Dr. Renee Melfi

There’s nothing as females that we can’t do

Alyssa Dearborn

As a spine interventionist, Dr. Renee Melfi knows how it feels to be one of the only women in the room. The underrepresentation of women in the sciences is something that she has noticed for years. “Even things like high school classes and then college where you’re looking primarily at sciences, I think in my physics lab in high school I was literally the only female in the lab.” Dr. Melfi explained, “As I went further on in my training, the field I chose was called physical medicine and rehabilitation, and that is very large, broad specialty. Then as I became more specialized in my specialty, which is inter-ventional spine procedures, I started going to their international meetings, like their annual meeting that they would have every year.

I would look around and there were only a handful of women in a hotel conference center where there’s probably 700 physicians attending.”

As a member and instructor for Spine Intervention Society, she has been attending the annual meetings for 19 years. Within those years, the gap in women’s attendance has been closing. However, Dr. Melfi has noticed the persisting gap in leadership.

“I noticed a few years ago I was invited to give a lecture at their international meeting. I was one of two females giving a lecture over a three-day conference. And I actually brought it to the attention of one of the board members and I think his response was something like, ‘Well, there’s no other good candidates.’ And I said, ‘You can’t possibly mean that. Look around the room.’ I think as a woman in this field, my hope now is to try to advance and give a chance to some of the younger females coming out of fellowships in interventional programs because it is hard to look at the roster of those conferences and see one or two females.”

Since that time, she said, the administration and board are now aware of the misrepresentation, and there is now a greater number of females giving presentations and the international annual scientific meeting.

Working hard to become one of the leading experts in her field has helped her in her goal to better help her patients. In a time when most practitioners are a part of a large medical group or employed by hospitals, Dr. Melfi strives to be an exception.

“Twenty years ago, it was more common for there to be small to mid-sized groups as well as a large group here and there. In the course of my practice career here in Syracuse that’s very much transitioned,” she said.

By choosing not to follow the trend of becoming a part of a large practice with many mid-level practitioners, she said she is able to give patients very personalized care as well as additional medical options such as patient stem cell injections, a procedure that uses the patient’s own stem cells to assist in pain management.

“I wanted to have the autonomy to remain my own boss in medicine and do things the way I want to and take care of patients the way I want. So instead of just following this trend where medicine is getting very big, I made the very conscious decision to go the other way where I am intentionally staying as small as I can. I want to be the option where someone can have a very personalized experience.”

Being an expert in interventional medicine provided Dr. Melfi with opportunities that have taken her all around the country. After finishing her fellowship with Dr. Charles Aprill - the then most renowned interventionist - in New Orleans, she decided to return home to Central New York.

“It was actually challenging.” she said when asked about what it was like to leave and then return home, “I left for all of my training and I’m very close with my family. I never had a big worldly experience when I was growing up. I had consciously made the decision that I will go wherever it is required to get the best education I could.”

But just as she made the conscious decision to move away, she made the conscious decision to return to Syracuse.

“I felt like I was missing everything with my family.” she said, “My grandma was still alive and my niece and nephew were little kids and were growing up. I was missing every event because I was a flight away, I wasn’t a drive away. The cities I lived in were significantly larger, so moving back to Syracuse was an adjustment. Another reason not just for family was that I loved the outdoors. I think Upstate New York is just gorgeous if you’re interested in outdoor activities. Those are all things that I had missed and I had really wanted those opportunities in my life again. This is my home. Home is where the heart is.”

Just as Dr. Renee Melfi makes it her mission to provide the best specialized care, she also wants women to be able to work towards their goals like she was able to.

“I think women should continue to always aim high.” she said, “I don’t feel like we should be limited by things that we see as barriers in terms of the number of years of schooling that it takes to accomplish something. There’s nothing as females that we can’t do and I think it really comes down to belief in self, poise, and hard work. I don’t think there’s a thing that someone can’t accomplish if she works hard.

