Kathleen Beney, MS, RT, RRT-NPS & Karen Thrasher, MS, RPA-C receive Gold Standard Award
This award singles out the “unsung heroes” among us. Kathy Beney’s reputation for professionalism, high standards, and collegiality has been built over decades across numerous clinical and teaching positions. In this past year, serving as Interim Chair and Program Director, Kathy has, once again, gone over and above.
After a distance learning agreement had been made with the Rochester General College of Health Careers, it was left to Kathy to provision the site, hire faculty, and smooth out the numerous logistical wrinkles. Meanwhile, when the program’s home in Silverman Hall had to be vacated for renovation, Kathy moved the department to Weiskotten Hall and created a welcoming learning environment in this new location. Furthermore, in the midst of this eventful year, Kathy pushed for the approval of significant curricular changes that re-sequenced and re-named courses to better fit student needs.
Kathy will continue, in a slightly less super-human capacity, as a regular faculty member in our department. Bravo, Kathy!
After a distance learning agreement had been made with the Rochester General College of Health Careers, it was left to Kathy to provision the site, hire faculty, and smooth out the numerous logistical wrinkles. Meanwhile, when the program’s home in Silverman Hall had to be vacated for renovation, Kathy moved the department to Weiskotten Hall and created a welcoming learning environment in this new location. Furthermore, in the midst of this eventful year, Kathy pushed for the approval of significant curricular changes that re-sequenced and re-named courses to better fit student needs.
Kathy will continue, in a slightly less super-human capacity, as a regular faculty member in our department. Bravo, Kathy!
Kathy Beney’s value as a faculty member has been no secret to anyone involved in the Department of Respiratory Care Education. Now the Medical University as a whole has recognized Kathy with the Gold Standard Award.
From Amanda S. Lois's nomination letter:
First, as discussed in multiple categories, Karen Thrasher is the most flexible instructor in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating her overall dedication to her work, the students, our program, and the University as a whole. She has adapted in a variety of ways: instructing different courses, changing platforms for instruction style to benefit the students’ needs, making herself available outside of regular hours to adjust to the students’ schedules, extending the number of labs to safely accommodate students in-person, and still finding time to support her peers in achieving the PA Program’s goals of producing well-educated and empathetic Physician Assistants. Karen’s responsibilities extend across traditional lecture-style as well as hands-on laboratory instruction, and she is seamless in the cohesiveness of content and relating it to real-world concepts. Karen has been instrumental in the Interviewing and Documentation course to embrace inclusivity in our line of questioning with patients to ensure our students are ready to carry forth Upstate’s beacon of embracing diversity. Students readily report to me their appreciation of her enthusiasm and energy for our profession, the straightforward presentation of difficult content in her pharmacology course, and her overall relatability.
First, as discussed in multiple categories, Karen Thrasher is the most flexible instructor in the program during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating her overall dedication to her work, the students, our program, and the University as a whole. She has adapted in a variety of ways: instructing different courses, changing platforms for instruction style to benefit the students’ needs, making herself available outside of regular hours to adjust to the students’ schedules, extending the number of labs to safely accommodate students in-person, and still finding time to support her peers in achieving the PA Program’s goals of producing well-educated and empathetic Physician Assistants. Karen’s responsibilities extend across traditional lecture-style as well as hands-on laboratory instruction, and she is seamless in the cohesiveness of content and relating it to real-world concepts. Karen has been instrumental in the Interviewing and Documentation course to embrace inclusivity in our line of questioning with patients to ensure our students are ready to carry forth Upstate’s beacon of embracing diversity. Students readily report to me their appreciation of her enthusiasm and energy for our profession, the straightforward presentation of difficult content in her pharmacology course, and her overall relatability.
Second, in my brief time on faculty, Karen has been instrumental to my success in leading one course per semester while she simultaneously takes on lead instructor roles for two to three courses each semester, demonstrating her service-before-self and personal integrity. While this might not sound like it fully fits the description for the intent of the “passion for their teaching work” related to the students, without the support from Karen, the students might not have attained academic excellence in my course had Karen not aided me in the intricacies of didactic instruction and helped me to fine-tune digital content on multiple occasions.
