MSKCC Employees Mentor as Big Brothers/Big Sisters

JUNE 2012
A Publication for the
Staff of Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center produced by
the Human Resources
Division
Easing the Return
MSKCC’s Employee Survivorship Program
PAG E S 2 – 3
FE ATURE D INSI DE
4
5 – 6
7
Big Brothers / Big Sisters
Conference Services
Teaching Beyond Our Borders
Kudos!
9
Total Rewards Update
10 –11 Anniversaries
8 – 9
MSKCC’s Employee
Survivorship Program
is dedicated to helping
our employee cancer
survivors live their
lives to the fullest.
EMPLOYEE SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM
ADDRESSES NEEDS OF CANCER
SURVIVORS WORKING AT MSKCC
There are nearly 12 million
cancer survivors in the United
States today, a number that
is expected to grow as more
people are diagnosed with
and survive the disease. Nearly
half of adult cancer survivors
are younger than age 65, and
they represent a meaningful
sector of the workforce.
S
urvivors who work at a cancer center
may encounter special circumstances
during and after their cancer treatment that can complicate their return to
work. Some may be working directly with
people being treated for cancer, and others
may even be researching the very diseases
they are fighting themselves.
That’s what Dr. Laura Liberman learned
when she received a diagnosis of lymphoma
in 2007. She had six months of chemotherapy
followed by bimonthly maintenance therapy.
“Being on the other side of something
you’re so familiar with is eye-opening,”
said Dr. Liberman, a breast radiologist
and Director of the Program for Women
Faculty Affairs, who often found herself,
out of habit, signing as the doctor on her
own patient consent forms. “It gives you
a different perspective and an appreciation
of the challenges our patients encounter.”
Dr. Liberman chronicled her experiences
in her book I Signed as the Doctor: Memoir
of a Cancer Doctor Surviving Cancer.
Left: Dr. Laura Liberman, in front of the many hats
she donned while undergoing chemotherapy, gained a
new perspective when she experienced firsthand the
journey that patients take during cancer treatment.
The Employee Survivorship Program staff, from left:
Dr. Arthur Brown, Dr. Penny Damaskos, Dr.
Rebecca Guest, Dr. Alan Engelberg, Meghan
Newcomer, and Mary McCabe.
To address the needs of our employees
who are being treated for cancer and those
who have completed therapy, MSKCC
created the Employee Survivorship Program
in the fall of 2011 — a collaboration between
Employee Health & Wellness Services
and the MSKCC Survivorship Initiative.
The program brings together health and
wellness services, support programs, medical
services, and assistance on employment-related issues in one formal initiative dedicated
to helping cancer survivors live their lives
to the fullest. (See sidebar on page 3 for
information on specific services.)
Corporations around the world are just
waking up to the idea of offering special
programs to help their employees who are
cancer survivors. “With nearly half of cancer
survivors being of working age and MSKCC
being a leader in cancer care, we thought
MSKCC would be a great place to initiate
a workplace support program,” explained
Dr. Rebecca Guest of Employee Health &
Wellness Services. “We can make a contribution to the field on how to assist cancer
survivors in their return to work.”
A survey conducted by the Employee
Survivorship Program team found that
among 61 employees who had returned
to work after being treated for cancer,
46 percent reported experiencing fatigue,
29 percent had physical difficulties,
22 percent said they felt emotional strain,
and 20 percent had pain. Other challenges
included having problems with memory,
attending to personal needs, and finding
emotional support. Fifty-nine percent
of respondents indicated that better workplace accommodations would have made
their return easier.
The survey results informed the design
of the new program. “Fortunately, services
to address many of the needs that the
survivors identified in the survey already
exist, such as the Resources for Life After
Cancer Program,” said Meghan Newcomer,
Coordinator of the Survivorship Initiative.
“Now we want to make sure more of our
Employee Survivorship Program (continued on page 3)
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JUNE 2012 / 2
Employee Survivorship Program (continued from page 2)
employees who are cancer survivors can
connect with these services.”
The program established four goals:
1.Build awareness of the services and
programs available at MSKCC for cancer
survivors. Presentations about the
Employee Survivorship Program are being
given to groups throughout the hospital,
and a brochure with detailed information
is provided to employees who take medical
leave for cancer care.
2.O ffer psychosocial support, such as the
Common Ground support group for
MSKCC staff members who have
completed cancer treatment. Common
Ground meets on the first Thursday of
every month from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in
RRL-102. Walk-ins are accepted.
3.Increase access to relevant wellness
services. Many survivors find Integrative
Medicine services to be extremely helpful.
4.Optimize existing organizational
resources to assist in coordinating
medical leave and easing the return to
work after treatment is completed.
For example, workplace accommodations
may include shorter or fewer workdays
each week, telecommuting, flexible
work arrangements, intermittent leaves
for treatment, and more frequent rest
breaks during the workday.
Denise Bing, a Research Study Assistant
III in the Department of Urology, was out
of work from the end of October 2009 until
mid-April 2010 while she received treatment
for early-stage ovarian cancer. “I admit
I was apprehensive about going back to
work, seeing that there were a lot of changes
made during my absence,” she recalled.
“I was wondering how I would fit in
when I returned. But my fears were put to
rest when I received a warm greeting from
my coworkers, and I was given some light
duties to start.”
She joined MSKCC’s gynecologic
cancer survivorship group and recently
joined Common Ground. “Both groups
are supportive and encouraging,” said
Ms. Bing. “Not only do I feel encouraged,
but I find that I encourage others, and also
receive helpful advice on how to cope with
certain issues.”
