Breast center receives NAPBC accreditation
Hudson Valley Hospital Center Ashikari Breast Center in Cortlandt Manor has received a three-year full accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.
Only those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance receive accreditation by the NAPBC.
“It takes a certain level of physician and administrative leadership to achieve this national benchmark,”™”™ said Dr. Pond Kelemen, of the Ashikari Breast Center who led the accreditation efforts. “Given the ground-breaking reputation of the Ashikari Breast Center and the multidisciplinary team of physicians, nursing staff and support services offered at the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Cancer Center, this accreditation was a natural conclusion.”
“This NAPBC accreditation speaks volumes about the quality of cancer services we offer,”™”™ hospital President John C. Federspiel said. “When we opened the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Cancer Center three years ago, we envisioned a place where patients could get quality care and support services in one location, close to home. We have achieved this and so much more.”™”™
CNR professor receives teaching award
Dennis R. Ryan, professor of religious studies and philosophy at The College of New Rochelle, has received the 2015 Distinguished Teaching Award from the American Catholic Historical Association (ACHA) for his dedication and commitment over the past 45 years to the teaching profession. The award was presented during the association”™s annual Presidential Luncheon, held in the Social Hall at St. Paul the Apostle Church in midtown Manhattan.
“Ryan challenges, enlightens and delights his students with his teaching style as well as his knowledge. He is a teacher”™s teacher, prepared, dedicated and engaging. His students admire and, yes, love him,” said Richard Thompson, dean of the school of arts and sciences.
Since 2011, the ACHA has given three distinguished service awards annually for teaching, scholarship and contribution to Catholic studies. The Distinguished Teaching Award is presented by the ACHA to a college or university professor who has demonstrated a high commitment to teaching beyond the expected requirements of his or her position.
Ryan has taught at the college for almost 45 years, beginning as an assistant professor of religious studies in 1971.
Harney & Sons gives $50,000 to Scenic Hudson
Harney & Sons Fine Teas has committed to continuing its generous financial support of Scenic Hudson through the Harney & Sons Tea 1 Percent for the Planet program. The company has supported Scenic Hudson”™s work since 2002. Its latest contribution is $50,000.
The company launched its 1Percent for the Planet program nearly a decade ago, seeing it as an opportunity to create positive environmental change in the places where Harney & Sons operates ”” between the Hudson and Housatonic rivers ”” and across the world. As a part of the program, the company donates 1 percent of total sales to environmental organizations of its choosing. To date, Harney & Sons has donated more than $1.5 million to environmental groups, including Scenic Hudson. Other organizations supported in this way by the company include the Housatonic Valley Association, Central Park Conservancy, Clean Air-Cool Planet and Conservation International-China.
The donation to Scenic Hudson helps the organization provide a network of free public parks throughout the Hudson Valley, preserve and enhance family farms, shape environmentally and economically vibrant waterfronts and combat threats to the region”™s scenic beauty, water and air.
“Harney & Sons Fine Teas is an important Hudson Valley business and world-class leader in providing fine tea products. Beyond that, the family is dedicated to helping bring our communities health and prosperity and fostering opportunities for people to enjoy the natural treasures and outdoor experiences our area offers. We are grateful for their vision, generosity and friendship,” Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan said.
Community Foundations offers $46,000 to enhance learning in schools
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is offering $46,000 in grants to teachers in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties for classroom equipment, classroom projects and professional development. Applications from public and parochial school teachers are due by March 1.
Over the past 30 years, Community Foundations has awarded more than $1 million to local teachers. Funds channeled through the Taconic IPA Education Grants are used to purchase classroom and science laboratory equipment in schools in the three counties.
Information on how to apply for the grants is available on the Community Foundations website cfhvny.org. Grants will be awarded at the 30th annual Partnership in Education reception May 27 at Locust Grove in the town of Poughkeepsie.
Schwartz presented with excellence award
Kenneth Schwartz of Scarsdale, a board-certified vascular surgeon with Purchase-based Westmed Medical Group, has received the Dr. Leonard Finkelstein Excellence Award for 2014. Finkelstein was a founding member of The Westchester Medical Group, now Westmed.
Schwartz is also Westmed”™s associate medical director for surgical specialties. In practice since 1982, Schwartz joined WESTMED Medical Group November 2007.
HVEDC gives 3-D printers to two high schools
Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. in New Windsor has invested in two high schools with funds from New York State Electric and Gas Corp. (NYSEG) for an expansion of HVEDC”™s Hudson Valley 3D Printing cluster development initiative. HVEDC”™s $8,000 investment is in the form of a MakerBot 3-D printer for both Kingston High School and San Miguel Academy of Newburgh.
The selected schools have been closely working with SUNY New Paltz”™s Hudson Valley Advanced Manufacturing to incorporate 3-D printing into their curriculums. Through this program, HVEDC introduces 3-D printing technology to the region and seeds interest in the technology from the ground up in the region.
“A big part of this educational process remains exposing secondary schools to this new technology by embedding 3D printers on campuses that we know will accelerate the adoption of the technology among their students,” Laurence P. Gottlieb, HVEDC president and CEO, said. “The use of 3-D technology depends greatly on education ”” specifically STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) ”” so our hope is to enhance these areas of education in order to foster interest later on.”
New dean of students at CNR
Tiffani Blake has been appointed dean of students at The College of New Rochelle.
“Tiffani Blake is uniquely qualified for this position. An alumna of CNR, she is deeply committed to the college”™s mission and brings a wealth of student-development knowledge and experience to her new role,” college President Judith Huntington said.
Most recently, Blake served as the special assistant to the president for mission and board relations. Previously, she held continuously progressive positions of responsibility in student life at CNR, including associate director of student development and director of student development.
Blake earned her bachelor”™s degree in psychology from The College of New Rochelle and two subsequent master”™s degrees ”” the first in psychology from Baruch College and the second in higher and post-secondary education from Teacher”™s College of Columbia University.
Promotions at Ridgewood Savings Bank
Peter M. Boger, chairman, president and CEO of Ridgewood Savings Bank, announced the promotion of Leonard Stekol to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Stekol joined Ridgewood in 1993 and previously served as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
The bank”™s board of trustees also approved the following senior officer promotions and title changes: Laura Peters, senior vice president; Geraldine Brennan, senior vice president and chief risk officer; Coretta Johnson, vice president and comptroller; Annette Welsh, vice president and auditor; Ann Freese, vice president, information technology; Vito DiBona, vice president and senior real estate portfolio manager; Chiara Berthel, vice president; John Blake, vice president, banking administration; Laura Camelo, vice president and corporate secretary; and James Jewett, vice president and chief investment officer.
Ridgewood”™s board also approved the following junior officer promotions: Lucy Mangru, assistant vice president and treasurer; Matthew Schettino, assistant vice president and marketing director; Kimberly Reese, assistant vice president and assistant marketing director; Pembe Sefket, assistant vice president and deputy auditor; and Nancy Adzemovic, assistant vice president.
New officer promotions include Kenneth Beeman, Brian Bernstein, Mary Forde, Amral Khan and Jasmina Kilom to branch banking officers; and Viviana Picinic and Marie-Yves Rodnez to compliance auditors.
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