Third, Karen has been instrumental in reshaping how we assess students during objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Especially during our uncertain fluctuations between in-person and remote learning, Karen took a pivotal step toward embracing positive change in difficult times. She established new grading rubrics, coordinated among many individuals and evidence-based teaching methods to formulate a multi-station style method of assessment which allowed maximum student participation and faculty-wide involvement. When new plans are implemented, it is easy to look back to how things were done in the past, but Karen’s method excited me for the future and decidedly few items need adjustment for future sessions. Her ability to innovate and problem-solve, thus avoiding complacency when something already works well, is what keeps our program on top of other area programs.
Finally, while I am not privy to the outcomes of student evaluations for her courses, based on my interaction with each cohort of students, I believe she makes a meaningful impact on all whom she teaches. She regularly engages in follow-up with matriculated students, assists current didactic students in identifying ways to connect to our local community in service, and cultivates leaders within the program. Students are proud to report back to Karen about their accomplishments and triumphs, and many are willing to return for Karen’s courses to assist should she require. I could easily continue to outline all of the outstanding qualities displayed by Karen Thrasher, PA-C. As the newest faculty member in the Program, I hope to one day achieve the abilities I’ve described above and to inspire the future generation of Physician Assistants just like Karen does every day. I hope I’ve summarized how incredibly fortunate we are to have Karen as a senior faculty member in our Program and how well-deserving she is for this award.
Sincerely,
Amanda S. Lois, MSPAS, PA-C
Third, Karen has been instrumental in reshaping how we assess students during objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Especially during our uncertain fluctuations between in-person and remote learning, Karen took a pivotal step toward embracing positive change in difficult times. She established new grading rubrics, coordinated among many individuals and evidence-based teaching methods to formulate a multi-station style method of assessment which allowed maximum student participation and faculty-wide involvement. When new plans are implemented, it is easy to look back to how things were done in the past, but Karen’s method excited me for the future and decidedly few items need adjustment for future sessions. Her ability to innovate and problem-solve, thus avoiding complacency when something already works well, is what keeps our program on top of other area programs.
Finally, while I am not privy to the outcomes of student evaluations for her courses, based on my interaction with each cohort of students, I believe she makes a meaningful impact on all whom she teaches. She regularly engages in follow-up with matriculated students, assists current didactic students in identifying ways to connect to our local community in service, and cultivates leaders within the program. Students are proud to report back to Karen about their accomplishments and triumphs, and many are willing to return for Karen’s courses to assist should she require. I could easily continue to outline all of the outstanding qualities displayed by Karen Thrasher, PA-C. As the newest faculty member in the Program, I hope to one day achieve the abilities I’ve described above and to inspire the future generation of Physician Assistants just like Karen does every day. I hope I’ve summarized how incredibly fortunate we are to have Karen as a senior faculty member in our Program and how well-deserving she is for this award.
Sincerely,
Amanda S. Lois, MSPAS, PA-C
30 years:
Bruce Searles, MS, CCP
24 years:
Kathy Beney, MS, RT, RRT, RRT-NPS
20 years:
Kerry Greene-Donnelly,
MBA, RT (R) (M) (CT) (QM)
Judy Ziobrowski
10 years:
Sheila Singleton-Best, PA-C, MPH
Adam Rufa, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS
5 years:
Hani Aiash, MD/PhD
Erin Wentz, PT, PhD, PCS
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Thank you!
#employeerecognition
Stephen Feikes, MA, RRT
In January, the Department of Respiratory Therapy Education welcomed Stephen Feikes as the new Chair and Program Director. Steve has embraced all that Upstate has to offer. He graduated as a student of the program in 2009 and has worked since then as Registered Respiratory Therapist at Upstate University Hospital. At the hospital he frequently worked with students and at times helped with teaching in the department. Having 20 years of teaching experience behind him at Syracuse University—where, improbably, he taught writing and composition—he joined the faculty at Upstate in January in a leadership role. Steve is interested in taking advantage of the Hospital-University connection and using the new capacities in the renovated Silverman Hall to enhance student learning with clinical simulation.
Dr. Michelle Dolphin, DPT, MS, OCS
Dr. Michelle Dolphin, DPT, MS, OCS is an Associate Professor in the DPT Program at SUNY Upstate Medical. She is the Associate DPT Program Director and a College of Health Professions (CHP) Assistant Dean.