Dr. Liberman found that her biggest
challenges surfaced after treatment was
completed. “You hope and expect you’ll
be back to normal, and it takes time to find
your ‘new normal,’” she explained. “Posttreatment was the hardest time for me,
and that’s when the resources for survivors
were most helpful. I also received an incredible amount of support from my coworkers;
people were there for me in ways I could
not imagine.”
She joined the Grace and Grit support
group for female survivors of cancer and also
began taking meditation classes through the
Integrative Medicine Service. “These groups
are wonderful because they connect you with
people who have had similar experiences,
and you can support each other,” said Dr.
Liberman, who now works three days a week.
After being treated for cancer, Denise Bing found
support groups to be helpful for her recovery.
The Employee Survivorship Program is
an initiative that continues to develop, and
its organizers are open to suggestions from
employees. “We would like to continue to
develop a program that is consistent with
the culture of MSKCC, is sustainable, and
works for employees, managers, and leadership,” concluded Dr. Guest. “This is a real
opportunity to create an initiative that can
serve as a model for other organizations.” 
To learn more about the Employee
Survivorship Program, call 212-639-3947
or the Employee Wellness Program at
646-888-WELL (9355). You can also
visit the Employee Survivorship
Intranet page.
MSKCC EMPLOYEE SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM: SERVICES AT A GL ANCE
Health and Wellness Services
Support Services
Medical Services
ÎÎ Nutritional
ÎÎ Employee
ÎÎ Clinical
Counseling
ÎÎ E xercise
Counseling
ÎÎ Smoking
Cessation
ÎÎ Building
Resilience
(stress management)
ÎÎ Integrative
Medicine (massage,
acupuncture, hypnotherapy,
meditation, and yoga)
ÎÎ Work/Life
Initiatives Department
(to manage work and personal
responsibilities)
Assistance
Program Consortium (short-term
counseling and referral)
ÎÎ Resources
for Life After Cancer
(educational and psychosocial
support services)
Employment-Related Issues
ÎÎ Employee
Case Management
Program (coordination of return
from medical leave)
ÎÎ Flexible
Work Arrangements
Genetics Service
(genetic counseling and testing)
ÎÎ Dental
Service (addressing dental
complications of cancer therapy)
ÎÎ Fertility
Preservation and
Parenthood after Cancer Treatment
ÎÎ Physical
ÎÎ Sexual
Rehabilitation
Health Program
ÎÎ Speech
and Hearing Center
(therapy for those whose speech,
voice, or swallowing was affected
by cancer and its treatment)
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
JUNE 2012 / 3
SMALL EFFORT, BIG IMPACT:
MSKCC EMPLOYEES MENTOR AS
BIG BROTHERS/SISTERS
the Physician Billing Department, has been
a Big Sister for more than eight years and
has mentored three Little Sisters. Two of
her Little Sisters graduated from high school
and went on to college. “I get much more
than I give,” Ms. Traina explained. “It is
so rewarding to see how a little bit of effort
Creating a resume. Learning how to conduct yourself in an
can help these young people grow into
successful adults.”
interview. Practicing proper workplace etiquette. These skills,
“My Big Sister is very caring and loving,”
which take time to fine-tune and which many of us were
said Whitney Freeman, 16, Ms. Traina’s
current Little Sister who, with Ms. Traina’s
first introduced to at a young age, are crucial for launching a
support, is learning about college and how
to prepare applications. “She is very resourcesuccessful career.
ful and I can tell her anything. Even if it’s a
ut what if you’re a high school student research laboratory, or travel off-site to
small problem, she always finds a way.”
volunteer together at a soup kitchen. Most of
and you don’t have anyone who
Kameil Grant-Knight, a Patient
these meetings also allow time for students
Representative, has been a mentor since
can show you the ropes? That’s
2006. “I always wanted to do it,
where MSKCC’s Big Brothers
but didn’t have the time to do it
Big Sisters Workplace Mentoring
outside of work,” she said. “The
Program comes into play. The
program here at MSKCC makes it
program, which was launched in
very convenient. I enjoy seeing
2003, matches up to ten employhow the students grow and
ees per year with a Little Brother
follow through on their goals.”
or Little Sister who stands to
She has had three Little Sisters.
benefit from the employee’s
She is helping her current Little,
wisdom and guidance. Research
Aaliyah Henriquez, 17, learn
has shown that children enrolled
workplace etiquette, how to
in Big Brothers Big Sisters
prepare for interviews, and how
programs are more likely to
to craft a resume. Aaliyah would
improve in school and in their
MSKCC staff members who volunteer to be Big Brothers and Big Sisters meet
like to become a nurse.
with their “Littles” every other week to provide guidance, wisdom, and support.
relationships with family and
“I like that I learn things there
friends, and are less likely to skip
that I feel I can’t learn at school,”
school or use illegal drugs or alcohol.
and mentors to interact on an individual basis said Aaliyah, who believes she will benefit
At MSKCC, Big Brothers and Sisters meet to do homework, learn job skills, or just talk. most from learning workplace etiquette.
with their “Littles,” as they are nicknamed,
“The program offers mentors a chance
“This mentoring program is so different from
every other Wednesday afternoon from
to make a difference in a young person’s life
any other — the Bigs not only support us, but
4:00 to 6:00 PM, usually in the Rockefeller
and provides insight into today’s teenagers.
encourage us to do different things.”
