Samaritan President and CEO Thomas Carman Appointed to HANYS Executive Committee

Congratulations to Tom Carman, Samaritan President and CEO, for his recent appointment to the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) Executive Committee for 2020.

Tom has been on the HANYS board for several years now, advocating for all of northern New York’s healthcare systems.

HANYS’ primary goal is to work to ensure every New Yorker has access to affordable, high-quality care. From medicaid funding and opioid abuse reduction to cyber-security, emergency preparedness and healthcare payment reform, these are just some of the critical healthcare priorities HANYS addresses.

HANYS advocates in Albany and Washington on behalf of its members (like Samaritan) and the healthcare needs of New Yorkers. They engage with policymakers, agencies, community partners, the media and more, while collaborating frequently with regional, state and national associations. They also provide education, data analysis, quality improvement initiatives and operational assistance to our members and partners.

Samaritan benefits greatly from our partnership with HANYS in education, strong partnerships and advocacy.

Samaritan Medical Center Awarded Primary Stroke Center Certification from The Joint Commission

Samaritan Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Primary Stroke Center Certification by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

The certification recognizes health care organizations that provide clinical programs across the continuum of stroke care.  The certification evaluates how organizations use clinical outcomes and performance measures to identify opportunities to improve care, as well as to educate and prepare patients and their caregivers for discharge.

Samaritan Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review in November 2019. During the visit, a Joint Commission reviewer evaluated compliance with related certification including: specific stroke core measures, program management through Get with the Guidelines, and delivering and facilitating clinical stroke care.  Joint Commission standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts, and patients. The reviewers also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

“Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizes health care organizations committed to fostering continuous quality improvement in patient safety and quality of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Samaritan Medical Center for using certification to reduce variation in its clinical processes and to strengthen its program structure and management framework for stroke patients.”

“A stroke is a medical emergency that needs a quality team to identify, assess and begin treatment to help stop the damage,” states Dr. Mario Victoria, Samaritan Medical Center Chief Medical Officer. “Reaching this level of designation as a Primary Stroke Center from The Joint Commission is a testament to the quality stroke care Samaritan can provide locally. The level of detail, training and sheer determination from the clinical staff to reach this level of designation is humbling as the Chief Medical Officer.”

Samaritan prepared for its Primary Stroke Center Certification by taking many valuable steps and learning from other experts in the field.  Preparation included:

  • Demonstrating compliance with the set of clinical practice guidelines required. The guidelines are specific to the care and outcomes of patients that may experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or a hemorrhagic stroke. This assists organizations in establishing a consistent approach to care, reducing variation and the risk of error, along with improving patient outcomes.
  • Educating staff in the care of the stroke patient with evidence-based guidelines.
  • Developing policy and procedures.
  • Implementing a performance improvement committee for ongoing process improvement.
  • Providing 24/7 acute stroke team with ability to provide IV clot buster medication with close monitoring from highly qualified staff.
  • Establishing collaboration with Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
  • Establishing collaboration with the State and Regional Stroke Centers.
  •  Committing to providing high-quality patient care from the onset of symptoms to rehabilitation.

For more information, please visit The Joint Commission’s website.


Joint Commission and AHA joint Primary Stroke Icon

Advocate Drum Petition Support

Fort Drum is being considered for the stationing of a fourth Army Corps Headquarters. We welcome the opportunity to support an Army Corps Headquarters, along with the Soldiers and Families that will come to the North Country.

The North Country has the community capacity to address the off-post quality needs of an additional 630 Soldiers and support their Families as they maintain a rotational Operational Command Post in Europe.

Advocate Drum and Samaritan Medical Center requests that you help show the community’s strong support for hosting the fourth Army Corps Headquarters by signing the petition located on our website – www.advocatedrum.com.  

We need your support and we can do it one person at a time. It is expected that the Department of the Army will make this decision quickly, so please show your support by signing the petition today.

