Rxtra - a publication for the staff of Hartford Hospital, Dec. 27, 2012

A Hartford HealthCare Partner
R x TraA publication for the staff of Hartford Hospital
Dec 27, 2012 • Vol. 68 No. 48
CESI To Expand
With $10 Million State Grant

2
$10 Million State Grant to Expand
CESI’s Reach and Offering
By Karin Diamond
Medical professionals from all over the world
come to Hartford Hospital’s Center for
Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI) to
benefit from the hands-on experience it provides –
an education missing from medical textbooks. Stephen
Donahue, CESI program director, often quips:
You can’t learn that
from a book
when referencing the work done in the advanced
training center.
The importance of the virtual training offered at
CESI is immeasurable. The program has grown from
an operation with one teaching manikin to a
program recognized as one of the most advanced
medical training centers in the world.
The State of Connecticut just awarded CESI a $10
million grant to further expand its offerings,
acknowledging its importance as a medical resource
and its place as an economic and jobs driver for the
state.
“The team reacted to the grant with shock and
awe,” says Donahue. “I knew that this was going to
be the future of teaching and patient safety, but I had
no idea it would be as big as it has become.”
The grant monies will be put toward an expanded
30,000-square-foot facility that will relocate CESI
from its current home in the Education Resource
Center to the adjacent Barney Building, a space that
will provide for additional simulation areas and
electronic training facilities at its estimated
completion in 2014.
“The government realizes that CESI’s expansion
will increase the community’s economic development
as we bring in more people to visit from around
the country and the world,” says Dr. Steven
Shichman, CESI medical director. “The recognition
gives us a nice notoriety that further enhances the
reputation of Hartford Hospital.”
Those involved in the CESI program hosted a
gathering on Oct. 9 to celebrate the grant award and
the expansion it enables.
For Donahue, the celebration was quite emotional
as he witnessed the project he’s been working
toward from the very inception come full circle.
“We’ve come so far in the journey and now we’re
going into a bigger territory,” he says. “There were
mixed emotions of excitement and the realization
that now that we’re getting bigger, so are the expectations.
It was nice to see the people that support the
program and know that we’re all in it together.”
Donahue notes the unwavering support of
administration and credits that backing with
how far the center has come.
“The state money is a wonderful boost, but
without the support of administration, specifically
Jeff Flaks and Elliot Joseph, we wouldn’t be where we
are,” says Donahue. “They had the vision of what
CESI could be and now they’re seeing that vision
come true.”
CESI’s humble
beginnings
It wasn’t so long ago that the idea of
simulation training was completely
foreign. Hartford Hospital started its
simulation education program in 2000
on a very small scale.
“Back then nobody really understood
what simulation education was nor
what it meant and neither did we,” says
Donahue, who was there during the
program’s beginnings. “We found
funding for one manikin and thought it
was a great way to teach and make the
staff safer and smarter.”
That first manikin was purchased
through the Department of Anesthesia
by Dr. Thomas Mort, who had the
foresight to see the direct benefits to
patient safety and health care provider
education that human patient simulation
could offer. He championed its use
at Hartford Hospital. Donahue recalls
bringing that lone manikin on a
“traveling show,” teaching classes
wherever space could be found.
For a length of time the project was
operated with no budget. Donahue
donated his time to educate himself and
train others, in addition to working
full-time at the hospital. The initiative’s
first operational budget was just $3,000
per year.
They worked out of a 900-squarefoot
space on South Building 5 in what
was known simply as the “Simulation
Center.” In 2010, it expanded to its
current 20,000-square-foot space in the
ERC and became the Center for Education,
Simulation and Innovation (CESI).
“Now, 12 years after we started, we
get this wonderful $10 million state
grant to expand the spectacular facility
we already have,” says Donahue.
Those involved are in the planning
phase, deciding how to make the most
of the expansion. They are currently
meeting to decide what additional technologies
will be placed in the expanded
space. The big focus will be on training
and testing.
“We are looking to expand into the
bioscience research, working with more
companies on product designs and developments,”
says Donahue. “We’ve already
done a tremendous job on patient
safety and education and now want to
enhance that with the innovation of
medical device products.”
Steve Donahue:
The Man Behind the Manikin
When growing up in
Hartford in the late
1970s, Stephen Donahue
would ride his bike to
Hartford Hospital nearly
every day to spend time with
his father during his lunch
break from work in the hospital’s
Engineering
Department. Wearing his
Guess jacket and bell-bottoms,
toting a Yo-Yo, he was
thrilled for the opportunity
to hang out with his dad.
Steve was too young to
get a job, so his father
suggested that he start
volunteering at the hospital.
He was scooped up by the
Jefferson Street Thrift Shop,
run by the hospital Auxiliary,
which sold high-end goods
like fur coats and jewelry to
raise money for the hospital.
