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Who We Are

Thomas A. Bonfiglio, M.D., Consortium Director, Strong Memorial Hospital

School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Residency: University Hospitals of Cleveland; Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology and cytopathology
Special Interests: Gynecologic and pulmonary cytopathology; fine needle aspiration cytology

Dr. Bonfiglio has been a faculty member at the University of Rochester Medical Center since 1972, serving in the past as Director of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology and as Chair of the Department from 1989 until 1997. He joined ViaHealth in 1997 and was Head of the Pathology Division there until his return to the University of Rochester Medical Center in 2003 where he is currently Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory. Dr. Bonfiglio is a Past President of the American Society of Cytopathology and The American Society for Clinical Pathology.

E-mail : Tom_Bonfiglio@urmc.rochester.edu


Dawn K. Riedy, M.D., Consortium Co-Director, Rochester General Hospital

School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital
Fellowship: Surgical pathology and cytopathology, University of Virginia
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology and cytopathology
Special Interests: Breast and gynecologic cytopathology

Following completion of her fellowship training, Dr. Riedy became a member of the faculty at Penn State University M.S. Hershey Medical Center and served as Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory. In 1991 she joined the Pathology Department at ViaHealth where she is now Director of the Cytopathology Laboratory. She serves on the ASCP STAR GYN Committee.

E-mail : Dawn.Riedy@viahealth.org


Eduardo Avila, M.D., Rochester General Hospital

School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and cytopathology
Special Interests: Gynecologic, breast, thyroid, and genitourinary cytopathology and pathology

Dr. Avila is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester. Prior to joining the staff at the Genesee Hospital in 1982, Dr. Avila served as Chief of the Department of Pathology and Labs at St. Jerome Hospital in Batavia, New York.

E-mail : Eduardo.Avila@viahealth.org


Karen Clary, M.D., Physician Coordinator for On-Site Learning at Rochester General Hospital

School: SUNY Health Sciences Center, Syracuse, NY
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital
Fellowship: Cytopathology, Allegheny General Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology and cytopathology
Special Interests: Cytopathology and pulmonary pathology

After completion of her fellowship in 2001, Dr. Clary stayed on as a faculty member for two years at Allegheny General Hospital. She joined the staff of Rochester General Hospital in 2003.

E-mail : Karen.Clary@viahealth.org


Stuart Cramer, M.D., Rochester General Hospital

School: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis
Residency: Barnes Hospital, St. Louis
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, cytopathology, and pediatric pathology
Special Interests: Perinatal and placental pathology, breast pathology, orthopaedic pathology, gynecologic pathology, cardiovascular pathology and interobserver variability.

Dr. Cramer was elected to membership in the Arthur Purdy Stout Society of Surgical Pathologists in 1987, and has published on a variety of subjects. He joined the staff of Rochester General Hospital in 1980.

E-mail : Stuart.Cramer@viahealth.org


Julietta Fiscella, M.D., Strong Memorial Hospital

School: SUNY School of Medicine at Buffalo
Residency: Buffalo General Hospital; Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and cytopathology
Special Interests: Lung pathology (particularly non-neoplastic lung); lab administration

Dr. Fiscella is the Laboratory Director at Highland Hospital, a division of the Strong Health network. She signs out cytology cases at SMH.

E-mail : Julietta_Fiscella@urmc.rochester.edu


Ellen Giampoli, M.D., Physician Coordinator for On-Site Learning at Strong Memorial Hospital

School: SUNY School of Medicine at Buffalo
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Strong Memorial Hospital
Fellowship: Surgical pathology and cytopathology, Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and cytopathology
Special Interests: Head and neck pathology; fine needle aspiration cytology

Prior to joining the University of Rochester faculty in 2001, Dr. Giampoli was a staff pathologist at St. Joseph Hospital and Assistant Medical Director of S.E.D. Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She is involved in monthly Thyroid Conferences and biweekly ENT Conferences at SMH. She is a member of the ASCP STAR program committee.

E-mail : Ellen_Giampoli@urmc.rochester.edu


Fadi Hatem, M.D., Rochester General Hospital

School: St. Joseph University School of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and cytopathology
Special Interests: Gynecologic, pulmonary, and breast pathology

Dr. Hatem is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Following his residency, Dr. Hatem served as an Attending Surgical Pathologist and Cytopathologist at Strong Memorial Hospital. He joined the staff of ViaHealth in 2002.

