Watertown, New York — Samaritan Medical Center Foundation of Northern New York is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Susan Peters Scholarship: Olivia Marra and Courtney Sartwell.
Olivia Marra, a Registered Nurse in Samaritan’s Interventional Radiology, Progressive Care Unit (PCU), and Infusion Departments, is pursuing her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree. Courtney Sartwell, also a Registered Nurse at Samaritan in the PCU, is continuing her education to become a Nurse Practitioner.
The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the education costs for Registered Nurses who are continuing their education, specifically to pursue Nurse Practitioner degrees. Two scholarships of $2,000 are awarded each year.
Mrs. Peters graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and retired from Samaritan Medical Center as a Certified Oncology Nurse; prior to that, she had served as a staff RN and for more than 20 years as a Nurse Manager of Medical/Surgical, Orthopedic and Alternate Level of Care Units. Susan Passed away in 2020.
Nurse Practitioners are able to provide many of the same services as physicians, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures, and prescribing medication.
The American Heart Association presents Get With The Guidelines® – Gold Plus award for proven dedication to ensuring all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care
WATERTOWN, NY – Samaritan Medical Center has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plusquality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.
Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“Samaritan is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Dr. Mario Victoria, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at Samaritan Medical Center. “Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. The end goal is to ensure more people in the North Country can experience longer, healthier lives.”
Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.
“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Samaritan Medical Center for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates — a win for health care systems, families and communities.”
WATERTOWN, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is proud to welcome Dr. Peyser, a breast surgical oncologist, to the team at Samaritan’s Women’s Wellness and Breast Care (WWBC), located at 1575 Washington Street in Watertown.
WWBC offers comprehensive breast care through a collaborative team approach that includes breast surgery and genetics, radiology, medical and radiation oncology, and plastic surgery—ensuring patients receive seamless, compassionate, and state-of-the-art care.
Dr. Peyser brings advanced training and experience to the team. He received his medical degree and completed his surgical residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School, followed by a Fellowship in Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Peyser is committed to delivering the most progressive breast cancer treatment using the latest surgical innovations and a multi-modality approach to care. He specializes in:
Hidden scar lumpectomies and mastectomies
Nipple-sparing mastectomies
Nerve reinnervation for improved nipple sensation
Other advanced techniques in breast surgery
“I am honored to be part of a program that takes such a comprehensive and patient-focused approach to breast care,” said Dr. Peyser. “My priority is to offer leading-edge surgical treatment while fostering a compassionate environment where patients feel informed, supported, and confident in their care.”
He also holds a Certificate of Performance in Oncoplastic Surgery from the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), awarded in 2024. His oncoplastic techniques focus on both effective cancer treatment and preserving the natural appearance of the breast.
“We are proud to welcome Dr. Peyser to our Women’s Wellness and Breast Care team,” said Dr. Mario Victoria, Vice President for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at Samaritan Medical Center. “His advanced training in surgical oncology and commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care will further strengthen our ability to provide high-quality breast care within the North Country community.”
Dr. Peyser is now accepting referrals. To refer a patient or schedule an appointment, please contact Samaritan’s Women’s Wellness and Breast Care at 315-785-4155.
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for May 2025. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who are excellent every day, both at the hospital and outpatient clinics.
Nigel Mascoll and Joseph Roche, Registered Nurses (RN) at Samaritan Medical Center, received the DAISY Award for May. Crystal Sutton, a Home Health Aide with Samaritan Home Health, received the BEE Award for May.
The DAISY nomination was provided by the family of a patient who highlighted the compassionate care, patience, and calming approach these nurses took while caring for their loved one.
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Mascoll and Roche were presented with certificates commending them as extraordinary nurses. They each received a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture has also been installed in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan Medical Center in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Latara Antwine, a Clinical Liaison with Samaritan Home Health, nominated Sutton saying:
“Crystal cares for patients and uplifts her team and strengthens our agency’s mission. She works collaboratively with both nursing and administrative staff to maintain compliance and quality, never hesitating to take on additional work if it means helping the team succeed.”
Sutton was presented with a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.
These awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and patients, families, or colleagues can submit nominations at any time. To make a nomination or to learn more about the Samaritan DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
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Samaritan’s BEE winner for May 2025, pictured on the left, is Home Health Aide Crystal Sutton. Samaritan’s DAISY Winners for May 2025 are Registered Nurses Joseph Roche and Nigel Mascoll, pictured left to right.
About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.
About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and for nurses participating in medical missions. More information is available at http://www.DAISYfoundation.org.
Watertown, NY –Samaritan Graduate Medical Education proudly celebrated the graduation of its 2025 Internal Medicine and Family Medicine resident physicians during a ceremony held June 20 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown. Family members, friends, physician faculty, and Samaritan leadership gathered to honor the accomplishments of the graduates.