He affectionately refers
to the “six grandmothers”
he worked with there as
his inspiration to embark
on a medical career as they
encouraged him to pursue a
job at the hospital when he
became of age.
With help from his thrift
shop grandmothers, he
decided to go into respiratory
therapy, pursuing education
at the University of Hartford.
He landed that Hartford
Hospital job in 1982, and
during his 30-year career
here, has been at the cusp of
some of the hospital’s most
burgeoning initiatives. Most
notably is his devotion to
bringing the hospital’s
simulation education program
to the global forefront.
In his early days as a
respiratory therapist,
Donahue encountered
anesthesiologist Dr. Thomas
Mort. The two built a friendship
and a mutual respect for
each other’s clinical ability.
Mort learned about a
manikin technology called
“Sim Man” at a conference in
the 1990s, and brought in the
hospital’s first manikin a
decade later. But no one
knew how to run the
manikin and there was no
budget to pay anyone to
learn. Mort had been impressed
by Donahue’s talents,
so he recruited him to help.
Fully believing in the
potential of this technology,
Donahue practiced
simulation education in the
evenings as an unfunded
position while he continued
his full-time respiratory
therapy job. (Continued...)
3

4
“I worked for free for
three years,” says Donahue.
“My wife couldn’t believe
it, but I knew that someday
it would go the way it has
gone.”
Residents who had been
learning on the simulation
tools would come back to
Donahue and recount
real-life hospital scenarios
during which they knew
what to do because of the
hands-on practice they
received in simulation
training. It was then that
Donahue realized how
important this work was.
“It gives some of the less
experienced people an
opportunity to get involved
in critical thinking experiences
and practicing skills
sooner,” says Donahue.
“They practice here so that
they can be perfect across
the street in the hospital.”
He equates the experience
to pilots who practice
emergency situations in
flight simulators so that they
are ready for action if and
when a real event occurs.
“There’s nothing more
gratifying than teaching
something that I know will
directly save someone’s life,”
Donahue says.
Donahue is humbled that
throughout his career at
Hartford Hospital, he always
had the opportunity to be
the first at things, eager to be
the one to blaze a trail.
Prior to his work with the
hospital’s simulation education
program, Donahue flew
for two years as respiratory
therapist on LIFESTAR, and
worked in the cardiology and
ICU units.
Much of his credibility as
an educator came during his
time with Dr. Neil Yeston’s
Respiratory Clinician Program.
Donahue was one
of the first to jump on that
initiative, becoming an
educator for critical care service
where he oversaw respiratory
care management of
patients in the ICU, and ensured
they got off breathing
machines as quickly as possible.
He joined physicians
on their teaching rounds and
quickly earned their respect,
citing that opportunity for
honing his interpersonal
skills and for connecting him
with Dr. Mort.
Dr. Steven Shichman,
Donahue’s colleague at the
Center for Education, Simulation
and Innovation, says
that most everyone who
comes through CESI to learn
under Donahue is so impressed
by his breadth of
knowledge that they assume
he is a physician.
To that, Donahue humbly
replies: “I’ve had a lot of help
along the way.” n
Donahue says that there are a
plethora of companies out there
looking to train their staff and test
their products, especially in the
minimally invasive surgery and
robotics arenas that CESI lends itself to.
“CESI is one of the largest robotic
surgery training centers in the world
both in equipment and people
training,” notes Shichman.
With even further growth, the hope
is that more corporations will come
here to test their products or have their
staff trained.
“We want to work with stakeholders
to make sure we build a very robust
and flexible building that meets all
internal and external customer needs,”
says Donahue.
The enlarged facility is expected not
only to increase training and research
capabilities but also to attract high-tech
industries to the state to partner with
the hospital, to create more jobs and to
attract some of the world’s best health
care providers to Connecticut.
“Historically there were several
silos of training without any centralized
leadership,” says Shichman of the
time before the establishment of the
Simulation Center at Hartford Hospital.
“Everyone was doing a great job
but going in all directions. There was a
duplication of resources, both in manpower
and material, across the health
care system. The vision was to all come
together under one centralized site.”
Since it opened in 2010, CESI has
filled an urgent need in the medical
community by training thousands of
physicians to become the next generation
of medical first responders. The
center is an international hub for hightechnology
training and an educational
and research center for students and
faculty from UConn, as well as from
schools and hospitals across the globe.
CESI is a regional and national
training destination. As the second
largest surgical center in New England
and the Northeast’s largest robotic surgery
center, Hartford Hospital
continues to be a hub for medical
training. CESI features exact replicas of
an operating room, intensive care unit,
delivery room and trauma room. It has
the same equipment as the hospital,
including two da Vinci robots and two
robotic simulators designed especially
for training purposes.
Above: CESI controls.
Right, top: Dr. Steven Shichman, CESI medical director, teaches the use of
the da Vinci surgical robot.