Research Laboratories building. The Littles
Our employees who volunteer tell us they
Mentors often keep in touch with their
are all students (ages 13-17) chosen from
love it,” said Barbara Edouard, Employee
Littles long after the program is over.
the Coalition School for Social Change, a
Recognition Specialist. She has been a
Desert Horse-Grant, Administrator of the
public high school located on First Avenue
longtime advocate for Big Brothers Big
Brain Tumor Center, has stayed in contact
at East 120th Street in Manhattan.
Sisters, having worked for the organization
with her former Little Sister, Tatianna
Each time they get together, mentors and
in training and development before coming
Pessoa, who graduated from Buffalo State
students join in a group activity, which may
to MSKCC.
College last December and recently began
be educational, vocational, or cultural in
Employees must commit to the program
a graduate program there in adult education.
nature. They may learn
for most of the school year (October through Tatianna had worked as a summer employee
Kameil
how to write a college
June). The application process includes
at MSKCC during her breaks from school
Grant-Knight
application essay, take a
interviews and requires three references,
(left) with her
and hopes to work here full time someday.
Little Sister,
tour of the hospital or a
including
one
from
the
employee’s
direct
“My time as a mentor really didn’t seem
Aaliyah Henriquez
supervisor. At the same time prospective
like a big commitment, but it had a big
mentors are being interviewed, prospective
impact,” said Ms. Horse-Grant. “My Little
students are also interSister is like extended family to me. I feel
viewed to ensure that
like I helped her achieve her milestones,
mentors and students
and that makes me feel good.” 
are well matched.
Laurette Traina,
Assistant Manager in
Interested in becoming a Big Brother or
Big Sister? Contact Barbara Edouard
at 646-227-3649 or via e-mail at
Big Sister Karen Sternberg,
Administrator of the Office of
edouardb@mskcc.org. The MSKCC
Clinical Research, with her Little
program needs more Big Brothers.
Sister, Jenny Reyes (left)
B
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
JUNE 2012 / 4
CONFERENCE SERVICES ENSURES THAT
MEETINGS SAIL SMOOTHLY
How many times have you walked into Hoffmann Auditorium or into
a conference room in the Rockefeller Research Laboratories (RRL)
building for a meeting, lecture, or continuing medical education (CME)
course, and noticed how organized the room was? Audiovisual
systems in place, tables and floors cleaned, chairs arranged in an
orderly fashion. You can thank the members of the Conference
Services team, who work tirelessly to manage meetings that
take place throughout the year in 13 conference rooms and two
auditoriums in Memorial Hospital and RRL.
P
“
eople who attend these meetings see
everything set up when they arrive,
but there’s a lot that goes on behind
the scenes,” said Rachel Heftler, Director
of Client Services, who oversees Conference
Services. “I’m always so proud of this team
because they make every meeting flow
smoothly.”
The responsibilities of Conference Services
include booking conference rooms, meeting
with clients beforehand to assess their needs,
arranging for audiovisual support, setting
up the required number of chairs in the
desired formation, ensuring the event runs
as planned, and preparing the room for the
next group. “Our mission is to make sure
that our clients have the best possible
meeting experience,” explained Mark
Dower, Manager of Conference Services.
In 2011, Conference Services coordinated
9,458 meetings that included more than
340,000 attendees.
Technological
advances have
streamlined much of
what they do, especially the transition
from analog to digital
approaches that has
occurred over the past decade. Scheduling is
now coordinated using specialized software;
by the end of 2012, staff members will be able
to view a conference room online and request
a reservation for it using a system called
ezConference.
Gone are the days
of 35 mm slides and
VHS video players.
Today, presenters
routinely prepare
their own presentations using software
such as PowerPoint.
But not everyone
has the same level
of technological
expertise. “We have
Technological advances have streamlined
and enhanced many of the tasks that Conference
Services performs.
to quickly navigate who needs support and
who doesn’t. People have different levels
of comfort,” said Mr. Dower.
Technology has also enabled presenters
and audience members to interact during
a meeting. Audience response systems are
now available and are often used during
CME programs to assess participants’
understanding of the information being
presented, or to poll audience members
“The Conference Services staff
members know how to make our
visions a reality.” — Therese Weisbrot, Child Life Coordinator
Joe Michielli, a Lead
Technician who has
worked at MSKCC for 22
years, switched to the
conference services field
after working as a
musician.
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during a meeting. A badge scanner placed
at the entrance to a conference room can
monitor who has attended a meeting, and
participants can receive a follow-up survey
asking them to rate the event.
CME courses may also draw participants
from other institutions whose opinions of
MSKCC will be influenced by their experiences here. “Each year, we typically hold
between 15 and 20 large CME courses in
MSKCC conference facilities, which can
range in size from 50 to 300 participants,”
explained Peter Brodhead, Administrator
of the Office of Continuing Medical
Education. “Conference Services provides
highly professional and invaluable assistance
to us before, during, and after these courses.”
In addition, surgeons from other institutions who visit MSKCC can watch surgery
in real time as it is broadcast to a nearby
conference room, rather than cluster in the
limited space of an operating room. And
video-conferencing capabilities make it
Conference Services (continued on page 6)
JUNE 2012 / 5
Conference Services (continued from page 5)
enormous,” said John Kaminsky,
who has been a Lead Technician
for six years. “Being able to support
every client and respond to every
need can be challenging. But it’s
always great to be able to assist our
clients in a way that helps them do
their jobs better.”