E-mail : Fadi.Hatem@viahealth.org


Marilyn Menegus, Ph.D., Strong Memorial Hospital

School: Cornell University
Board Certification: American Board of Medical Microbiology in Public Health and Medical Virology
Special Interests: Molecular diagnostics of viral infections

Dr. Menegus is Professior of Microbiology and Immunology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Associate Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories at Strong Memorial Hospital.

E-mail : Marilyn_Menegus@urmc.rochester.edu


Paul Rothberg, Ph.D., Strong Memorial Hospital

School: SUNY Stony Brook
Board Certification: American Board of Medical Genetics, Clinical Molecular Genetics
Special Interests: Testing strategies for the measurement of minimal residual disease in cancer patients; diagnostic methods to predict response to therapy

Dr. Rothberg is Director of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory of the Strong Health Clinical Laboratories. He is responsible for the planning and development of clinical tests that support the care of patients with inherited disease, cancer, and infectious diseases.

E-mail : Paul_Rothberg@urmc.rochester.edu


Lucy Sheils, M.D., Rochester General Hospital

School: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Residency: Strong Memorial Hospital
Fellowship: Cytopathology, Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic and clinical pathology
Special Interests: Breast and gynecologic cytopathology and surgical pathology.

Prior to taking her position at ViaHealth in 1998, Dr. Sheils was the Medical Director of ACM Laboratory at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

E-mail : Lucy.Sheils@viahealth.org


Sarah Singal, M.D., Rochester General Hospital

School: Duke University School of Medicine
Residency: Internal medicine, George Washington University; Pathology, Strong Memorial Hospital
Board Certification: Anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, cytopathology, and internal medicine
Special Interests: Cytopathology and neuropathology

Prior to joining the staff of ViaHealth in 1994, Dr. Singal was Assistant Director of Pathology at Parkridge Hospital.

E-mail : Sarah.Singal@viahealth.org


Jorge Yao, M.D., Strong Memorial Hospital

School: University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center
Residency: The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Fellowship: Surgical pathology and cytopathology, New York University Medical Center; Genitourinary pathology, Strong Memorial Hospital
Special Interests: Cytopathology (EUS-FNA and Urine Cytology), Genitourinary cytopathology

Dr. Yao stayed on at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry after his genitourinary pathology fellowship, where he is currently an assistant professor. He is involved in translational research and use of novel antibodies for diagnostic purposes.

E-mail : Jorge_Yao@urmc.rochester.edu


Patricia Bourne, A.A.S., MLT, Strong Memorial Hospital

Education: Quincy College, Quincy, MA; Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY (A.A.S.); Rochester Institute of Technology

Special Interests: Cancer research

Ms. Bourne is Supervisor of the Immunocytochemistry Laboratory at Strong Memorial Hospital. She has been involved in resident and technologist teaching and test development in immunohistochemistry since her arrival at the University of Rochester in 1998. An active participant in many research projects, she is coauthor on numerous scientific papers and abstracts.

E-mail : Patricia_Bourne@urmc.rochester.edu


Charles Churukian, B.A., HTL (ASCP), Strong Memorial Hospital

Education: Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Special Interests: Special stains; microwave and other new technologies for special stains

Mr. Churukian is the officially retired but still contributing supervisor of the SMH Special Stains Laboratory. He was on the Founding Board of Directors of the National Society for Histotechnology and the New York State Histotechnological Society. He was a member of the HT Review Committee of the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Labortory Sciences from 1977-1982 and has been on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Histotechnology since 1977. He is the author or co-author of more than 50 scientific papers and publicaions, 3 review books, and editor of the Manual for the Special Stains Laboratory of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, a widely-used reference that is now in its tenth edition.