Family Medicine Residency Program Directed by Dr. Benjamin Rudd • Joseph Connor, DO – Chief Resident • Caleb Atkins, MD
Internal Medicine Residency Program Directed by Dr. Asim Kichloo • Sandip Chattopadhyay, DO – Chief Resident • Sameera Quraishi, MD
Two of the four doctors will remain in the North Country to continue their medical careers, while the other two will pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Dr. Joseph Connor has accepted a position with Prima Medical in Fairfax, VA, as a Family Medicine Physician. And Dr. Sandip Chattopadhyay will practice Internal Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, NY.
Dr. Caleb Atkins, originally from Carthage, NY, will join the Samaritan Family Health Network and practice out of the Watertown clinic located in the Samaritan Health and Wellness Plaza at 1575 Washington Street. Dr. Atkins admits that he took the scenic route from graduating medical school in 2013 to beginning residency in 2022. During that time, he taught at the collegiate level, launched a data abstraction company, and founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting medical school graduates who did not match into residency. Dr. Atkins credits his success to the unwavering support of his parents, the encouragement and motivation of colleagues, and the sacrifice of his wife, who uprooted her life to help make this journey possible. He is excited to care for the community in the years ahead.
Dr. Sameera Quraishi has chosen to remain in the North Country to continue serving the community, accepting a position at a local nephrology practice. Although she once considered a career in education, Dr. Quraishi was ultimately drawn to medicine and earned her medical degree from one of Pakistan’s top medical colleges, where she also completed her internship. Her medical journey continued in the United States, where she completed a nephrology fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens and an internal medicine residency here at Samaritan Medical Center. She is deeply thankful to her husband, Naeem, for moving their family to the U.S., and to her parents for their unwavering support.
Having resident physicians remain in the community after graduation is a tremendous asset to the region. These physicians have spent years training at Samaritan, becoming familiar with the unique healthcare needs of our population and forming strong connections with patients and colleagues alike. Their decision to continue practicing locally helps address the nationwide shortage of primary care, improves continuity of care for patients, and supports the long-term health and stability of the community. It is a testament to the strength of Samaritan’s Graduate Medical Education programs that many graduates choose to build their careers here, where they can make an immediate and lasting impact.
“The faculty and everyone involved in our graduate medical education programs are grateful for the chance to share knowledge from our own experiences,” said Dr. David Rechlin, Director of Graduate Medical Education at Samaritan. “These promising young physicians bring a remarkable energy and dedication to their work, both in the hospital and in outpatient settings. We congratulate them on this important milestone.”
Samaritan is the only academic teaching hospital in Northern New York, drawing medical students and residents from across the country for advanced clinical training. Residents benefit from a robust educational experience, including daily lectures, hands-on clinical rotations in various specialties, and participation in clinical research.
Samaritan’s residency programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its outstanding workers in long term care (OWL) Award recipients for March and April 2025.
At Samaritan Summit Village, Gary Montondo, Assisted Living Activities Coordinator, won the OWL Award for March. Sherry Birdslow, Assisted Living Housekeeper, won the OWL Award for April.
At Samaritan Keep Home, Ashley Evans, Hospitality Aide, won the OWL Award for March. Skyler Hatch, Central Scheduler, won the OWL Award for April.
Montondo was nominated for the OWL Award by fellow caregiver Rose Busler who said:
“Our Elvis impersonator was unable to come in for our activity of celebrating Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday. Knowing that the residents were looking forward to the entertaining activity, Gary dressed up and performed for the residents. Everyone had a great time.”
Birdslow was nominated for the OWL Award by a resident who expressed how impressed they are with her willingness to go the extra mile and attention to detail. The resident said Sherry has a great personality, and goes above and beyond without being asked when cleaning their apartment and they have such a good rapport.
Evans was nominated by fellow caregiver Katrina Johnson who said:
“Ashley makes an impact with her attitude every day and it is contagious. She seeks her coworkers out just to ask about their day and see how they are doing. She creates a team atmosphere.”
Hatch was nominated by two fellow caregivers, Megan Larkins and Kerri Pellam, who said:
“Skyler’s willingness to always assist with staffing or department needs does not go unnoticed. You always have a positive attitude and greet everyone with a smiling face even when you have had a tough day.”
The awardees received certificates and appreciation tokens during recognition ceremonies at their respective facilities.
These awards will be presented throughout the year. Patients, families, and colleagues can submit nominations at any time. To nominate someone or to learn more about the Samaritan DAISY, BEE, and OWL Awards, please visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
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Pictured here, from left to right, are March 2025 OWL awardees Gary Montondo and Ashley Evans, and April 2025 OWL awardees Sherry Birdslow and Skyler Hatch.
