ST. JOSEPH HILL ACADEMY
CareerConversations: HillAlumnaePanelSeries
January 8, 2024
Careers in Communications and Media
March 18, 2024
Careers in Medicine: Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Physician Assistant
April 10, 2024
Careers in Government: Analyst, Attorney and Forensic Science
May 20, 2024
Careers in Banking, Compliance and Finance
SESSION ONE: JANUARY 8, 2024
Careers in Communications and Media
Courtney Brogle, ES '12, HS ’16
Assignment Editor, NBC National News Desk
Christy Calcagno, HS ’14 Morning Anchor and Journalist, WLTX-TV
Jessica (Orbon) Easthope, ES ’05, HS ’09 TV News Reporter and Anchor, Currents News
Gabriella Marinelli, HS ’20
GMA3 Production Intern, ABC News
Elisa Raffa, HS ’11 Meteorologist, Weather Anchor and Correspondent, CNN
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COURTNEY BROGLE, ES '12 , HS ’16
Assignment Editor, NBC National News Desk
Courtney is an Assignment Editor with the NBC National News Desk and is based in New York, NY. Day-to-day responsibilities in this role include coordinating with correspondents and producers for our various cable MSNBC and streaming News Now platforms for live shots; leading news gathering efforts on breaking/developing news and disseminating verified reporting across the news division; and managing the logistics of sending crews and reporters out into the field. She has been nominated for two News and Documentary Emmy Awards for her work at NBC News in the Outstanding Live News Special and Outstanding Live Breaking News Coverage categories, for her role in the coverage of the 2022 midterm elections and the Uvalde, TX elementary school shooting, respectively. She is also very active in the alumni chapter of her collegiate student newspaper, “The Fordham Observer.”
CHRISTY CALCAGNO, HS ’14
Morning Anchor and Journalist, WLTX-TV
Christy Calcagno is an anchor and journalist at WLTX-TV in Columbia, SC, where she appears on the station's daily morning newscasts Her career has taken her to several cities in the Southeast both as an anchor and reporter, including Bristol, Virginia and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her commitment to the community is what drives her passion for journalism. Christy has a degree in Journalism from Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communication. During that time, she worked in local and national newsrooms including NPR’s WKNO, NBC Sports for the 2018 Winter
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Olympics, and Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Circa News. She enjoys engaging with the community including schools, charitable organizations, churches, and other associations statewide. In addition to her journalistic passions, Christy spearheads the recognition of great educators, through the “Teacher of the Week” awards. She is enthusiastic about telling the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and more importantly she loves to give a voice to those who might not otherwise be heard.
JESSICA (ORBON) EASTHOPE, ES ’05, HS ’09
TV News Reporter and Anchor, Currents News
Jessica Easthope is currently a reporter and anchor for Currents News, NET-TV’s nightly award-winning broadcast. After graduating from Hill in 2009, Jessica attended Ursinus College where she majored in Media and Communications and minored in Middle Eastern Studies. There, Jessica served as editor-in-chief of Ursinus’ newspaper, The Grizzly and the president of Ursinus’ Theta Chi chapter of Lambda Pi Eta national media and communications honor society. During college Jessica completed internships as a production assistant at The Colbert Report and CNN International.
Jessica has been working in the number one news market in the nation for more than a decade, delivering breaking news and feature stories to viewers at NY1 and FiOS1 News prior to her arrival at Currents. While at NY1 Jessica worked extensively on Eric Garner’s arrest and death and the city-wide and national aftermath, as well as the murders of NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.
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At FiOS1 News Jessica covered breaking news across New Jersey and New York. Her coverage earned her principal roles on ABC’s 20/20, NBC’s Dateline and A&E’s American Justice.
While at Currents News Jessica has earned three Emmy nominations for a series of stories on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the murder of NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora and the remains of a WWII veteran being returned to his family 80 years after his death.
Jessica lives in New Jersey with her husband, Jerome and daughter, Violet. Upon graduation from Hill, her 10 best friends started a Facebook message chain they still use daily.
GABRIELLA MARINELLI , HS ’20
GMA3 Production Intern, ABC News
After graduating Hill in 2020, Gabriella attended Hofstra University's Lawrence Herbert School of Communication where she earned a Bachelor of Science in TV and Business with a minor in journalism in August 2023. Her love for media stemmed out of the Hill TV program, where she was one of the first producers and directors among a handful of students. During her three years at Hofstra (thank you Hill for providing college courses which allowed her to graduate early), she worked on many productions within the school and started immediately building her resume and LinkedIn. During her fourth semester of college, she started her internship journey at FOX News, then moved over to FOX Weather, and finally landed her dream year-long internship with GMA3 in June 2023, where she currently works today.
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Gabriella is an award-winning producer by the Alliance for Women in Media Gracie Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards for her production work on Hofstra Votes Live, a four hour simulcast charting the 2022 midterm elections She dreams of becoming an executive producer for a morning show.
This internship has given her a chance to work on her editorial and production skills, while also traveling the country and covering stories anywhere about anything to give viewers what they need to know
ELISA RAFFA , HS ’11 Meteorologist, Weather Anchor and Correspondent, CNN
Elisa Raffa is a weather anchor and correspondent at CNN, based in Atlanta and appearing across all of CNN’s networks and platforms.
She has earned the distinction of Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society, a designation which recognizes excellence and expertise in her field. With a passion for communicating climate change, she’s earned national and international recognition for using everything from beer, chocolate, snow shovels, and vultures to help the audience relate to the climate crisis.