Not all the events that
Conference Services coordinate
are educational in nature. They
also arrange rooms for yoga
classes, support groups, lunches,
retirement parties, and celebrations that bring cancer survivors
together. A favorite event is the
Pediatric Convocation, a festive
gathering held each spring
John Kaminsky has been a Lead Technician for
to celebrate MSKCC’s former and
Conference Services for six years.
current pediatric patients who
possible for MSKCC doctors and researchers graduate from high school or earn
to meet virtually with their colleagues in
their GEDs. The event is videoother countries.
streamed live to the MSKCC Intranet
“It’s great to be able to assist doctors
and the Pediatric closed-circuit
so they can better help their patients,” said
television system.
Joe Michielli, a Lead Technician who has
“We work with Conference
worked at MSKCC for 22 years. He transiServices to secure staging and
tioned into the conference services field after rentals to create an environment
spending years working as a musician — and befitting the importance of the
tinkering with amplifiers and other equipoccasion,” said Therese Weisbrot,
ment. “My wife said the whole rock star thing Child Life Coordinator. “We
probably isn’t going to work out, so you’d
collaborate with them to transform
better get a job,” he recalled.
the West Dining Room of the
Keeping up with the number and variety
cafeteria into an ‘auditorium’
of requests can be a daunting task for
suitable for a very special high
Conference Services staff. There is
school graduation. The Conference
tremendous demand for meeting space,
so it’s important that employees who
need to cancel meetings let Conference
Grace Belle, of the Conference Services
Services know ahead of time. “The number
team, makes sure that all conference spaces
are clean and orderly before each event.
of clients and requests that comes to us is
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
MSKCC’S PATIENT
SATISFACTION SURVEY
SCORES
Patient satisfaction surveys help Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center identify its
strengths and weaknesses from our patients’
perspective. The results from the survey
are used to enhance patient care. For more
information and for detailed quarterly survey
results, visit the Patient Satisfaction Survey
section of the Memorial Hospital/Admin
Intranet site.
Services staff members know how to make
our visions a reality.”
“This event rejuvenates me and reminds
me why we do what we do,” added Mr.
Dower. “It brings out the spirit of what
we do every day.”
“Despite handling thousands of meetings
at MSKCC each year, the Conference
Services staff has a way of making each
client feel that they are the top priority,”
concluded Mr. Brodhead. “Simply put,
they do an incredible job.” 
Need a room for a meeting?
Conference Services can be reached
at 212-639-8405, or you can e-mail
conferenceservices@mskcc.org.
Patient Satisfaction Survey, First Quarter 2012
Number of Patient Responses (%)
Very Poor
Poor
Fair
Good
Very Good
5 (0.2%)
5 (0.2%)
8 (0.4%)
9 (0.4%)
38 (1.8%)
38 (1.8%)
275 (13.3%)
212 (10.2%)
1,742 (84.2%)
1,816 (87.3%)
1 (0.0%)
5 (0.2%)
4 (0.2%)
6 (0.3%)
38 (1.7%)
26 (1.2%)
337 (14.9%)
217 (9.6%)
1,889 (83.3%)
2,000 (88.7%)
Inpatient Report:
Overall Rating of Care Given
Likelihood of Recommending Hospital
Outpatient Report:
Overall Rating of Care and Services
Likelihood of Recommending Facility
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JUNE 2012 / 6
TEACHING BEYOND OUR BORDERS
In February 2012, a surgical team from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center provided an
example of international collaboration at its finest during an educational outreach mission to Costa
Rica. They taught local surgeons various techniques for operating on the liver, pancreas, and bile
ducts so that Costa Rican patients could benefit from this expertise. In return, they experienced
what it means to practice medicine with fewer resources and less reliance on technology.
T
he MSKCC team, led by
Dr. William Jarnagin, Chief
of the Hepatopancreatobiliary
Service, ventured to Costa Rica’s capital,
San José, on a trip sponsored by the Americas
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.
(“Hepatopancreatobiliary” refers to the
liver, pancreas, and bile ducts.) The trip
coincided with a national surgical meeting
being held in San José. Team members
the director of the Costa Rican College of
Nursing and local nurses at nearby Mexico
Hospital about the various types of hepatopancreatobiliary surgeries, technologies,
and nursing care. “They were most interested
in how we run day-to-day nursing activities
at MSKCC,” she explained. “It feels rewarding to know that I left something valuable
behind by sharing my nursing knowledge
and expertise.” Future efforts may include
“Walking through a hospital with
lights out to save energy was our first
clue that things were very different in
Costa Rica.”
— Dr. Michael D’Angelica
presented lectures to their peers at that
conference.
They also taught their Costa Rican
colleagues specialized techniques for
operating on the liver, pancreas, and bile
ducts, spending a full day in the operating
room collaborating on the complicated
removal of a patient’s bile duct cancer.
The trip was coordinated by a surgeon from
Costa Rica who trained in the United States
and was interested in further developing
his native country’s hepatopancreatobiliary
surgical program.
“Operations involving the liver, pancreas,
and bile ducts are very specialized,”
explained Dr. Michael D’Angelica, who
was part of the team, along with fellow
surgeon Dr. Peter Allen and nurse Lystra
Swift, RN. “While Costa Rica is a developed
country, these types of surgical cases are
difficult to manage there. Local surgeons
do not necessarily have the training,
expertise, and support services that we
have here in the United States.”
Ms. Swift was the scrub nurse for the
surgery. She also made a presentation to
the establishment of relationships between
the Costa Rican College of Nursing
and MSKCC’s Nursing Education international program.