About Samaritan’s Long Term Care Services
Caregivers at Samaritan Summit Village and Samaritan Keep Home provide round-the-clock skilled nursing care and significant assistance with the activities of daily life. Nursing homes have nursing staff on duty 24 hours a day to help individuals meet their daily physical, social and psychological needs. A licensed physician supervises each resident’s care and therapy, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy are available to provide rehabilitation services. Samaritan Summit Village also offers Assisted Living with six neighborhoods and apartments that are comfortable, functional, and safe. This facility is for those who need a little extra help while continuing an independent lifestyle.
Watertown, NY – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to announce its DAISY and BEE Award recipients for April 2025. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses® recognizes exemplary nursing staff, and the BEE Award honors other outstanding staff members who are excellent every day, both at the hospital and outpatient clinics.
Roxane Christopher and Alexandra Lillie, Registered Nurses (RN) in the Labor and Delivery unit of Samaritan’s Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children, received the DAISY Award for April. Toni Rodriguez, a Screening and Visitation Specialist at Samaritan Medical Center, received the BEE Award for April.
The DAISY nomination was provided by a patient, Tifany Gill, who stated, “Roxane and Alexendra both deserve the DAISY award. Although they didn’t physically deliver my baby, they made the most traumatic and fearful experience I’ve had in nearly a decade feel like I was experiencing it with support. Both nurses made me feel like I was safe and cared for.”
For receiving the DAISY Award – which is an international award backed by The DAISY Foundation – Christopher and Lillie were presented with certificates commending them as extraordinary nurses. They each received a DAISY Award pin, and a symbolic sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” which is hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. A larger version of this sculpture has also been installed in the Healing Gardens at Samaritan Medical Center in honor of all DAISY and BEE Award winners to come. It was purchased using funds donated by the Samaritan Auxiliary.
Rodriguez was nominated by Cindy Oster, a visitor who expressed that Toni’s sincerity and empathy, as well as warm personality make a world of difference to her, and to all visitors and patients of Samaritan Medical Center.
Rodriguez was presented with a certificate, a BEE Award pin, and a gift bag with other tokens of gratitude.
These awards will continue to be presented throughout the year, and patients, families, or colleagues can submit nominations at any time. To make a nomination or to learn more about the Samaritan DAISY and BEE Awards, visit www.samaritanhealth.com/daisy-bee.
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Samaritan’s DAISY winners for April 2025, pictured on the left, from left to right, are Registered Nurses Alexandra Lillie and Roxane Christopher. The next photo shows the nurses with the nominating family. The BEE winner, pictured next, is Toni Rodriguez, Screening and Visitation Specialist.The final photo shows her with her nominator, Cindy Oster.
About Samaritan Medical Center
Samaritan Medical Center (Watertown, New York) is a 290-bed not-for-profit community medical center, offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient healthcare services. From primary and emergency care to highly specialized medical and surgical services, such as cancer treatment, neonatal intensive care, behavioral health and addiction services, and imaging services, Samaritan Medical Center and its team of healthcare professionals proudly serves the medical needs of our civilian and military community. Quality, compassion, and safety are the basic principles by which exceptional care is delivered at Samaritan.
About The DAISY Foundation
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. In addition to the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, the Foundation expresses gratitude to the nursing profession internationally in over 3,900 healthcare facilities and schools of nursing with recognition of direct care Nurses, Nurse-led Teams, Nurse Leaders, Nursing Faculty, Nursing Students, through the J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects and for nurses participating in medical missions. More information is available at http://www.DAISYfoundation.org.
Watertown, N.Y. – At Samaritan, there are volunteers who serve at the hospital, long term care facilities, special events, off-site offices and on various boards of our respective entities. Initiated in 2023, the HIVE (Helpful Indeed – Volunteering Excellence) Award is a way to honor those volunteers who have contributed an extraordinary level of dedication and shown exceptional service to Samaritan while consistently demonstrating the organization’s HEART values, which are Honest, Empathetic, Accountable, Respect, and Trustworthy.
Why HIVE? The beehive is symbolic of teamwork, unity, growth, and development. At Samaritan, we are all caregivers, including those who have committed to showing extraordinary compassionate care as a volunteer. We need each other to care for our community.
The HIVE Award complements the existing DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®, the BEE Award (Being Excellent Every Day) honoring other outstanding staff members who support patient care, at the hospital and all outpatient clinics, and the OWL (Outstanding Workers in Long Term Care) for the team of caregivers at the Samaritan Keep Home and Samaritan Summit Village. Altogether, we recognize the amazing caregivers of the Samaritan Health System and the culture we embrace.