Right: learning to use the robotic surgical instruments in CESI.
CESI services a diverse population with its educational
programming and access to technology to
practice on. Approximately two thirds of the
customers are Hartford Hospital nurses, physicians
and other medical professionals. However, the center
also services the likes of the National Guard, US
Navy, and Connecticut Fire Academy, who train their
medical personnel there.
“Besides having one of the best facilities already
in terms of training, we also have what most consider
the most programmatic development that meets
the needs of our customers who come to train here,”
says Shichman. “The staff is extremely knowledgeable
in curriculum based learning, which is why our
educational programs continue to get high marks.”
According to Shichman, in 2012 about 6,000
people came through CESI – 80 percent within the
Hartford HealthCare system and the remaining 20
percent from outside.
“The two areas where we expect to see growth
are in working with health care providers from
outside the Hartford HealthCare system and working
with the medical industry to train both sales force
teams and their customers in research and
development,” says Shichman.
There are several components to CESI: human
simulation and team and cognitive training in which
sophisticated manikins are used to train medical
professionals on how to handle certain situations
with direct feedback; the minimally invasive surgical
institute, which highlights task training like putting
in an IV or breathing tube to laparoscopic and robotic
surgery training; and preclinical research where new
instruments are tested and new products developed.
“The bottom line is that CESI is here to provide
safer and higher quality care to the community,” says
Shichman. “The direct feedback we get from providers
who come through is that they are able to take
care of their patients better.”
CESI also boasts an advanced networking system
that links components throughout the hospital
so that educational programs can be broadcast live
from the lab to anywhere in world. The team already
trains medical company’s sales forces across the nation
with this virtual technology and sees this
application as a real area of growth.
The diverse offerings of CESI make it a valuable
asset to the hospital community and beyond. The
recent $10 million grant will allow these current
assets to be expanded on and new training
applications and technologies explored.
“This recognition puts yet another stamp on
Hartford Hospital as leading the way in many
different areas – safety, training, education,
research,” says Donahue. “This expansion enhances
the community’s awareness of what we’re doing for
those initiatives.” n
5

Hartford HealthCare and Westfarms Mall Join Forces
To Improve Community Health and Wellness
Hartford Hospital Website Wins National Gold Award
Hartford Hospital’s website, www.harthosp.
org, was a Gold Award Winner in the 2012
eHealthcare Leadership Awards in the category
of Best Site Design among hospitals with 400 or
more beds.
This annual award is presented by eHealthcare
Strategy & Trends, and recognizes the very
best websites.
The award was presented to Todd Bluestein,
director of Interactive Marketing & Web Strategy,
and Jerry Belanger, web manager, during the
16th Annual Greystone.Net Healthcare Internet
Conference, Nov. 12-14 in Las Vegas, NV.
The award recognizes web site design that is
unusual, attractive, and engaging; facilitates
access to key site information; and provides
strong branding and excellent usability.
The 13th annual eHealthcare Leadership
Awards program drew some 1,100 entries from
small and large hospitals, health systems, medical
practices, and health care associations. Websites
were judged based on a standard of
Internet excellence and how they compared
with others in the organization’s classification.
The award was based on the most recent
update to the Hartford Hospital Website and
was made possible by the efforts of our current
website vendor, Creative Change, and many
members of the Planning & Marketing Department
including Garret Condon, Dan Small and
Sal DiNino. n
Hartford HealthCare has become the exclusive
health and wellness partner for Westfarms Mall.
Located on the town line between West Hartford and
Farmington in central Connecticut, Westfarms is a
1.3 million square foot regional shopping center that
features more than 160 shops.
On Nov. 23, the first phase of “Wellness at
Westfarms” launched with the opening of a
relaxation lounge located outside of Lord & Taylor
on the second floor of the mall. The lounge provides
a place for shoppers to unwind, recharge mobile
devices and learn about health and wellness services
available in the region. At various times throughout
the holiday season, the lounge also featured healthy
snacks and water for shoppers.
According to James Blazar, chief strategy officer
and senior vice president for Hartford HealthCare, the
wellness lounge is the first component of what will
become a long-term partnership between the two
organizations.
“This partnership makes it possible for Westfarms
and Hartford HealthCare to collaborate in providing
wellness services and resources in a retail venue
that is convenient for hundreds of thousands of
residents,” said Blazar. “Our goal is to improve
community wellness by increasing access to vital
health information and educational resources.”
“Westfarms is excited to be partnering with
Hartford HealthCare and we look forward to
showcasing their broad spectrum of health and
wellness services to our community,” said Kevin
Keenan, general manager of Westfarms.
In addition to opening the relaxation lounge,
Hartford HealthCare also partnered with the mall to
sponsor a holiday gift wrap kiosk, with all proceeds
benefitting the system’s Cancer Connect support line.