Like many medical teams
that travel abroad to deliver
patient care services, the
MSKCC surgical team was
impressed by the ability of
the Costa Rican doctors and
nurses to deliver care with
fewer resources. “As a
surgeon in a high-level facility
like MSKCC, it is very easy
to lose track of how most of
the world functions with
far fewer resources than I
typically have at my fingertips,” said Dr. D’Angelica.
“Walking through a hospital
with lights out to save energy
was our first clue that things
were very different in Costa
Rica. Nonetheless, the physicians were
cordial, hospitable, knowledgeable, and very
willing to learn and interact.”
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
Team members found the experience
extremely rewarding, and plan to return
next year for another educational mission.
“It is always difficult to know who gains more
from exchanges like this,” noted Dr. Allen.
“We were certainly there to be educators,
but seeing and hearing about the local
problems in delivering surgical care, and
the local solutions to those problems, was a
learning experience as well. The operations
being performed by the Costa Rican surgeons were similar to those we perform daily,
but they were achieved with significantly less
dependence on technology and more
emphasis on basic techniques. That’s
certainly something we can learn from.”
“This was my first time doing something
like this. It was very positive and made
me want to keep doing it,” concluded
Dr. Jarnagin. “To be able to contribute
to the education of doctors in another
country is very gratifying.” 
A team from MSKCC traveled to Costa Rica last February
to educate surgeons and nurses there about liver,
pancreatic, and bile duct surgery. From left: Nurse
Lystra Swift, RN, Dr. Michael D’Angelica, Dr. Peter
Allen, and Dr. William Jarnagin.
JUNE 2012 / 7
KUDOS!
Celebrating the accomplishments of MSKCC and its staff
MSKCC’s technology awards
and acknowledgments were
coming fast and furious during
the first half of 2012! On January 24,
Mark Gendron, Quality Management
Specialist in the Department of
Laboratory Medicine, was named
“Technologist of the Year” at the
department’s annual awards luncheon.
From what we’ve heard from his colleagues, Mr. Gendron is a friendly
he’s a great teacher, and he’s just a pleasure
to work with.”
Mr. Gendron was in excellent company
this year. He was one of eight outstanding
finalists, with the other seven being:
Tiffany Elizabeth Channer, Blood
Bank; Elvira Maliarova, Cytotherapy;
Nicole Musak, Cell Markers; Anjana S.
Patel, Hematology; Shaun Richardson,
53rd Street Laboratory; Sinnifer Sim,
Cellular Immunology; and On Lai Sum,
Clinical Chemistry. Congratulations to
all the finalists!
Elsewhere in the world of
MSKCC technology, the
Quantitative Analysis and
Strategic Initiatives team (“QuantStrat”
organization.” Previous winners have
included AT&T, Lucent Technologies,
IBM Corporation, General Electric
Global Research Center, and Intel
Decision Technologies Group.
Many aspects of the QuantStrat team’s
innovative work led to MSKCC’s selection
for this recognition, including: resource
optimization to identify opportunities for
clinical expansion; performance trending
and forecasting to predict future hospital
activity; competitive analysis to assess
strategic growth options; and clinical
analytics to leverage MSKCC’s vast
database and leading clinical expertise
to enhance patient care.
“It is a tremendous honor for us, as
an academic medical center, to win an
award that is usually associated with
large commercial corporations,” said
Ari Caroline, Director of Quantitative
Analysis & Strategic Initiatives. He added,
“MSKCC is truly blazing a path in the
use of quantitative analytics and modeling
in health care. Most critically, we are
now using mathematical modeling to
better understand our clinical data.”
Hats off to you, QuantStrat!
for short) made history: The team’s work
was recognized with the 2012 INFORMS
Prize, which was presented to MSKCC in
April — the first time this honor has been
Mark Gendron, the 2012 Technologist of the Year
given to a hospital. Dr. Larry Norton,
in MSKCC’s Department of Laboratory Medicine.
Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast
Cancer Programs at MSKCC and Medical
superman — incredibly capable, innovaDirector of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast
tive, and just an all-around great guy.
Center, accepted the prize on behalf
It seems that, in addition to those stellar
of MSKCC at the awards ceremony in
qualities, it was also his creation of a
California. The INFORMS (Institute for
quality management program and his
May 6 – 12 was Nurses Week,
subsequent refining and improving of that Operations Research and the Management
Sciences) Prize is awarded annually
and MSKCC once again paid
program over the previous two years
for “effective integration of operations
tribute to the critical work
that made 2012 Mr. Gendron’s year for
research/management sciences in an
performed every day by our unparalleled
this well-deserved honor.
nursing staff. The
Susan Shuptar,
festivities included
Manager in the
site-specific celebrations;
Department of
a special Nurses Week
Laboratory Medicine,
breakfast and dinner;
cited Mr. Gendron’s
and presentations by
accomplishments in
two guest speakers:
quality management in
Pat Polansky, RN, MS,
support of his selection
Director of Policy and
for this year’s award,
Communications for the
and added: “Mark is a
Center to Champion
fantastic team player
Nursing in America, on
— smart, intuitive,
“The Future of Nursing
reasonable and always
– Leading Change,
fair. He has an innate
Advancing Health,” and
ability to always see the
Amy Herman, JD, MA,
bright side. He is always
The MSKCC team that brought home the 2012 INFORMS Prize, standing from left:
Director of Educational
respectful and patient,
Isaac Wagner, Howard Thaler, Dr. Larry Norton, Alex Grigorenko, Sasha Bartashnik,
and Mike Gorman, the 2012 INFORMS Prize Committee Chair. Seated, from left: Wendy
Perchick, Nick Kastango, Ari Caroline, and Jeff Keesing.
