Durhamville resident among graduates
Pictured left to right front row are Elizabeth Buerkle, Christopher Grosso, John Czebieniak II, Jeremy Raciti and Jennifer Polce. Back row: Tayla Giacovelli, Heather Wratten, Samantha Guske, Marie Campese, Kelsey Cacciatori, Carrie Lohr, Jillian Jones and Kaitlyn Davidson.
(Utica, NY – July 1, 2014) Thirteen new Radiologic Technologists received diplomas on Friday, June 20 at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center School of Radiography’s 50th annual commencement exercises. In addition, two of the graduates received Associate Degrees in Radiologic Technology from Herkimer County Community College and five other graduates received similar degrees from Mohawk Valley Community College.
The ceremonies began at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Elizabeth College of Nursing building. Commencement speaker was Theresa Brindisi, R.T. (R) (M), Academic and Clinical Instructor. The graduate address was presented by Kaitlyn Davidson, Valedictorian.
Graduates are: Elizabeth Buerkle of Syracuse
Kelsey Cacciatori of Rome
Marie Campese of Clinton
John Czebieniak II of Utica
Kaitlyn Davidson of Rome
Tayla Giacovelli of Frankfort
Christopher Grosso of Syracuse
Samantha Guske of West Winfield
Jillian Jones of Deerfield
Carrie Lohr of Durhamville
Jennifer Polce of Schuyler
Jeremy Raciti of Frankfort
Heather Wratten of Richfield Springs
Scholastic Achievement Awards were presented by Raphael J. Alcuri, M.D., School Medical Director and Chief Radiologist/Imaging Department, for Highest Scholastic Achievement to Kaitlyn Davidson and for Second-Highest Scholastic Achievement to Jillian Jones.
Jillian Jones received the JRCERT Certificate of Excellence and Outstanding Graduating Radiographer Award for outstanding student performance in Radiological Sciences, presented by Robert Tan, R.T. (R), Department Director. Samantha Guski received the Gerald Segal, M.D. Graduate Award from Mohawk Valley Imaging, PC. The Agnes G. Walsh Award was presented to John Czebieniak and Heather Wratten received the Mary Louise Ecret Memorial Award.
School Educational Director Brian Fortuna, M.S., R.T. (R) presided over the program and Robert Scholefield, Mohawk Valley Health System Senior Vice President of Operations, conferred the diplomas. Class pins were awarded to the graduates by Matthew King and Theresa Brindisi, Didactic and Clinical Instructors.
Historical background:
In 1945, Agnes Walsh was the first radiologic technologist to train on the job at St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Ms. Walsh went on to train additional radiologic technologists with the assistance of Dr. Gerald Segal and Nancy Mitchell. The late Sister Rose Vincent Gleason, past president/CEO of St. Elizabeth Medical Center, graduated from the School of Radiography in 1951 and went on to teach anatomy and physiology to the radiography students.
In 1954, Dr. Segal became the chief radiologist and in 1964 he and Ms. Walsh began the first formal School of Radiography. It was through Dr. Segal’s vision and desire for perfection that an educational program was established.
In 1970, Mary Louise Ecret was appointed director of the school. At that time, Judith Foster assisted Ms. Ecret instructing the students. Ms. Ecret continued as director until her retirement in 2002, at which time Janice Lutz became the program director. (The director position was then held by Dr. Douglas Gleasman and lastly by present director, Brian Fortuna.) Dr. Raphael Alcuri, Radiology Department chairman, is the medical director of the School of Radiography.
For many years, Roberta Brockway was the program’s clinical coordinator, along with Kathleen Jones, who was a clinical instructor. The legacy of the school will be the high standards the students are required to meet. A grade of 85 percent is required for each course throughout the two-year program, as well as in students’ clinical performance.