“I commend the leadership of Westfarms Mall for
recognizing the importance of health management
to their customers,” added Blazar. “Wellness at
Westfarms will continue to showcase our shared
commitment to supporting the health and wellness
of the communities we serve.” n
6 7

Ribbon Cutting Held For New
Comprehensive Epilepsy Unit
Hartford Hospital held a ribbon cutting event
at the new Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
on Nov. 16 to celebrate the opening of their
6-bed Epilepsy monitoring unit.
The unit will provide 24-hour monitoring, offering
physicians the ability to better handle the
severity and condition of epileptic patients.
Left to right:
Steve Dorau, Epilepsy
Foundation of Connecticut
(EFC) Board member;
Allison Gamber, program
coordinator of EFC; Dr.
Brendan Killory; Linda A.
Wallace, executive director
of EFC; Wendy Elberth,
VP of Administration; Dr.
Erica Schuyler; Charlie
Nash, EFC Board president;
HHC president and
CEO Elliot Joseph; and Jeffrey
Flaks, president and
CEO of Hartford Hospital.
Epilepsy patients who volunteer for this program
stay in the rooms for about five days, or until
they have a seizure. Patients are also monitored
by electroencephalography (EEG), which records
the electrical activity of the brain.
With more than 60,000 people diagnosed with
epilepsy in the state of Connecticut, Hartford
Hospital promises to offer state residents with
closer to home high-quality epilepsy care being
provided by a dedicated patient-centered multidisciplinary
team.n
Holiday
Harmonies
Dr. Carl Braren (second from left),
who retired from practice at
Hartford Hospital after 35 years as an
internist, brings members of the Silk
City Barbershop Chorus from Manchester
to sing for staff, patients and
families at Hartford Hospital during
the holiday season.
Here, they are performing for staff at
the December pinning ceremony. n
Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service - August 2012
40 Years of Service
Angela Capone, Environmental Services
Janice Giuca, Vascular Laboratory
30 Years of Service
Elizabeth Arnold, Radiology/Short Stay
Nan Bafundo, Clinical Admin/Neuro/
Trauma/Ortho
Stephen Donahue, Simulation Center
Beverly LeMay, Child/Adolescent Day
Treatment
Susan O’Connell, Radiation Therapy General
Christine Puniello, Radiology/Nuclear
Medicine
Maureen Vagnini, Medical Physics/NRRON
25 Years of Service
Teresa Caccamo, Environmental Services
Jeffrey Dahlstrom, H I M/DOC Imaging
Bruce Kopycinski, Rented Real Estate/
Newington
Kenneth Nelson, Security
Marie Nespral, Post Transplant Clinic
Maura O’Donnell, Telecommunications
Robert Palmer, Environmental Services
Angela Petrow, Operating Rooms/Ambulatory
Florence Sawyer, Surgical Service Bliss 9 ICU
Fernando Seguro, IS/PC Services
Dawn Sideris, Radiology/ Short Stay
Pamela Tripp, Surgical Service Bliss 7 ICU
Shari Turner, Finance/General
Kathy Underwood, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
20 Years of Service
Diane Akien, Information Services
Christine Bak, Radiation Therapy General
Alison Baker, GI Endoscopy
Blanche Jackson-Hill, Radiation Therapy
General
Nancy Kobos, WHS/Blue Back Square
Jonathan Morton, Radiology/Short Stay
E Rosenthal, Nursing Service Office
Vanessa Tomberlin, H I M/Coding
Fernando Tumaliuan, Surgical Service
Bliss 7E
15 Years of Service
Marlene Graham-Folkes, Surgical Service
Bliss 8
Andrew Gumkowski, Biomedical Engineering
Ezequiela Marques, Pharmacy/General
Michael Nisyrios, Security
Margarita Perez, PA Remit Processing
Aideliz Rodriguez, IT/Client Infrastructure
Mohamad Sedigh, Radiology/Ultrasound
Gloria Townsend, Surgical Service North 9
Stephanie Wright, Department of Medicine/
Infectious Diseases
10 Years of Service