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
Kudos! (continued on page 9)
JUNE 2012 / 8
Kudos! (continued from page 8)
Development at Thirteen/WNET, on
“The Art of Perception: Rethinking
How We See.” The highlight of the week
was the annual Samuel and May Rudin
Awards for Excellence in Nursing.
This much-anticipated awards ceremony
and reception honors six members of the
MSKCC nursing staff for their talent and
devotion to their patients. The winners
were nominated by their colleagues and
recognized as outstanding in the
following categories: clinical practice;
advanced practice; education; research;
leadership; and patient care support.
The 2012 winners are:
ƒƒ Christy Shea, Clinical Nurse IV
– Practice
ƒƒ Wayne Quashi, Clinical Nurse
Specialist – Advanced Practice
ƒƒ Lystra Swift, Nurse Leader
– Leadership
ƒƒ Ethel Law, Nurse Practitioner
– Research
ƒƒ Elizabeth Grahn, Clinical Nurse
Specialist — Education
ƒƒ Christina Grant, Unit Assistant
– Patient Care Support
“Every year, I look forward to the
Rudin Awards and to the opportunity to
celebrate those members of the nursing
staff whose dedication and general
excellence inspire us all,” said Elizabeth
McCormick, Chief Nursing Officer at
MSKCC. “The nurses and unit assistant
who were chosen this year excel at what
they do, and have proven time and again
the depth of their commitment to our
patients and to MSKCC. They deserve
this honor, and I am thankful that we are
able to recognize their accomplishments
in such a prominent manner.”
ON THE HORIZON:
Clinical Research Professionals
Week
June 18 – 22
MSKCC Staff Appreciation Week
July 9 – 13
Environmental Services Week
If it’s June, it must be
nearly time for…Clinical
Research Professionals Week!
Recognized this year from June 18 to
22 , MSKCC has several events planned
to demonstrate its appreciation for
our clinical research staff: Wednesday,
June 20, staff are invited to attend a
Poster Session and Clinical Research
Expo, which will include popcorn and
prizes; Thursday, June 21, there will be
a Technology Exchange Core (TEC)
Forum, which includes pizza and a
raffle; and on Friday, June 22, staff
are invited to hear research staff reports
and see the presentation of the Poster
Prize Winners. What a week!
Clinical Research Professionals:
We salute you! 
September 9 – 15
Congratulations to the newest
members of MSKCC’s 20 Year Club!
MSKLife
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Managing Editor: Jennifer Pauly
Contributing Editor: Rosie Foster
Manager, HR Communications: Jean O’Leary
Feedback: MSKLife@mskcc.org
© 2012 Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
DID YOU KNOW…?
…that LifeCare can save you time and stress?
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ÎÎ LifeCare
is voluntary and confidential and there is no charge to
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ÎÎ All
staff eligible for MSKCC benefits, including clinical and research
fellows, HHMI employees affiliated with MSKCC, and their dependents, may access LifeCare.
ÎÎ W henever
you need assistance with a work/life issue — or a
referral to a provider — call LifeCare 24 hours a day, seven days a
week at 800-873-4636, or visit www.lifecare.com. To sign up
for LifeCare, go to the website, and click on “Sign Up Now,” located
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LifeCare is offered through MSKCC’s HR Work/Life Initiatives, which administers a wide variety of work/life programs. These programs are
designed to help you care for yourself, your children, parents, partners, and even pets. For more details, see the MSKCC Work/Life site,
call 646-227-3389 or e-mail WorkLIfe@mskcc.org.
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
JUNE 2012 / 9
MSKANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to MSKCC staff members who, during April, May, and June 2012, celebrated milestone anniversaries with the Center.
5 Years
Ismail A. Alao
Wendy Alfonso
Bibi Shafeena Ally
Arlyn Apollo
Efrain Aponte
Jennifer Arroyo
Joseph Ashby
Rebecca J. Asmussen
Jose R. Astacio
Shirley Atmowinoto
Rose Baek
Pirooz Bahmaie
Derrick Banks
Kathia Barnwell
Kirsha Beraud
Ranjit Singh Bindra
William M. Bostick
Jessica Lynne Bowlds
Zenica Leslie Bowser
