstown, NY Bassett Medical Center Permit #31 Office of Medical Education One Atwell Road Cooperstown, NY 13326 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Alumni Donor Profile: Antoinette Kuzminski, M.D. By Jill Maney Antoinette Kuzminski’s Ireland, they relocated to Dublin. Once there, she decided to journey to medicine was take some science classes at Trinity—a beautiful renaissance- unconventional. A history era structure that preserved some early academic traditions. major at Smith College— She tried physics and loved it. There was no relativism—just when the school did not natural laws that could be understood and relied upon. even offer biology classes— “It was heavenly,” she said: “I thought, oh yeah, I’ve got to go she initially thought she into the sciences. This is for me!” might be a musician. There But their future was dicey: America was engaged in a war, is still music in her home: a and her husband might be drafted if they returned. They sent grand piano, which she letters to 150 colleges—her husband flew to the American plays, is covered with open Historical Association meeting for interviews; he had a scores. She married her Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and the Fulbright, but he husband, Adrian, after she received no job offers. At that point, they also had a new child. graduated and worked A friend who had a job in Hawaii that he hated contacted while he pursued a Ph.D. at them and offered Kuzminski’s husband the job if they would Antoinette Kuzminski, M.D. the University of Rochester. move. They went, although it was an enormous adjustment. She decided that she That is how Antoinette Kuzminski ended up in medical should get a master’s degree so she could teach history in school at the University of Hawaii. It was, in part, a happy high school, but she felt lonely studying history; she found accident. She was enormously impressed with the quality of research isolating, and she also found the degree of relativism education: much of the teaching was one-on-one. At that then favored in the discipline intolerable. point, she was an older student, well-prepared and eager to learn. This was during the Vietnam War, which the couple actively In her third year, she began to go out into communities protested. Then members of the National Guard shot and “to learn what the world is like,” as she put it. Her first experience killed university students at Kent State. That changed was in a clinic in a rural area where cattle were the main industry Antoinette Kuzminski’s mind. She decided that she needed to and the hospital had two beds. She loved that, too. do something different, something that would give her more She first came to Bassett at her sister’s urging. Her sister, power than marching could. When her husband won a Fulbright to Trinity College in Alumni to page 6