E-mail:


Michael Facik, M.P.A., CT (ASCP), Strong Memorial Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY; M.P.A. in Health Care Management, SUNY Brockport

Special Interests: Cytology of serous cavities and gynecologic cytology

Mr. Facik is Chief Supervisor of the SMH Cytopathology Laboratory. He has been an active member of the American Society of Cytopathology since 1978. He is currently an Executive Board member of the ASC. He has served as Chairman of the Cytotechnology Advisory Committee, as a member of the ASC Budget and Finance Committee, and the Committee to follow Legislative and Regulatory Affairs. His activities in other professional societies include: Past treasurer for the American Society for Cytotechnology; and Cytotechnologist Fellow and member of the Registry and Certification Committee, International Academy of Cytology. He also serves on the ASCPStar Non-Gyn Cytopathology and the Quality Management Committees of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

E-mail: Michael_Facik@urmc.rochester.edu


Joseph Foti, B.S., SCT (ASCP), Technologist Coordinator for On-Site Learning at Rochester General Hospital

Education: B.S. in Biology, Lemoyne College; B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

Special Interests: Cytopathology information systems and technological innovation

Mr. Foti is Supervisor of the RGH Cytopathology Laboratory where he oversees a staff of fifteen cytotechnologists and a workload of 117,000 specimens. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Pathologists, American Society of Cytopathology, American Society of Cytotechnology, and the Upper New York State Society of Cytology. He has held a variety of offices in the UNYSSC including Vice President (1988-90) and President (1990-94). He has been a CAP inspector since 1994. He has SurePath™ certification and has worked on various clinical trials for SurePath™ (formerly Autocyte™) and FocalPoint™ (formerly Autopap™) automated systems.

E-mail: Joe.Foti@viahealth.org


Donna Russell, M.S., CT (ASCP), Strong Memorial Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY; M.S. in Education, University of Rochester Graduate School of Education, Rochester, NY

Special Interests: Gynecologic and breast cytopathology

Ms. Russell is currently a senior cytotechnologist and supervisor of the cytopathology resident training program at SMH. She is currently editor of the ASC Bulletin and is finishing her second term as editor-in-chief for the ASCP Tech Sample Cytotechnology series. She also serves on the CytoSTAR Program for the ASCP. She assists several workshops sponsored by the ASC and the ASCP.

E-mail: Donna_Russell@urmc.rochester.edu


Melissa Nelson, B.S., CT (ASCP), Rochester General Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

Special Interests: Cytotechnology and general science education

Ms. Nelson was a Biology major at SUNY Oswego before transferring to the cytotechnology program in Syracuse. She is currently enrolled in a teacher certification program at SUNY Brockport where she is working towards a Master's Degree in Secondary Education for Biology and General Science.

E-mail: Melissa.Nelson@viahealth.org


Elizabeth Parker, B.S., CT (ASCP), Rochester General Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

Special Interests: Gynecologic cytology and HPV testing

Ms. Parker is Assistant Supervisor of the RGH Cytopathology Laboratory, where she has taken on a lead role in quality assurance and quality control. She is actively involved in the Upper New York State Society of Cytology, where she has served as Treasurer (2000-present), Secretary (1994-2000) and on the Executive Committee (1992-94). She has extensive experience with SurePath™ and FocalPoint™ technologies and has co-authored several papers on these subjects. She has taken major responsibility for conversion of a large client base from conventional to liquid based cervial cytology and plays a significant role in provider education and HPV testing issues.

E-mail: Elizabeth.Parker@viahealth.org


Sharyn Rezsnyak, B.S., CT (ASCP), CT (IAC), Rochester General Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical Unviersity, Syracuse, NY

Special Interests: Cytotechnology education

Ms. Rezsnyak has 36 years experience in the field of cytology, largely in Syracuse, briefly at Oswego Hospital, and at RGH since 1990. She has remained active as a clinical instructor in cytotechnology at the SUNY Upstate School of Cytotechnology. She was a founding member of the Upper New York State Society of Cytology in 1968 and served as President from 1984-86. She helped create the Society's two-day workshop format and has also assisted in many other regional and national workshops.

E-mail: Sharyn.Rezsnyak@viahealth.org


Mary Ann Rutkowski, B.S., CT (ASCP), Technologist Coordinator for On-Site Learning at Strong Memorial Hospital

Education: B.S. in Cytotechnology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY

Special Interests: Gynecologic, gastric, and aspiration cytology

Ms. Rutkowski is a senior cytotechnologist and Assistant Supervisor of the Cytopathology Laboratory at SMH. Her professional memberships include the American Society of Cytopathology, the International Academy of Cytology, the American Society for Cytotechnology, and the American Society of Clinical Pathology. She has assisted in several workshops sponsored by the ASC and ASCP. She co-directed, with Michael Facik, the first cytotechnologist-led workshop at the ASC annual meeting in 2001.

E-mail: MaryAnn_Rutkowski@urmc.rochester.edu