Sabaha Alihodzic, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
Karen Anderson, Neuropsychiatric Research
Patricia Colin, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
Ralph Dodd, Donnelly 3N
Randal Dunn, Biomedical Engineering
Lauren Frank, Respiratory Care
Katherine Hawthorne, Pre-Transplant Clinic
Nancy Hubbard, Psychiatric Rehab Services
Penolyn Lawrence, Surgical Service North 9
Laurie Lombardo, Donnelly 3S
Ana Maldonado, Surgical Service Bliss 7E
Julie Malecki, Finance/Information Technology
Barbara Martino, Finance/Budget
Amanda Mugovero, Emergency Room/General
Robin O’Brien, Special Education/Hartford
Angela Palmer, Patient Service/SNF
Ana Pedraza, Surgical Service Bliss 7E
Richard Ratzan, Department of Emergency
Medicine
Charles Richmond, Engineering/Mechanical
Maria Rodriguez, Medicine Service CB5
Trifon Rumbullaku, Food/Nutrition/Patient
Tray Service
Bardhyl Stringa, Food/Nutrition/Patient Tray
Service
Kevin Thompson, Surgical Service Bliss 8
5 Years of Service
Maria Alejandro, H I M/Clinical
Documentation
Theresa Allen, C A R E S
Jennifer Campbell, Cardiac Laboratory/Adult
Lizsandro Carpio, Environmental Services
Alexis Cordiano, Department of Emergency
Medicine
Kaitlyn Cram, ERN - Farmington - OA
Susan Dana, Fund Development/Major/
Planned Gift
Frank DelNegro, IS/Finance Systems
Eugene Donor, O.R. Assistive Personnel
Michelle Duchemin, HR/Learning And
Leadership Development
Georgette Dutchin, Medicine Service Bliss 11
ICU
Leonor Fontanez, Orthopedics CB6
Nisha Gopie, Food/Nutrition/General
Kevin Gosler, Respiratory Care
Linda Kapitan, Special Education/Hartford
Vyacheslav Keylin, Environmental
Services/General
Lauren Lahickey, Surgical Service North 9
Marco Levy, Radiology/General
Donna Mancino, Medicine Service Bliss 11 ICU
Christina Martinelli, Rehab Glastonbury-OP
Sonia Miceli, Rehab Wethersfield - OP
Linda Moses, Special Education/Cheshire
Chad Nagle, Pharmacy/General
Michelle Nai, Medicine Service Center 12L
Bryan Nelson, Materials Management/
Purchasing
Alberto Nieves, O.R. Assistive Personnel
Peter Pasciucco, Department of Dentistry
Moira Pasini, Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Dawne Paulhus, Prenatal Testing Center
Sara Pintaldi, Radiation Therapy General
Lisa Plamondon, Special Education/Hartford
Basantie Ramlall, Environmental Services
Alan Rarus, Radiology/Ultrasound
Natoya Riley, Medicine Service Center 12L
Noel Rivera, Donnelly 2S
Jamie Roche, Administration/General
Damaris Rodriguez, First Step Nurturing Fund
Roger Simao, Pharmacy/General
Lauriann Slosser, PA Third Party Follow Up
Joseph Thompson, Environmental Services
Michael Trueman, Radiology/General
Luisell Velazquez, Labor and Delivery
Deirdre Von Pechmann, Neuropsychiatric
Research
Rail Xhaxho, Main Storeroom
Michelle Zinko, ERN - VNA Hartford
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
8 9

August • 2012
Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
5
President Jeffrey Flaks congratulates 5 year service award
winners (left to right): Jamie Roche, Susan Dana, Michelle
Duchemin, Lauren Lahickey, Bryan Nelson, Michelle Nai,
Michael Trueman, Dawne Paulhus, Damaris Rodriguez,
Lisa Plamondon, Rail Xhaxho and Noel Rivera.
President Flaks with Bardhyl Stringa, Ana Maldonado,
Nancy Hubbard, Katherine Hawthorne, Randal Dunn
and Trifon Rumbullaku..
10
Aideliz Rodriguez and Marlene Graham-Folkes were honored
for 15 years of service.
Diane Akien and Nancy Kobos received 20 year pins.
20
15
Left to right, the newest members of the Quarter Century
Club are Bruce Kopycinski, Marie Nespral, Maura O’Donnell
and Angela Petrow.
Nan Bafundo is congratulated on her 30 years of service by
President Flaks and Maria Tackett.
30
25
Darlene Henry was recognized for 40 years of service to
the Security Department.