Samaritan Medical Center Emergency Department Undergoes Improvements

Watertown, NY — Renovations to Samaritan Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) will begin on Jan. 29, 2020. The upgrades to the ED’s waiting room intake and triage check-in areas will improve patient privacy and enhance the waiting space for the more than 48,000 patients seeking treatment at the ED each year.

The new, renovated space will include private intake areas complete with a door for patient privacy, updated fixtures, a new security station, and improved waiting area space for patients and their families. In addition, we are upgrading the heating and cooling system in this space while adding negative pressure in the area to help with infection prevention.

Throughout the anticipated four-month construction period, we will continue to provide care 24/7 for all emergency conditions. Beginning Jan. 29, all ED walk-in patients and families should enter through the main entrance of the hospital. Initial intake and triage will be performed in a new, temporary space in our main lobby. Following check-in, patients will be escorted to the ED for treatment. This re-routing of patient traffic will enable us to complete the renovations efficiently and better serve our patients as they enter the department to receive care.

“Samaritan is dedicated to providing quality care while being mindful of a patient’s privacy and comfort,” states Kim Thibert, Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Samaritan. “This renovation stems from patient feedback and has been designed with the patient in mind. It will enable our staff to check patients in quickly and privately in an updated space, giving patients and family members peace of mind in an emergency situation.”

Construction will not impact emergency responders or ambulances. The needle or sharps repository for community use will also be moved to the main lobby location during the construction. For all maternity-related needs, we ask patients to please remember to use the dedicated Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children at Samaritan entrance, located off of Sherman Street.

Samaritan Medical Center Emergency Department Undergoes Improvements
Samaritan Medical Center Emergency Department Undergoes Improvements
Above: Renderings of the new Emergency Department waiting area intake and triage check-in space.

Additional information for patients:

Emergency Departments are best for emergency situations. If you have a life-threatening condition, go straight to your nearest ED. Such conditions include:

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing or extreme chest pain
  • Stroke
  • Head injuries
  • Severe bleeding
  • Loss of vision
  • Drug overdose
  • Seizures
  • Severe cuts or burns
  • Sudden dizziness or numbness
  • Severe allergic reactions

Deciding between urgent care or the ED depends on the severity of the health problem. If the condition is life-threatening, go to an ED by calling 911 or be brought in to be seen.

Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Selects 2020 Champion

Kai Diggs
Kai Diggs

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Northern New York is pleased to announce Kai Diggs, 6, of Watertown, as its 2020 Champion!

Each year, 170 Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country identify a champion in their community to serve as the face for children treated at their hospital. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals of Northern New York at Samaritan Medical Center has chosen an annual local champion since last year. The local champion for 2019 was Ryley Weaver, of Carthage.

“Kai has shown incredible bravery and perseverance, all with a smile on his face; he will make the North Country proud,” said Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Samaritan. “I’m confident Kai’s story and role as an ambassador will make a real difference for the kids who rely on children’s services at our hospital.”

Kai was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid in the brain – at age 4. This buildup in his brain’s ventricles was caused by a tumor in his pineal gland, which caused him to undergo emergency brain surgery in 2018. Today, Kai needs regular brain imaging and has countless appointments in Syracuse and Rochester to monitor his condition. Although his happy, energetic personality would not suggest it, Kai suffers from debilitating headaches and other neurological symptoms daily.

Kai Diggs, 6, of Watertown, accepts a medal from Samaritan Medical Center President and CEO Thomas Carman after being named the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals on Northern New York’s 2020 Champion.

“It’s hard, every day is hard, but he makes it easy to get through,” said Kianna Diggs, Kai’s mother. “He makes it so you just stay positive. He’s awesome.”

Although he has been through a lot for a 6-year-old, Kai is thankful for the things he has. One of his favorite phrases is “You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.” He is passionate about music and aspires to be a rap artist – he loves to think of words that rhyme. Kai also loves math, frequently challenging himself with math problems and checking his work on his calculator.

“To know Kai is to absolutely adore him, Ms. Diggs said. “The world is a better place with him in it and now everyone gets to experience Kai’s spirit.”