Women should try to accomplish anything in terms of what they’re interested in and be okay if they’re the only female in the room." Because she had the great fortune to train with her mentor, Dr. Aprill, she feels it is her duty to be an instructor and pass on the skills that he taught her. She met the rigorous qualifications to become an instructor for the Spine Intervention Society, the international organization of which Dr. Aprill was a co-founder.

“There’s very strict criteria for advancing to position of instructor for this organization, and I’m one of two females in the entire United States that is a certified instructor for the Spine Intervention Society and one of seven in the entire world,” she said. “Since Dr. Aprill passed earlier this year, I feel even more passionate to pass down his extraordinary expertise.” SWM

Daily through January 14 Lights on the Lake

What: If you didn’t make it to Lights on the Lake prior to the holidays, the fun continues through Jan. 14. Now in its 32nd year, Lights on the Lake is a two-mile long drive-through show featuring: Towering holiday displays, larger-than-life Land of Oz, North Pole station, twinkling fantasy forest, colorful section arches, fairytale magic grand finale, and memorable animated scenes. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. When: 5 to 10 p.m. daily Where: Onondaga Lake Park 6790 Onondaga Lake Trail Liverpool, NY 13088 Info: www.onondagacountyparks.com

Friday, Jan. 7 to Sunday, Jan. 9 Jurassic Quest

What: The largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit in North America is back, bigger and better. More than 100 photorealistic dinosaurs are ready to delight Syracuse-area families when Jurassic Quest® opens at the New York State Fairgrounds for a limited run January 7 through 9. When: Friday, Jan. 7: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 8: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: New York State Fairgrounds 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209 Cost: $22 for kids and adults, $19 for seniors Info: https://www.jurassicquest.com/events/syracuse-ny

Sunday, Jan. 9 American Starburst

What: Symphoria offers music of North and South America with this eclectic program. Selections include Starburst by Jessie Montgomery and Symphony No. 3 (At the Camp Meeting) by Charles Ives. Chilean composer Enrique Soro’s stunning Andante Appassionato and Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland complete this program. When: 3 p.m. Where: St. Paul’s Cathedral, 220 E. Fayette Street, Syracuse 13202 Info: experiencesymphoria.org

Sunday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Feb. 13 Wild About Theater!

What: An exciting new program at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo with Redhouse Arts Center and Open Hand Puppet Theater. Throughout this 6-week program, kids ages 10-15 years will learn various theatrical skills, such as: improv, teamwork, design, stage presence and basic puppetry. Using the different exhibits at the zoo and the animals for inspiration, participants will also work as a group to write, design and perform an original show in the outdoor amphitheater on the last day of the program. When: Sundays from Jan. 9 to Feb. 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Rosamond Gifford Zoo 1 Conservation Pl, Syracuse, NY 13204 Info: rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Wednesday, Jan. 19 – Sunday, Feb. 6 The Yoga Play at Syracuse Stage

What: The Yoga Play offers theater-goers 90 minutes of side-splitting laughter. A fun-filled new comedy by Dipika Guha, a talent to watch and recipient of a Venturous Playwright Fellowship by The Lark. When: Performances take place daily except Mondays and Tuesday, Jan. 25 Where: Syracuse Stage, 820 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13210 Info: syracusestage.org

Saturday, Jan. 22 Toast of the Town

What: Pianist Natasha Paremski and Symphoria toast the New Year with two amazing works by George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue and his Second Rhapsody. You’ll remember Quinn Mason’s gorgeous music from the 2020-21 season, and you’ll love his Toast of the Town Overture. Aaron Jay Kernis’s poignant Elegy honors all who have suffered during the COVID crisis. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Crouse-Hinds Concert Theater 411 Montgomery St, Syracuse, NY 13202 Info: experiencesymphoria.org

Cheyenne Fasce, a registered nurse who has worked in acute and chronic adult and pediatric dialysis and has helped to develop and grow Upstate’s Outpatient Pediatric Dialysis, will be honored with a top nursing award from National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Fasce has been named as the recipient of the Foundation’s Council for Nephrology Nurses and Technicians’s Carol Mattix Award. The annual award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the care of dialysis patients.