40
10 11

Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service - September 2012 Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service - October 2012
40 Years of Service
Lynette Beebe, RC Revenue Cycle IT
Nancy Benusis, Allied Health/X-Ray Technician
Ann Bonin, Cardiology/ETT
Catherine Chance, Donnelly 2S
Caleb Cutler, Engineering/Administration
Jacqueline Davis, Radiology/CT Scan
Janice Giuca, Vascular Lab
Suzanne Holliday-Thomas, IV Therapy
Kathleen Stevens, Radiology/General
35 Years of Service
Sarah DeGiovanni, Quality Management
Mary Johnson, Assessment Center
Susan Malo, QM/Epidemiologists
Deborah Murphy, Department Of Cardiology/
Administration
Virginia Smith, IS/Finance Systems
Joanne Smyser, Post Anesthesia Care Unit
30 Years of Service
Muriel Bruton, Operating Rooms/Ambulatory
Marianne Claudio, Radiology/Nuclear Medicine
Michael DeCarlo, Child/Adolescent Day
Treatment
Stephen Donahue, Simulation Center
Olga Dutka, Network Development/Mental
Health
Candace Johnson, Clinical Research Center
Maureen Larrabee, GI Endoscopy
Janet Michnowicz, Labor and Delivery
Debra Plourd, Hemo/Oncology Service
25 Years of Service
Karen Garcia-Luna, O.R. CORE
Laura Johnston, Surgical Service Bliss 9 ICU
Lourdes Lopes, Cancer Registry
Ewa Pawlik, Cardiology Service Center 10
Carol Stacy, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
Nora Uricchio, Allied Health/Radiation
Therapy Tech
20 Years of Service
Jonathan Delvalle, Radiology/Administration
Daniel Ditommaso, Case Coordination
Rose Jacobs, Department Of Surgery
Lionel Lee, Main Storeroom
Maria Paulino, Environmental Services/General
Barbara Pezzetti, Operating Rooms/
Administration
Gabriel Rivera, Laundry/General
15 Years of Service
Brenda Bialy, O.R. CORE
Karen Bidwell, PHP/Professional
William Castellano, Laundry/General
Nestor Nieto, Laundry/General
Norberto Pagan, Engineering/Grounds
Maribel Rodriguez, PAS OP Registration
Alexandra Roman, PA Self Pay
Jan Ruderman, Quality Management
Tom Stevens, Information Services
Cunegundo Vergara, Department Of
Medicine/Administration
Stephanie Wright, Department of Medicine
Susan Wright, Cancer Center/Administration
10 Years of Service
Sarah Anderson, Rehab Wethersfield - OP
Greg Berryman, Allied Health/Emergency
Med Tech
Astrid Calderon, Social Work
Magda Capo-Chanbunna, Medicine Service
Bliss 11 ICU
Violetta Chrostowski, Department Of Surgery
Laura Connell, Special Education/Hartford
Corrado D’Ambrogio, Child/Adolescent Day
Treatment
Patrick Dowd, Respiratory Care
Susanna Farkas, Nutrition Service
Laura Hobbs, Pharmacy/General
Kathleen Hunter, Oncology Service CB2
Kenneth Hunter, Environmental Services/
General
K. David Kelly, ERN - VNA Hartford
Marie Lagasse, Cardiac Rehab
Peter LaValley, Radiation Oncology/NRRON
Karen Magnuson, Department Of Medicine/
Geriatrics Program
Symone Morrison, Oncology Service CB2
Azem Muca, Food/Nutrition/Patient Tray
Service
Milagros Perez, Surgical Service C9I
Nathan Scott, STAR Team
Carol Skarzynski, Video Conference Fund
Andrea Talbot, Surgical Service C9I
Barbara Ward, Donnelly 3S
5 Years of Service
Marva Austin, Medicine Service Bliss 11E
Jocelyn Badgley, Operating Rooms/Orthopedic
Claire Borkowski, ERN - Schools
Emily Brady, Lactation Center
Amanda Cecala, Pharmacy/General
Meghan Cohen, HH Eye Surgery Center/Clinic
Kimberly Coplit, Surgical Service Bliss 7 ICU
Jose Corporan, Main Storeroom
Michaelia Daubon, State Of Connecticut
Bioterrorism Grant
Demeatrice Davis, Medicine Service CB5
Brenna Earle, Surgical Service Bliss 5
Jessica Estrado-Ramirez, Community Care
Center
Dwight Fable, Respiratory Care
Michael Frakes, Emergency Transport Center
Donna Gaber, Food/Nutrition/Patient Tray
Service
Tamara Gilbert, STAR Team
Gwendolyn Goldsnider, Respiratory Care
Jeanell Gonzalez, Donnelly 1N
Jamie Houle, Surgical Service Bliss 9E
Martin Kelly, Department Of Emergency
Medicine
Rebecca Lange, Emergency Transport Center
Elizabeth LaPenta, Surgical Service Bliss 8
Kristen Lukomski, Pharmacy/General
Denese Murray-Clarke, Donnelly 3S
Jennifer Parkington, Medicine Service
North 12
Bryan Proxee, Department Of Emergency
Medicine
Joy Russell, Speech Therapy
Meredith Schwartzman, Child/Adolescent
Day Treatment
David Silverman, Department Of Cardiology/
Administration
Taryn Sokolik, Surgical Service Bliss 9E
Maureen Tombari, ERN - Schools
Precious Weller, GI Endoscopy
Kelly West, Pharmacy/General
Nina Wright, Medicine Service Bliss 11 IC
45 Years of Service
Elizabeth Fishe, Health Science Library/IOL
Alan Hofmann, Information Services