Kai’s family is assisted through the Direct Family Assistance Program from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Samaritan. This program, which is unique to Samaritan Medical Center, helps families with reimbursement of travel expenses and medical bills during hospitalizations and appointments with specialty doctors.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals offer treatment to millions of sick children nationwide, serving 1 in 10 children in North America each year.

For more information, contact Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center, at 315-785-4053 or [email protected].

Samaritan Medical Center Commits to Safe Sleep for Infants

Samaritan Medical Center is doing its part to ensure safe sleep for all infants. When an infant is born at Samaritan, staff at our Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children will educate and demonstrate to families the importance of safe sleep, what safe sleep looks like, and provide each baby with a safe sleep sack to encourage parents to continue safe sleep practices taught while in the hospital.

These sleep sacks are donated by Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at Samaritan. This initiative is part of a larger goal to be a certified safe sleep hospital accredited by Cribs for Kids.

Shealynn and Collin De Vries take home a complimentary safe sleep sack for their newborn daughter, Holland.

“Our children mean the world to us,” said Laurie L. Fegley, Director of Samaritan’s Car-Freshner Center for Women and Children. “There are many things parents – especially new parents – worry about, but we can give them peace of mind by teaching them the safest way to put their baby to sleep. We have a unique opportunity to teach families what safe sleep looks like and to impress upon them the importance of safe sleep in preventing infant deaths. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a new slogan: ‘On their back, every nap, every night.’ The message is simple and can have great impact if we all work towards the same goal of safe sleep, every time.”

The lives of many babies are cut short by unsafe sleeping environments. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 3,500 infants in the U.S. die every year while sleeping. Often this is due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or from accidental suffocation or strangulation.

These deaths are preventable by following a few key recommendations from the AAP. The primary message for parents and others who care for infants is to “Remember the ABCs of Safe Sleep.” There are three critical measures to follow when it’s time for an infant to sleep:

  • “A” is for Alone: Always let the baby sleep alone, never in a bed with another person where the baby could be smothered.
  • “B” is for on the baby’s Back: An infant should be placed to sleep on his or her back, not on his or her side or stomach.
  • “C” is for Crib: Always put your child to sleep in a crib with only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet.

“For 30 years, Children’s Miracle Network has been committed to making a difference for children at Samaritan Medical Center and throughout the North Country,” said Kristin LaClair, Director of Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan. “In 2017, the CMN Allocations Committee approved the purchase of safe sleep sacks to be used in our hospital to promote a safe sleep environment for our newborns and NICU babies. We continue to fund this program annually. Children’s Miracle Network is proud to continue our support for Samaritan’s Safe Sleep initiative by providing every newborn with a take-home sleep sack.”

In addition to the ABCs, families can help reduce the risk of sleep-related death by following these tips:

  • Place your baby on a firm sleep surface. Use a safety-approved crib mattress covered with a fitted sheet. Never place a baby to sleep on a pillow, quilt, sheepskin or other soft surface.
  • Keep loose objects, soft toys and bedding out of the baby’s sleep area.
  • Do not use pillows and blankets in a baby’s sleeping area. Keep all items away from the baby’s face.
  • Keep your baby’s crib, bassinet or portable crib in the same room where you sleep for the first 6 months to one year.
  • Keep your baby from overheating during the night. A baby should be dressed lightly for sleep. Set the room temperature in a range that is comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
  • Do not use crib bumpers. These have been officially banned in the state of New York. They do not reduce injuries and can cause suffocation.
  • Never place your baby to sleep on a sofa, arm chair or couch.
  • It’s OK to swaddle your baby, but make sure they are always on their backs. When your baby looks like he or she is starting to roll over, you should stop swaddling.
  • Try giving your baby a pacifier at bedtime or nap time; it helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Don’t smoke during pregnancy, and don’t expose your baby to secondhand smoke after birth.
  • Only bring your baby into your bed to feed or comfort. Place baby back in crib when you’re ready to sleep.
  • Breastfeed for at least the first six months of life. Babies who breastfeed have a lower risk of SIDS.

Be sure to discuss these safety tips with all caregivers, including babysitters, childcare providers and grandparents.