Emmanuel S. Brakye
Kristine Brown
Travis Brown
Dolores M. Brown-Smith
Christine Elizabeth Cabello
Christopher Carey
Elizabeth Carini
Delia Antonia Carty
Alan C. Carver
Carmen Castillo
Karla J. Fuentes Castillo
Magali Cavatore
Natasha Cesaire
Manfred Charles
Sanjay Chawla
Carol Chen
Xiaoping Chen
Wai Sim Cheung
Joseph Christoff
Jennifer Ann Coffaro
Alfonso Compres
Teresa Yat Compres
Shiobhan Eilish Connolly
Alexis N. Crawford
Beata Csatari
Summer Daniel
Lana Davis
Tyrah R. Davis
Nisha Dholakia
Elizabeth Diaz
Milagros Diaz
Nancy Diaz
Nicole Elizabeth DiPalma
Amina S. Dixon
Edward I. Dixon
Amy J. Dong
Debra T. Donnelly
Andrew M. Dorka
Fang Du
Skyler M. Duchesne
David L. Duke
Comfort Janet Edusei
Marjorie T. Edwards
Lileny Espinal
Lydia L. Evans
Nataly Fedorova
Elizabeth M. Felton
Yesenia Fernandez
Christine A. Foulke
Aaron Gabow
Danielle Michelle Gabriel
Lionel R. Gajar
Jacqueline Michelle Gallagher
Janice Garcia
Rodney H. Gaspard
Tatyana Gelfand
Constantine M. George
Richard Gewanter
Gida Gilliard
Tamu La-qwet Gilliard
Laura Elizabeth Godfrey
Allen M. Golbig
Barbara Golby
Jessica Goldman
Noah Michael Goodman-Davis
Clenon Gordon
Concynella Graham-Wright
Simone Grant
Meryl R. Greenblatt
David Gregory
Stacey Gregory
Moses Gutierrez
Jaqueline A. Hargrove
Christopher C. Harper
Jennifer Hartfield
Susan E. Hartley
Brenda Hernandez
Stephanie Hernandez
Margarita Herrera
Sarah Allison Herships
Mercedes Herskowitz
Mariluz Hincapie
Maria Hinton
Ryan Hoffman
Robert A. Holmes
Julie Holzgraf
Gloria Hsu
Dale Hueston
Wing-Yu Hui
Ma lourdes A. Imperial
Konstantin Ippolitov
Reuven Isakov
Jami Nishelle Jackson
Amy G. Jiang
Kema O. Julien
Ann J. Kaczorowski
Christine Kasper
Tiffany D. Kendig
Suresh Keswani
Igor Khiger
Debra Kiernan
David Bertram Lake
Kathleen Lamb
Allison Lampe
Benny E. Lapierre
Ankica Ana Lawless
Victor Leung
Nina Leviyeva
Dianne Lewis
Elizabeth Lewis
Christy Li
Yupu Liang
Caroline Lochner
Kathryn Lomonaco
Michael J. Long
Stephen Barstow Long
Steven Lopez
Jackie Lowers
Andria Dian Lyn
Patricia Ann Maiello
Tamim Shabbir Malbari
Lali Manavalan
Nadine Manosalva
Eartha G. Marks
Shaun Maroney
Sheena Martinez
Greta Maslov
William Matteo
Majid Maybody
Edward J. McDonnell
Maureen M. McDowell
James McKenna
Rolston R. McMillan
Enrique Melo
Natasha F. Milard
Jessica K. Miller
Kristina Mitchell
Pa Shell S. Mobley
Heeralall Mohabir
Stephanie Molano
Mark N. Moodie
Denise Grace Moore
Danny Morales
Sabrina Morel
Loretta Morris
Margo E. Morse
Satoko Murakami
Masanori Nagata
Joaimee Nagtalon
Jayasree Nair
Joseph Napolitano
Cara Avery Nelson
Nicole Chiriey Neptune
Shameka Nicole Newkirk
Adam Niciewski
Naomie Michelle Nicolas
Albert Nortey
Edward J. North
Courtney Ann Nowak
Oana-Paula Orodel
Joseph Owusu
Carrie Panzer
Jessica Parisi
Elizabeth Parsons
Dina Patel
Suraj Patel
Randi Pedlow
Nevelyn Penn
Peter Perdikogiannis
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
Jessica Perez
Judy Ann Persaud
Danielle Pignalosa
Alisa Pinkhasik
Domenick Pirraglia
Paula Portelli
Kaseem U. Porter
Joe Puma
Kermitt Ramirez
Raywattie Ramnarine
Kumarie Ramsingh
Lavanya Reddy
Larissa M. Regala
Margaret Reilly
Emily Renkin
Debbie Reveron
Rafael Reyes
Jenny L. Rice
Andrea Robinson
Rosalinda Robles
Karesa Rodney
Annette Rodriguez
Caroline Christine Rodriguez
Crystal A. Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Yasmin Rodriguez
Lauren Jayne Rogak
Carlos Rosado
Janette M. Russell
Jennifer Samboy
Karen D. Sanchez
Ruth E. Santos
Chevonne Saunders
Natalia Sawicka
Robert F. Schmehr
Charisse Scroggins
Omadai Seojatan
Sheri A. Shebairo
Miguelina Sica
Melissa J. Sideroff
Shawn Simpson
Alison Lindsay Slocum
Raegon Allison Solomon
Rodney Stanford
Avens Joshua St-Firmin
Wai Lik Sun
Venkatesh Sunkireddy
Amina Danyal Syed
Clinthia Thomas
Contessa T. Thomas
Natasha Antionette Thompson
John Torres
Anthony M. Troiano
Raymond Tsang
Padmore K. Tuffour
Evelyn Trinidad Velazquez
Jessica Velazquez
Julius Jupiter Villa
Jose M. Viloria
Daniel Vitulli
Jamie J. Walkes
Emily Ruth Zilpha Walsh
Josefa D. Walter
JUNE 2012 / 10
MSKANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to MSKCC staff members who, during April, May, and June 2012, celebrated milestone anniversaries with the Center.