Fasce will receive the award during the NFK’s spring clinical meetings in April 2022.

Fasce works closely with Child Life Specialists as well as other departments at Upstate to obtain grants and funding for materials, games, and activities to keep her patients entertained and distracted during long treatments and training appointments; as well as securement devices for catheters to promote safety and positive body image, free of charge to the patient.

She is currently pursuing her master of science degree in nursing. Fasce's goals after finishing her degree are to continue as an APRN in pediatric nephrology/adult nephrology with an aim to increase access to home dialysis access and resources for rural and underserved/financially limited patients.

Pagliaroli promoted at Oswego Health

Oswego Health has announced the recent promotion of Kathryn Pagliaroli to vice president of clinical services and integrated healthcare. Pagliaroli began her career at Oswego Health in 2001 as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit and quickly advanced to clinical trainer in 2004, RN case manager in 2008, patient services/staff development manager in 2011, director of quality management in 2013, director of clinical quality and patient safety in 2014, before becoming corporate director of integrated healthcare in 2020.

In this newly created position at Oswego Health, Pagliaroli will provide executive leadership and guidance for care coordination across the healthcare system. She will oversee ancillary services, including laboratory, pharmacy, medical imaging, dietary and rehabilitation services. She will act as a liaison, in collaboration with senior leadership to develop and sustain a culture that supports quality, access to care, and collaboration across all Oswego Health locations as well as its strategic partners throughout the community.

“Kathryn has been a true asset for Oswego Health and the recent pandemic proved how critical her leadership is to the organization. From managing relationships internally and externally with the Department of Health and our community providers to managing quality of care to patient satisfaction, we could not think of another person more suitable for this new role,” stated Michael Harlovic, president and CEO of Oswego Health.

Pagliaroli earned her master of science management from Keuka College in 2009 and her bachelor of science in nursing in 2001 from Roberts Wesleyan College. In 2019, Pagliaroli was selected for a leadership award from the New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders and currently serves as region president for the Central New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders.

Library director honored

On Friday, Nov. 7, at a ceremony in Syracuse, Skaneateles Library’s Director Nickie Marquis became the recipient of the Mary Bobinski Innovative Public Library Director Award from the New York Library Association. The award recognizes a public library director who has developed or implemented an innovative program leading to an increase in financial support and/or usage of their library. It was established in 2010 to commemorate the memory and accomplishments of Mary Bobinski, director of the Amherst Public Library in Erie County from 1973-2006. She was a past president of NYLA’s Public Library Section and past president of the Public Library Directors Association.

Marquis began working at Skaneateles Library in 2012 and has been working diligently since then to bring the library up to modern standards.

For Marquis, this award came as a true honor when she heard about it a few weeks ahead of the ceremony.

“I was completely surprised and very touched by the whole thing,” Marquis said. “It feels wonderful to be recognized for the work I do, but this award really belongs to the staff and trustees of the library. It's so important to us that everyone who walks in our doors feels welcome and finds something that excites them. Each person on our staff contributes to that.”

Stirpe seeks out Women of Distinction

Assemblyman Al Stirpe will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Women of Distinction Awards on March 12, 2022 at Stone’s Lakeside (a woman owned business). His office will be sending out the nomination forms to everyone in his district, which includes the towns of Clay, Cicero, Manlius, Pompey, Fabius and Tully.

All nominations are due by Feb 11, 2022 for the event in March.

This year’s categories are: Education, Community/Civic Affairs, Business, Healthcare, Volunteer, and COVID Hero.

For more information, contact oneillm@nyassembly.gov.

Cheers to a New Year and Thank You for keeping us the...

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