NUHEALTH ESTABLISHES NEW OSTEOPATHIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT NUMC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10th, 2012
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUHEALTH ESTABLISHES NEW OSTEOPATHIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT NUMC
East Meadow, NY….In an effort to help train specialists for diagnosing and treating diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes as well as cancers of all types, Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, announced the establishment of the new osteopathic hematology/oncology fellowship program at the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), the first such program in New York State. Under the leadership of Vladimir K. Gotlieb, MD, director of the fellowship program and chief of the division of oncology within the department of medicine, this new fellowship program will include two fellows who have graduated from their medicine residency programs and now are obtaining additional specialized training.
“We welcome Dr. Gotlieb’s two new hematology/oncology fellows to our NuHealth family. Few diseases have the power to cause fear on the level of cancer and blood disorders. But whether the problem is as minor as anemia or as life-threatening as leukemia, these specialists can help ease patients’ symptoms and minds, working closely with colleagues in other specialties,” stated Gianelli. “There is a need for specialists who can help patients manage a broad range of acute and chronic illnesses, both on an inpatient and outpatient basis and this training program is a vital aspect of our commitment to training the next generation of specialists who will further our commitment to treat our vulnerable populations, with expertise, dignity and respect.”
According to Alan Multz, chair of the department of medicine at NUMC, “The fellowship program will interact closely with the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s hematology/oncology program on several educational and training activities, including tumor boards and lecture series. Under the supervision of three attending physicians, these two fellows who have started on July 1st, will assist medicine residents in providing improved care to our patients. A major goal of the fellowship program is to provide advanced training in diagnosing and treating diseases of various forms of cancers, blood disorders such as leukemia and hemophilia, lymph nodes and bone marrow, while also learning to provide caring and compassionate care.”
NUMC will recruit an additional candidate for each of the years 2013 and 2014, for the total size of four fellows. Fellows graduated from the American Osteopathic Association approved internal medicine program. The fellows will also rotate in the bone marrow unit at Stony Brook Hospital, with other rotations at NUMC to include ambulatory services, consultations, pediatric hematology and oncology, radiation oncology, pathology and blood banking.
Steven J. Walerstein, MD, FACP, NuHealth’s executive vice president for medical affairs and medical director, added: “We are excited about the establishment of the new osteopathic hematology/oncology fellowship program to be based in our hospital. These specialists, who serve a unique role in the delivery of quality care, take care of most cancers and blood disorder problems affecting patients from infancy through old age.”
Martin Diamond, DO, NuHealth’s director of medical education, indicated: “NUMC is very proud to be able to have an osteopathic hematology/oncology fellowship program that will benefit many patients particularly patients from underserved communities that need our fellows’ expertise in treating cancers and blood disorders. We look forward to training the next generation of specialists in hematology/oncology.”
“It is very exciting to be furthering the mission of providing quality specialized services at NUMC, as well as training the future generation of specialist physicians who will provide excellent and compassionate cancer care,” said Dr. Gotlieb. “I appreciate the assistance of my colleagues, Dr. Mitchell Karten and Dr. Boris Avezbakiyev, in selecting this year’s candidates, not an easy decision to make given the excellent and well qualified applicants. The focus of our program is to provide expert care to those suffering from various forms of cancers and blood disorders, both as inpatients or as ambulatory patients, in a top-notch and compassionate environment. Utilizing sophisticated technology and a highly experienced faculty, our fully accredited, challenging and innovative fellowship program offers a wide range of clinical expertise to a diverse population suffering from a myriad of medical issues.”
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.