5 Years (continued)
Chasity Burrows Walters
Adamski Williams
Joan Marie Williams
Keisha Williams
Merlene Williams
Scott Christian Williams
Duncan Wright
Jianguo Yan
Haijuan Yang
Vernon Yates
Anna Yi
Lisa Im Yuo
Sabrina Zanazzi
Elvira Zelenak
Zhigang Zhang
Xing Juan Zhao
Junting Zheng
Hong Zhong
Ying Zhou
10 Years
Jose Aguilera
Catherine Marie Albert
Grantley Augustine
Wilfredo Saymo Balin
Kenneth Belt
Karim Benawand
Sean L. Berry
Michelle Boone
Derek Bowden
Robin Brendel
Jose Brens
Francesca Campo
Rocco Caputo
Dawn Cayenne
Maria Ming Yi Chui
Pamela Colker
Ellen Coonerty
Merry Davidson
Shanella Vanessa Deonarine
Claudia R. Diamonte
Rosamaria Falbo
Maria Feldman
Emely Fernandez
Paul Frisch
Charles E. Galvez
Alina Garcia
Kim Springer Goddard
Lori A. Gofter
Leonard Golbin
Christina Goldman
Deborah M. Goldstein
Simone A. Grant
Dana Ertischek Greez
Thomas F. Hack
Petrus J. Hendrikx
Laura A. James
Sundaraganesh Jeevarathnam
Marcus John
Cathi Johnson
Michelle Joseph
Luba Kovaleva
Jacqueline Faith Kurdziel
Amaning Kyei-Kwarteng
Carissa Laudati
Margaret A. Leversha
Thanayi A.E. Levy
Mihaela E. Lupu
Robert Lynch
Laura Martin
Jeanette Martinez
Maria Maugeri
Kathleen Mazzarella
Patrick McCann
Melinda McEndarfer
Kevin J. McManus
Anne McSweeney
John R. Mitchell
Colette Crotteau Mooney
Mikhail Mordkovich
Gloria A. Mottley
Bruce Murray
Melissa P. Murray
Kevin Naughten
Richard K. Naum
Deirdre Neville
Monique Newsome
Rachael Beth O’Connor
Dennis Olinde
Alice Ostrowsky
Wilfredo Perez
Blesida Punzalan
Salima Rafikh
Naiyer A. Rizvi
Dorothea Dimitrova Robev
Lisa Romano
Eric Sampson
Chris Sander
Lonette Sandy
Mary Jo Sullivan
Kin Yan Tam
Derek S. Tan
Kathleen A. Trotta
Matthew Williamson
King Wong
Wai Lin Wong
Kimberly A. Wright
Jane Yoffe
15 Years
Carmen Basdeo
Jacquelyn Burns
Steven J. Cappiello
Patrick M. Carragee
Stacie Corcoran
Tracey Anita Cumberbatch
Jennifer M. DeLuca
Ellen Dermody
Keith B. Edwards
Susan L. Freeman
Gwendelene C. Gordon
Cherri Melinda Grant
Tara D. Griffin
Rachele I. Hashinsky
Steven C. Hunt
Letitsha Jones
Anna Khazanova
Lefterios Koulouris
Rona I. Lester
Hong Lin
Jason Lennard Marcano
Veronica E. McLymont
Teresa Rosewell Nepa Moore
Loretta Ohrablo
Roman Olivo
La’Nnette M. Paynes
Rosa Perez
Kevin P. Regan
Mary Jane Regan
Nilbert C. Sedillo
Michael Ulric Spencer
Vladimir Stein
Ping Sun
Zbigniew Szpryngiel
Joanne E. Torok-Castanza
Jennifer Lynn Tota
Carolyn Wasserheit-Lieblich
Laurie A. Williams
Jianping Xiong
Kevin L.V.D. Young
20 Years
Paula L. Absolon
Gregory Antonecchia
Roberta H. Baron
Jennifer Ann Bell
Arlene C. Biolsi
Noreen A. Blake
Eileen C. Browne
Susan K. Concannon
Susan DiMaira D’Agostino
Ellen C. Dougherty
Ann P. Drew
Boris Eyshinskiy
Rosanna Fahy Fiorarancio
Lori A. Gill
Edgardo C. Gomez
Janet Gonzalez
Hubert Johnson
Julius Jones
Dale M. Lovelock
Jan Maier
Carina Belen T. Marasigan
Anthony R. Massiah
Mary E. McDonough
Carmen I. Melendez
Elizabeth A. Morris
Diane Paolilli
Dinshaw J. Patel
Valerie D. Pearson
Marianna Plummer
Gail Pulsts
Jane A. Rodriguez
Victoria J. Schuessler
Elsie Smith
Anna Spilios
Isabel C. Sumira
M S K L I F E : A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E S TA F F O F M EM O R I A L S L OA N - K E T T E R I N G C A N C E R C EN T E R
Joanne Thorne
Errol R. Williams
Mae Y. Wong
Henry Yong
Nadia N. Zeigler
25 Years
Eloisa P. Allen
Erica Awai
Troy W. Cantales
Joseph Carpenter
Suzanne M. Chanel
Clestine E. Crichlow
Chirly Denton
Luis Diaz
Maria A. Didulo-Olah
Jane M. Duffy-Weisser
Clarissa G. Fikar
Bonnie Flatow
Pamela S. Grant-Navarro
Rubelia Guevara
Brenda A. Ince
Noelene A. Johnson
Roderick Lawrence
Bruce A. Lewis
Vivia F. Lewis-Thompson
Mary E. Logerfo
Bernadette C. Loughlin
Nora A. Love
Maria Carmen P. Luna
Elisa B. Mangarin
Carlos A. Moreira
Carol R. Rios
Beatrice Sica
Pofan Sin
Anna Szul
Steven Tittley
30 Years
Dennis Gilbert Augustus
L. Jeremy Miransky
Ana V. Mojica
Theresa M. Peragine
Juan Seijido
Jacqueline Sutherland
35 Years
Keith R. Fryson
Marie-Ange Lafrontiere
Yvonne Lewis
Nicholas Maffetone
Farida A. Ramchandani
Jane Rueda
Jill Solan
Wendy R. Werner
Owen O. Williams
40 Years
Roberto T. Chua
Michel J. Legagneur
Corazon G. Magalong
J U N E 2 0 12 / 11