Marilyn Macknight, Special Education/
Hartford
40 Years of Service
Anne Brady, Dialysis Home/Training
Janet Cavanaugh, H I M/Coding
Patricia Montanaro, Information Services
Mary Schwab, GI Endoscopy
Norma Smith, Central Sterile Supply
35 Years of Service
Linda Pianka, WH Surgery Center/Clinical
30 Years of Service
Kathleen Morris, WHS/Urogynecology
Irina Schwarz, WHS North 8
25 Years of Service
Tod Alberghini, Transplant/Immunology Lab
Malvern McDoom, Dialysis Service
Paula Rego, OPD/Psychiatric Clinic
20 Years of Service
Paul Cholewa, ERN - Hartford - OA
Geoffrey Gunn, Security
Karen King-Antoine, Patient Service/SNF
Melissa Tranberg, Fund Development/Major/
Planned Gift
Linda Yoreo, Cardiology/Endovascular
15 Years of Service
Terri Billings, Community Care Center
Antoinette Boland, Surgical Service Bliss 9 ICU
Pauline Clarke, Patient Service/SNF
Theresa Digiulio, Research Labs
Dawn Gormley, Engineering/Administration
Lisa Graziano, NCCCP #14-Survivorship And P
John Greene, Department of Women’s Health
Janet Lowrie, Surgical Service Bliss 8
Jenny Manzi, Food/Nutrition/Main Kitchen
Gregory Marsdale, IS/SAG
David Samuels, Allied Health/Emergency
Medicine Tech
Mera Sinanan, OPD/Dental Clinic
Patricia Sobieski, QM/Performance
Improvement
Jean Stielau, Department of Medicine/
Administration
Flor Velasco, O.R. CORE
10 Years of Service
Lee Albert, PHP/Professional
Teresa Budonaro, Environmental Services/
General
Karyl Burns, Department of Emergency
Medicine
Brian Cawley, ERN - Windham
Stanley Chartoff, Department of Emergency
Medicine
Jyoti Chhabra, Research Design And Support
Natasha Hagan, Radiation Therapy General
Christi Hayes, Human Resources/Operations
Sheila Jones, Social Work
Herbert Kamansky, Medicine Service Bliss 11E
Linda Kingsbury, WHS North 8
Sophia Miller, Surgical Service North 9
Nathan Renouf, Biomedical Engineering
Eunice Rodriguez, PAS ED Registration
Lydia Rodriguez, O.R. Assistive Personnel
Anne Sheffield, Special Education/Hartford
Kalliopi Terzis DiPaola, Stroke Center
Blanca Vega, Environmental Services/General
Shanda Williams, Oncology Service CB2
Mary Willis, O.R. Assistive Personnel
5 Years of Service
Christine Allegrini, Radiology/Special
Procedures
Alexandre Almeida, Cardiac Laboratory/Adult
Anna Andzel, Respiratory Care
Lee Banville, Food/Nutrition/Patient Tray
Service
Lynnet Barreto, WHS North 8
Ronald Batson, MHN DN 1S
Scott Bettinger, Emergency Room/General
Erica Blaschke, Donnelly 1N
Margo Bojko, Psych/Pre-Admissions
Carolyn Bousquet, STAR Team
Lindsey Campbell, Surgical Service Bliss 5
Olive Chisholm, Donnelly 2N
Jennell Coppin, Surgical Service North 9
Marsha Coulbourne, Medicine SVC CB5
William Cruz, Environmental Services/General
Amanda Cullen, Department of Surgery
Jason Dacruz, Department of Orthopedics
Mary Drake, Rehab Hartford - OP
Melissa Flenke, Speech Therapy
Shelly Fowler, Department of Surgery
Theresa Gardener, Donnelly 3N
Knarik Grigorian, Medicine Service CB5
Donna Jordan, Cardiac Laboratory/Adult
Anna Joseph, Total Cancer Care A Partner
Jennifer Lamontagne, PA Government
Follow Up
Ashley Larson, Respiratory Care
Katherine Lombardo, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
Jerome Lyons, Central Sterile Supply
Carolina Malinowski, Respiratory Care
Kim Mercer, HH Eye Surgery Center/Clinic
Anthony Miranda, Emergency Room/General
Alicia Mordenti, Obstetrics/Bliss 6
Cortney Mullins, Surgical Service North 9
Kim Murphy-Borucki, Cardiology Service Bliss
10 ICU
Brenda Murphy, Operating Rooms/
Administration
Deborah Nelson, Radiation Therapy General
Jessica Niemczyk, Orthopedics CB6
Oya Olgac, Medicine Service CB5
Maria Pace, ERN - CT Center Orthopedics
Sports
Brunilda Perez, Cardiac Laboratory/Adult
Antonina Pescatello, Surgical Service North 9
Gloria Pratt, Transplant/Immunology Lab
Melissa Reynolds, Donnelly 2S
Eugene Rojas, IS/Operations
Nancy Rosado, Lactation Center
Monica Rossi, Medical Physics/NRRON
Maria Santos, OPD/Adult Primary Care Team I
Lisa Sattler, Cardiology Service Bliss 10E
Christina Shah, Surgical Service C9I
Brian Simmons, Radiology/Imaging Transport
Cara Statz, Clinical Research Center
Laura Thomasson, Emergency Transport
Center
Issachamil Torres, Laundry/General
Maureen Trant, C A R E S
Booth Wainscoat, Department of Medicine/
Infectious Diseases
Tania Wedderburn, Cardiology Service Bliss
10E
Alexander Wells, Food/Nutrition/Patient Tray
Service
Sasha White, GI Endoscopy
Brushawn Williams, Food/Nutrition/Main
Kitchen
Annette Wright, Pastoral Services
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
12 13

3.
