New York Downstate Association of Respiratory Therapists 2014 Slate of Candidates President Felix Khusid Felix Khusid, RRT-ACCS-NPS, RPFT, FAARC, is the Administrative Director for the Respiratory Therapy Department and Pulmonary Physiology Center at New York Methodist Hospital. Felix graduated from the Respiratory Therapy Program at Long Island University in 1988. Felix has served as a Co-Director/Faculty for Mechanical Ventilation Workshops conducted by the American College of Physicians from 2004 through 2012, as well as presenting at the American College of Chest Physicians. An AARC member since 1990, Felix is a founding member of NYDART, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2009. He has been inducted as a Fellow of the AARC in 2011. In addition he has been selected by the American College of Critical Care Medicine to be inducted as a Fellow (FCCM) in January 2015. Vice President LARRY SCHLOSSBERG, RRT LARRY SCHLOSSBERG is a Registered Respiratory Therapist who received his A.A.S in Respiratory Therapy in 1978, and eventually earned a B.S and M.S. in Health Care Management/Administration. His career as a staff therapist and Supervisor of Respiratory Care spans over 35 years. Larry has worked in both hospitals and homecare, caring for adults, children, and infants. He is BLS and NRP certified. Larry is also a team member for the NSLIJ DRT (Disaster Response Team), and well as a member of LIJ/CCMC Haz-Mat/DECON Team. He is also a volunteer firefighter and served as Captain. A certified E.M.T. for over 20 years, Larry is a founding member of the NCFWRA (Nassau County Fire-Water Rescue Association), and certified in Underwater SCUBA Rescue. His professional service as a RT includes serving on the Board of Directors for NYSSRC-SEC. Larry is currently on the Board of Directors for NYDART, as well as a Founding member. He has served on both Boards for over 10 years. For the past 10 years, Larry has served as an Adjunct Professor of Respiratory Therapy at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, and for the past 10 years has been a practicing Staff Respiratory Therapist at the Cohen’s Children’s Hospital (NSLIJ). 1 Vice President Leon C. Lebowitz, BA, RRT An AARC member since 1978, Leon is a (1974) graduate of the Bellevue School of Respiratory Therapy, and also holds a BA in psychology from CUNY Queens. Leon is Director of Respiratory Care Services at Brookdale Hospital and Medical Center, a position he has held since 1988. He is a founding member of NYDART, and has served as Vice President since its inception in 2009. Leon also served as Director-at-Large and Vice President of the NYSSRC-SEC from 1988-2008, in addition to being a member of the SCCM and serving as an item writer for the NBRC. Publications are as follows: Co-author: Respiratory Care Pearls,1995 Publisher: Hanley & Belfus and CV Mosby. Quinones A, Lebowitz LC, Mazzagatti FA. Metabolic Alkalosis. Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners 1995; Vol. 8 No. 14:6. Mazzagatti FA, Lebowitz LC. The Advantages of Pressure Controlled Ventilation: A Case Study. Servo Forum 1995; Vol. 2 No. 1:2-3. Lebowitz LC, Mazzagatti FA. Comments on Closed-System Suction Catheters. (Letter) Respiratory Care 1995; Vol. 40 No. 10:1076-1077. Acknowledgment: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for sleep apnea in mentally retarded obese 14-yearold: an anaesthetic challenge. Acta Anaesthesiolgica Scandinavica 2003, Vol. 47:366-368 Treasurer Sharon Pollard, RRT-NPS, CPFT An AARC member since 1988, Sharon has served as Vice President, Secretary, and Member, Board of Directors of the NYSSRC-SEC. A founding member of NYDART, Sharon has served as Secretary since its inception in 2009. Sharon is currently the Director of Respiratory Care Services at LIJMC / CCMC. Secretary Randi Dillon, RT A graduate of the NYU/Bellevue Respiratory Therapy Program, Randi has been an AARC member since 1995, and is employed by Inspired Medical Solutions. She served on numerous committees as a member of the Board of Directors of the NYSSRC-SEC. A founding member of NYDART, Inc., Randi currently serves as a member of its board of directors 2 Corresponding Secretary Thomas F. Paolillo RRT – NPS Thomas Paolillo has been an AARC member since 1979. A graduate of the NYU/Bellevue Respiratory Therapist Program, Tom is currently employed by Veterans Affairs-NY Harbor Healthcare System. A specialist in adult critical care & mechanical ventilation, he has served as Clinical Education Coordinator since 1993. A past President and board member of the NYSSRCSEC, Tom is a founding member of NYDART, and has served as Corresponding Secretary and Symposium Co-Chair since its inception in 2009. BOARD of DIRECTORS: Edward Schrager, BS, RRT Edward Schrager has been an active member of the AARC since 1979. Ed graduated from BMCC in 1980, and earned a BS degree from SUNY at Stony Brook in 1982. Currently, he is Director of Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Function at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, a position he has held since 1983. Ed has held the following positions with the NYSSRC-SEC: President; Chairman, Symposium Committee; Chairman, Licensure Committee; Member, Board of Directors. He also has served as Treasurer and Member, Board of Directors, for the NYSSRC. Ed has also been an active member of NYDART since 2009, serving on several committees. Valerie Yarczower, BA, RRT-NPS Valerie Yarczower has been a Respiratory Therapist for over 30 years. She worked at LIJ/Schneider Children's for 11 years, and in a private physician practice doing PFTs for 14 years. She is currently at the VAMC Northport working in the PFT lab and Co-Director of the Home Oxygen and CPAP clinics. Valerie was a member of the NYSSRC-SEC from December 2002, and served as treasurer from 2006-2009. A founding member of NYDART, Valerie has served as Treasurer since its founding in 2009. Sharon Connelly-Merdian, BS, RRT, AE-C Sharon has been a Respiratory Therapist for more than 30 years. A graduate of the NYC-HHC Respiratory Therapy Program, she is currently the Director of Clinical Education for the Respiratory Therapy Program at the Mandl School, College of Allied Health. Sharon has been a clinician, educator, and manager. Her experience includes: Supervisor, Pulmonary Function; Asthma Educator; Clinical Coordinator; Education Manager; Supervisor, Respiratory Care; Director of Clinical Education/Faculty. 3 BOARD of DIRECTORS: Michael Karol, MBA, RRT Michael Karol is a founding member and current President of NYDART, Inc. An AARC member since 1980, he is currently the Associate Director of Respiratory Care at Harlem Hospital. Prior to his present position, Michael served as the Director of Respiratory Therapy at LIJMC. As a member of the NYSSRC-SEC, Michael held the positions of President, Treasurer, and Secretary. He was also treasurer of the NYSSRC. Neil Rodia, MS, RRT Neil Rodia has been an AARC member since 1984, and is currently employed as a Professor and Director of Clinical Education for the Respiratory Therapy Program at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). A graduate of the RT Program at BMCC, Neil also holds a MS in Health Science Administration from Iona College. His experience includes Clinical Education Coordinator at Jacobi Medical, and Director of Respiratory Care Services at Einstein Hospital. Neil served as past President of the NYSSRC-SEC, and was Chair of the Education Committee. A founding member of NYDART, he currently serves as Chair of the Education Committee. 4