When buying sleep aid products:

  • There are a lot of products that claim to help reduce the risk of SIDS; use caution when purchasing these products. According to the AAP, wedges, positioners, special mattresses and specialized sleep surfaces have not been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
  • Parents should not rely on home heart or breathing monitor to reduce SIDS. Talk with your pediatrician before using these.
  • Use caution when purchasing bedside or in-bed sleepers. The AAP can’t recommend to use or not use these products since there have been no studies to look at their effect on SIDS or if they increase the risk of injury and death from suffocation.

Commitment to safe sleep for all infants in our community helps save lives. It starts with education for families and community organizations, like Samaritan Medical Center, coming together to help our most precious patients stay safe, by sleeping safe.

Samaritan Medical Center Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Quality in Spine Surgery

Spine Center of Distinction

WATERTOWN, NY – Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has selected Samaritan Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Spinal surgeries are one of the most frequent types of elective surgeries in the U.S. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there were more than 465,000 spinal fusion operations in the U.S. in 2011, a procedure commonly done in the lumbar region of the lower back to treat back pain.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery demonstrate expertise in cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions compared to other hospitals. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation to be designated.

Samaritan Medical Center is proud to be recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for meeting the rigorous selection criteria for spine surgery set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.

“Samaritan’s commitment to local orthopaedic care for our patients is evident and this special distinction in spine surgery says volumes about the quality and outcomes we strive for,” states Dr. Mario Victoria, Samaritan Medical Center Chief Medical Officer. “From specialized inpatient care, to highly trained physicians and nursing staff, this designation is a true reflection of the level of care you can expect at Samaritan.”

Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.

“To receive the Blue Distinction designation, an organization must meet a specific set of rigorous standards that represent a commitment to quality and helping members better manage their care,” said Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Regional President Eve Van de Wal. “We’re proud to recognize Samaritan Medical Center for their excellence in delivering safe and effective spine surgery treatment to their patients.”

For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.

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 Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company’s mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 3,500 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 105 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.

About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care. Each facility’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Facilities in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.

Samaritan’s Dr. Deana E. Paley Inducted as American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Fellow

The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) inducted Samaritan Medical Center’s Deana E. Paley, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive osteopathic surgeon, as a Fellow (FACOS) in October 2019.

The designation of Fellow is determined by recognition of a doctor’s board certification, as well as voluntary activities and services to advance osteopathic medicine and surgery. Those who earn the FACOS designation have demonstrated their commitment to the practice of surgery; surgical teaching; authorship of professional papers; participation in local, state, and national osteopathic organizations; and adherence to the professional and ethical standards established by the ACOS and the American Osteopathic Association.

Dr. Paley earned her osteopathic medical degree from NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She completed her internship and general surgery residency at Peninsula Hospital in Far Rockaway, NY, and her plastic surgery fellowship in St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY.

Dr. Paley offers a wide variety of plastic and reconstructive services that include, but are not limited to: breast reconstruction; post-trauma reconstruction for face and body; mole, lesion, and scar excisions with reconstruction; liposuction; abdominoplasty; breast augmentation, reduction and lift; botox/dysport for wrinkle control; and face reshaping and correction.

Dr. Paley is accepting new patients and her office is located at 629 Washington St. Her office can be reached at 315-755-3560.

Dr. Paley resides in Watertown and in her spare time enjoys reading, traveling, and family activities.

In addition to her involvement with ACOS, she is a member of American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, and American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons is the primary advocate for the osteopathic surgical profession, representing more than 3,100 surgeons and surgical residents, and 3,200 medical students nationwide.