September • 2012
Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
1.
2.
5
5-year award winners (left to right):
Jocelyn Badgley, Jose Corporan,
Amanda Cecala, Michaelia Daubon,
Meredith Schwartzman, Jessica
Estrado-Ramirez, Kristen Lukomski
and Precious Weller.
Left to right: Laura Hobbs, Violetta
Chrostowski, Astrid Calderon, Azem
Muca and Andrea Talbot celebrated
10 years of service.
10
15
15-year award winners (left to
right): Cunegundo Vergara, Jan
Ruderman, Tom Stevens, Alexandra
Roman, William Castellano, Maribel
Rodriguez, Susan Wright and Nestor
Nieto.
Celebrating 20 years of service were
Jonathan Delvalle, Barbara Pezzetti
and Gabriel Rivera.
20 25
President Flaks congratulates the
newest members of the Quarter
Century Club: Ewa Pawlik, Laura
Johnston and Nora Uricchio.
30-year award winners (left to right:)
Debra Plourd, Olga Dutka, Muriel
Bruton, Stephen Donahue
and Maureen Larrabee.
30
Left to right: Sarah DeGiovanni,
Mary Johnson, Susan Malo, Deborah
Murphy, Virginia Smith and Joanne
Smyser celebrated 35 years of service.
35
40
1. Catherine Chance reacts to the
words of Ellen Blair, IOL director of
Nursing, about Catherine’s 40 years
of service.
2. Caleb Cutler talks about his 40
years of service.
3. Janice Giuca recalls moments
from her 40 years of service.
14 15

October • 2012
Staff Members Recognized for Years of Service
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
5
President Jeffrey Flaks congratulates
5-year award winners (left to right):
Scott Bettinger, Brunilda Perez, Erica
Blaschke, Lynnet Barreto, Carolyn
Bousquet, Brian Simmons, Lindsey
Campbell, Knarik Grigorian, Marsha
Coulbourne, Anna Joseph, Oya
Olgac, Gloria Pratt, Lisa Sattler and
Issachamil Torres.
President Flaks congratulates 10
year award winners (left to right):
Sheila Jones, Teresa Budonaro, Christi
Hayes, Linda Kingsbury, Sophia Miller
and Nathan Renouf.
10
15
Receiving 15-year service pins were
(left to right): Dawn Gormley, John
Greene, Mera Sinanan, Patricia
Sobieski and Flor Velasco.
20
Melissa Tranberg (center) is
congratulated on 20 years of service
by President Flaks and Carol Garlick.
25
Tod Alberghini is the newest member
of the Quarter Century Club.
Norma Smith is congratulated for
40 years of service.
40
45
Elizabeth Fishe, fourth from left, is
congratulated for 45 years of service
by Hank Schwartz, Shirley Gronholm,
Peter Fraser, Ellen Blair and President
Flaks.
Marilyn Macknight, center, is honored
for 45 years of service by Hank
Schwartz, Christina Levin-Gerdner,
Ellen Blair and President Flaks.
16 17

Research UpDATE
A Hartford HealthCare Partner
The following physicians have joined
the Hartford Hospital active medical
staff.
Anesthesiology
Dr. Francis L. Aldo
Hartford Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Dr. Evan J. Burke
Hartford Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Dr. Kevin J. Finkel
Hartford Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Dr. Geoffrey L. Hayward
Hartford Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Dr. Nathan D. Mark
Hartford Anesthesiology Associates, Inc.
Hartford Hospital Welcomes New
Physicians To Our Medical Team
Dr. Aldo Dr. Burke Dr. Finkel Dr. Hayward
INTERNAL FUNDING UPDATE
The following investigators were supported
through the generosity of the Hartford
Hospital Medical Staff for on-going projects
and/or protocol development. Analytic work
and/or consultation was provided by senior
scientists David O’Sullivan, Ph.D., and Ilene
Staff, Ph.D.:
Hema Brazell, M.D. (Urogynecology): Does Urinary
Incontinence Have a Greater Impact on the Quality of Life
in Women

RxTra
is published by the Planning & Marketing
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special expanded issue once a month.
Submissions should be sent to announcements@harthosp.org at
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