Our first recipient for 2025 is Barbara Gilbert. Barbara, a Registered Nurse, serves as a volunteer with the 4 Pavilion (Medical-Surgical) team in the Medical Center.
A Samaritan Caregiver of the unit nominated Gilbert saying, “Barbara consistently goes above and beyond. She takes extra time with patients, takes opportunities to teach others, and brings little treats to raise the spirits of the staff. Her ability to lead by example and inspire those around her reflects the true spirit of volunteerism.”
Those interested in recognizing a Samaritan volunteer may submit an online nomination at samaritanhealth.com/hive there are also paper nomination forms available at the Medical Center and Samaritan Summit Village gift shops.
Pictured here is Barbara Gilbert, RN, and HIVE Award recipient at Samaritan Medical Center.
Watertown, NY — Applications will be accepted for the eighth annual Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship beginning June 1, 2025, and concluding July 15, 2025. A retired nurse from Samaritan Medical Center established a scholarship through the Samaritan Medical Center Foundation for Registered Nurses (RNs) looking to advance their careers as Nurse Practitioners (NPs). Sadly, Peters passed away in 2020, yet this scholarship remains part of her legacy and commitment to healthcare in the community.
The Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship was established in 2018 to assist with the education costs for an RN who is continuing their education, specifically to pursue a Nurse Practitioner degree. Two scholarships of $2,000 will be awarded each year.
Peters graduated from the former House of the Good Samaritan School of Nursing and retired from Samaritan Medical Center (SMC) as a Certified Oncology Nurse; prior to that, she had served as a staff RN and for more than 20 years as a Nurse Manager of Medical/Surgical, Orthopedic and alternate level of care units.
Beth Fipps, Vice President of Samaritan Foundation and Community Services, explained, “We are so grateful to Susan for leaving a legacy to a profession she was so committed to. Susan so generously established this scholarship to promote the Nurse Practitioner profession because she felt there is an increasing need for such a role due to the nationwide shortage of healthcare providers.”
Nurse Practitioners provide vital care to patients, including developing treatment plans for their patients, ordering tests, performing minor procedures, and prescribing medication.
The 2024 scholarships awardees were Joseph Donoghue and Cindy Keenan. Joseph is a Registered Nurse in the emergency department at Samaritan Medical Center and obtained his Family Nurse Practitioner degree in December. Cindy is a Registered Nurse at Samaritan and is obtaining her Nurse Practitioner degree.
Again, the application period for the Susan Peters Nursing Scholarship is June 1-July 15, 2025, with the scholarship award announcement set to take place in August 2025.
To be eligible for this scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Be a Registered Nurse (RN) with a minimum of two full years’ working experience. RNs currently working for Samaritan Medical Center preferred, but not mandatory.
Medical/Surgical experience preferred but not necessary.
Must be a resident of either Jefferson or Lewis County, New York.
Eligible to apply after successful completion of the first semester in a Nurse Practitioner program with at least a B average.
As part of the application, Registered Nurses must describe why they are pursuing their Nurse Practitioner degree and where, as well as whether they have a financial need. Applicants should submit two letters of recommendation and the two most recent transcripts along with the application to support the RNs pursuit of a Nurse Practitioner degree.
For more information or to obtain a scholarship application, please visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarshipapplication or contact the SMC Foundation at 315-785-5785 or visit www.samaritanhealth.com/scholarships. The application can be completed online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Samaritan Foundation, Attn: Beth Fipps, 830 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601.
Watertown, NY – Since 1992, the Kinney Drugs Foundation has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN) to raise funds for children in need of medical care. Samaritan Medical Center is grateful for the dedicated teams at 17 Kinney Drugs locations across the North Country for all they do to help change kids’ health.
During this year’s seven-week campaign, Kinney Drugs raised a total of $54,527 for Children’s Miracle Network of Northern New York at Samaritan. Kinney associates collected donations by asking customers to give at the register, organizing contests and special events, and emphasizing the positive impact that every penny makes for local kids.
Samaritan Medical Center is one of 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America, raising and allocating funds to improve the health and wellbeing of children in the local community. Every donation stays local to support child-centered areas of Samaritan and to provide financial assistance to families in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties with a child facing a health crisis.
“We truly value our Kinney Drugs partners and appreciate all they do to help local kids,” said Angie VanWormer, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center. “Each Kinney Drugs location is invested in supporting CMN and their associates are generous with their time and talents. The funds they raise are making an incredible impact on children’s health”
Through their partnership with CMN, Kinney Drugs and the Kinney Drugs Foundation are helping to make miracles happen across the North Country. Their commitment to helping local children is greatly appreciated.
For more information on Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals contact Samaritan Medical Center at 315-785-4053 or [email protected]
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