Samaritan's Dr. Deana Paley Inducted as American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Fellow
Front Row (l to r): Julie Caffrey, DO, FACOS; Deana E. Paley, DO, FACOS, Samaritan Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon; Todd A. Nickloes, DO, FACOS, FACS, President of the ACOS
Back row: Eugene W. Laveroni, DO, FACOS, Secretary-Treasurer of the ACOS

Samaritan Welcomes Eight New Physicians

WATERTOWN – Samaritan Medical Center is pleased to welcome Nathanial R. Miletta, MD; Casey M. Chern, MD; Sara L. Cederstrand, MD; Agnieszka K. Dombrowska, DO; John J. Burnett, DO; Anita N. Lwanga, MD; Gillian V. Kupakuwana-Suk, MD; and Dmitry A. Drozhzhin, DO, to the hospital medical staff within the past few months.

Dr. Miletta and Dr. Chern joined the Samaritan Dermatology office at its new location in the Samaritan Medical Office Building, 826 Washington St. Their office can be reached at 315-755-3670.

Dr. Miletta completed his medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He completed dermatology residency training at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, followed by fellowship training in dermatologic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. He is board certified with the American Board of Dermatology.

Dr. Miletta is a Harvard-trained dermatologic surgeon that is committed to providing the best medical, surgical, and cosmetic care to his patients. He serves as the Samaritan Medical Center Chief of Mohs Surgery and his specialties include: skin cancer screening and surgery; scar improvement and revision; psoriasis; acne and rosacea; skin growth removal, and spider vein injections, among others. Dr. Miletta is accepting new patients.

Dr. Chern received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, and graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN. She completed her internship and dermatology residency with National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

She is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Chern is affiliated with the 10th Mountain Division on Fort Drum and is providing part-time dermatology services for Samaritan.

Dr. Cederstrand is new to Samaritan’s Surgery Department, working in the division of general surgery with a sub-specialty of vascular surgery. Dr. Cederstrand joins the Samaritan General Surgery and Vascular Surgery practice located in the Samaritan Medical Office Building, 826 Washington St.

She completed her medical degree and general surgery residency training at St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She completed fellowship training in vascular surgery at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, and is board certified with the American Board of Surgery with sub-specialty certification in vascular surgery. Dr. Cederstrand is accepting new patients by referral. Her office can be reached at 315-782-1505.

Dr. Dombrowska also joins Samaritan’s Department of Surgery, serving as the hospital’s breast surgeon and leading breast care services at the new Women’s Wellness and Breast Care, located in the Samaritan Health and Wellness Plaza, 1575 Washington St.

Dr. Dombrowska earned her medical degree at A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, MO. She completed her general surgery residency training at South Pointe Hospital – Cleveland Clinic, Warrensville Heights, OH, followed by fellowship training in breast surgery at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Dr. Dombrowska is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery.

She offers a wide range of services, including: management of breast cancer and benign breast diseases; high-risk screening and evaluation; breast cyst aspiration; ultrasound-guided breast biopsies; stereotactic breast biopsies; and nipple- and skin-sparing mastectomies. Dr. Dombrowska is accepting new patients and can be reached at 315-785-4155.

Dr. Burnett is Samaritan’s newest family practice physician, providing primary services at the LeRay Family Health Center, 26908 Independence Way, Suite 101, Evans Mills.

He completed his medical degree at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, North Lewisburg, WV, and performed his family medicine residency training locally through Samaritan Medical Center’s Graduate Medical Education program. Dr. Burnett is board certified with the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He is accepting new patients and his office can be reached at 315-629-4525.

Dr. Drozhzhin, Dr. Kupakuwana-Suk and Dr. Lwanga are new hospitalists with the Apogee Physicians Hospitalist Group. They will be caring for inpatients at Samaritan Medical Center’s main campus, 830 Washington St.

Dr. Drozhzhin completed his medical degree at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, followed by internal medicine residency training at Kent Hospital/Brown University in Warwick, RI. Dr. Drozhzhin is in process for certification with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Lwanga completed her Doctor of Medicine at St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, followed by internal medicine residency training in the Sinai Health System’s Department of Internal Medicine in Chicago, IL. She previously worked as a hospitalist at Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, NY, and is board certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Kupakuwana-Suk completed her PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY. She earned her Doctor of Medicine at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, followed by internal medicine residency training at Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT. Dr. Kupakuwana-Suk is in the process for board certification with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

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