Dr. Dolphin recently recertified as an Orthopaedic Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists. In addition, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship program at Regis University and passed her qualification exams. Dr. Dolphin is now a credentialed Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists. Congratulations Dr. Dolphin!
Katherine Beissner, DPT, PhD, Dean of the College of Health Professions
On April 20, 2022, fifteen members of the Upstate Medical University community were honored with the inaugural
Award for Exemplary Service presented by the Upstate Medical University Council.
Katherine Beissner, DPT, PhD, Dean of the College of Health Professions was among the honorees!
For service beyond the usual boundaries of excellence, in support of the Upstate mission to improve health within the region it serves and beyond, through education, patient care and biomedical research.
Source: https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2022/2022-04-21-councilawards.php
Award for Exemplary Service presented by the Upstate Medical University Council.
Katherine Beissner, DPT, PhD, Dean of the College of Health Professions was among the honorees!
For service beyond the usual boundaries of excellence, in support of the Upstate mission to improve health within the region it serves and beyond, through education, patient care and biomedical research.
Source: https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2022/2022-04-21-councilawards.php
This year, we have three retiring faculty members: Joan O'Brien, MSEd, RT(T) from Radiation Therapy; Susan Graham, MS, MT(ASCP) SH from Clinical Laboratory Science; and from the Physical Therapy, and Linda Miller, PhD, I, MBCM(ASCP)SI, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science. We've shared some individual highlights below.
Upstate College of Health Professions Retirement Faculty Party 2022
Susan Graham, MS, MT(ASCP), SH
Sue Graham (34 years) Associate Dean and Associate Professor earned her professional credentials at Rochester Institute of Technology and her MS from SUNY Buffalo. She joined Upstate on the clinical side in the department of Pathology where she specialized in hematology. She began teaching for CHP with guest lectures and as a clinical instructor, and came to the College full time in 1998. She became program director and department chair in 2002, Assistant Dean (with a focus in on-line education and distance learning) and Associate Dean in 2011. Sue Graham has received multiple awards over the course of her career, including the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the ASCP Board of Certification Distinguished Service Award, the BOC Distinguished Service Award in 2014, and
the ASCP Excellence in Education Award in 2017.
She is the Chair of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Board of Governors and has been active in this and other professional organizations for the past 3 decades. She really likes assessment, and has been a tremendous institutional resource in these areas.
the ASCP Excellence in Education Award in 2017.
She is the Chair of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Board of Governors and has been active in this and other professional organizations for the past 3 decades. She really likes assessment, and has been a tremendous institutional resource in these areas.
Linda Miller, PhD, I, MBCM(ASCP)SI
Linda Miller (40 years of service) earned her BS in Biology from SU, and her PhD in Immunology from Upstate (1983). She has been on the faculty in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science since 1982, moving up the ranks to be promoted to Professor in 2002. Dr. Miller is the Program Director for the Medical Biotechnology program, and in this capacity works with faculty in the COM /CGS to place students on internships in laboratories across the campus. She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, and Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists.
Dr. Miller writes books and many chapters in well-regarded texts, and has been a peer reviewer for accreditating organizations. She received multiple teaching awards, including the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and a Manuscript of the Year Award from a professional organization.
Dr. Miller writes books and many chapters in well-regarded texts, and has been a peer reviewer for accreditating organizations. She received multiple teaching awards, including the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and a Manuscript of the Year Award from a professional organization.
Joan O'Brien, MSEd, RT(T)
Joan O’Brien (46 years), Associate Professor Emeritus, earned her professional credentials in Zimbabwe, completed qualifying exams by the British College of Radiographers, and earned her BS at SUNY Empire State and her MS at SUNY Oswego. She joined Upstat in 1980 and participated in virtually every committee on campus over the course of her career, as well as being Senior Associate Dean for CHP. She received the Office of Student Admissions Golden Apple Recruiting Award in 1987, a SUNY Joint Labor Management Exellence award in 1991, The Presidents Excellence in Teaching Award, and the 2005-2006 Harold Silverman Distinguished Author Award from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists in 2007. Joan O’Brien has been a site visitor for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and continues this work in her retirement, which was effective 12/31/2021.
UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS (CHP)
Preparing and educating highly skilled health professionals
to serve the future needs of our society.
Preparing and educating highly skilled health professionals
to serve the future needs of our society.