While Raffa has spent nearly a decade covering sunny, snowy, and stormy skies across the country, she got her start as an intern with CNN’s domestic and international weather teams. Prior to returning to CNN, Raffa was the meteorologist and climate
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specialist for Queen City News in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her reporting took her shark tagging in the open Atlantic, tracking hurricanes and sea-level rise on the Carolina coast, and to innovative climate resilient farms She previously covered tornado outbreaks as a meteorologist for the CBS/FOX affiliate in Springfield, Missouri, and blizzards for the ABC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa.
Raffa is a Station Scientist Committee Member with the American Meteorologist Society and a Climate Matters Meteorologist for Climate Central. In 2023, she presented peer-reviewed, published research to the AMS Broadcast Conference, highlighting how survey participants understood and cared about the climate crisis when framed as a local story featuring local people. She also writes lessons and tests hands-on activities in weather and climate science for children at local science museums
Raffa earned her Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Science with Minors in Spanish and Communications from Cornell University.
SESSION TWO: MARCH 18, 2024
Careers in Medicine: Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Physician Assistant
Dyane Cavagnaro-Irvine, PA-C, HS '89
Maternal-Child Health Manager, Advanced Clinical Providers, Staten Island University HospitalNorthwell Health
Dr. Georgina Ferzli, MD, MS, FAAD, ES '00, HS '04
Leading, Board-Certified Dermatologist & Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University and Columbia University
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Dr. Christina Martin Schaff, MD, HS ’10 Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Noelle Angela Mele, PA, HS ’17
Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant, Staten Island University HospitalNorthwell Health
Dr. Rebecca Pietro, DO, HS ’09
Rheumatology Fellow, Mount Sinai Hospital
CAREERS IN MEDICINE: MEDICAL DOCTOR, DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
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DYANE CAVAGNARO-IRVINE, PA-C, HS '89
Maternal-Child Health Manager, Advanced Clinical Providers, Staten Island University Hospital-Northwell Health
Dyane graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from St Peter's University, and pursued a career as a Physician Assistant following graduation from the Bayley Seton Hospital PA Program. Her journey began practicing medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology; however, she spent the majority of her clinical career in the field of Neonatology. Her commitment to provide quality, safe care to the women and children of Staten Island is what has directed her professional path. Her leadership and administrative roles evolved from Chief Neonatal PA, to Advanced Clinical Provider (ACP) Supervisor of the six divisions of Pediatrics, to her current position as the Maternal-Child Health ACP Manager. Her primary focus is development and integration of Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners across the Departments of OB/GYN and Pediatrics at Staten Island University HospitalNorthwell Health.
A member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and New York State Society of Physician Assistants, Dyane is dedicated to ensuring that PAs and NPs practice to the fullest extent of their license. She was awarded the Physician Assistant of the Year Award at the inaugural SIUH-Northwell Health ACP Recognition Ceremony in 2017, and the SIUH Super Woman in Medicine Award in 2023. Passionate about teaching students and colleagues, Dyane has been the recipient of the Wagner College PA Preceptor of the Year Award and has developed a Northwell-
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Health Neonatal ACP Competency Course to enhance proficiency of procedural skills for Neonatal ACPs across the organization.
Dyane continues to live on Staten Island with her family She is actively involved in the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council, promoting Autism Awareness with local organizations like Eden II and the GRACE Foundation.
DR. GEORGINA FERZLI , MD , MS, FAAD , ES '00, HS '04
Leading, Board-Certified Dermatologist & Clinical Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University and Columbia University NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital Georgina Ferzli, MD, MS, FAAD is a leading, board-certified dermatologist in New York. In addition to private practice, she serves as Clinical Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University and Columbia University NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Dr. Ferzli specializes in both cosmetic and general dermatology. Dr Ferzli graduated from Georgetown University, where she also received her Master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics. She completed her medical and dermatology training at the State University of New York at Downstate, where she graduated with honors and was selected to serve as Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Ferzli then completed more refined training with a prestigious fellowship in Lasers and Cosmetic Dermatologic
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Surgery at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, under the tutelage of Dr. Roy Geronemus and team.
Dr. Ferzli is sought after for her skill using advanced lasers and technologies, her customized approach to body contouring, and her aesthetic ability with Botox and dermal fillers Dr Ferzli has received numerous awards, including being the first recipient of the State of New York Award for Excellence in Patient Care and Compassion, which was created in recognition of her unique dedication to her patients.
Dr Ferzli has authored several original articles, including those published in journals such as the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Pediatric Dermatology, Cancer Research, Cutis, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. She continues to stay on the forefront of dermatologic research, and lectures across the country on a diverse set of skin, health, and beauty topics. She is commonly featured in Allure, Glamour, and New York Magazine, sharing with her community her tips for healthy skin!
DR. CHRISTINA MARTIN SCHAFF, MD , HS ’10
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Dr. Christina Martin Schaff graduated from St. Joseph Hill Academy in 2010. Knowing in high school that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine, she went to Villanova University on the pre-medicine track and in the Honors Program where she earned her Bachelor of Science. After she graduated from college, she attended Stony Brook University School of Medicine where she earned her Doctor of
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Medicine. Following medical school, Dr. Martin Schaff completed her neurology residency at Temple University Hospital. During her residency, she served as Chief Resident and was selected for induction to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA), the national medical honor society. She subsequently completed her fellowship in Neuromuscular Neurology and Neuromuscular Pathology at Johns Hopkins At the completion of her medical training, she returned to Temple University Hospital to join the faculty in the Department of Neurology and Neuromuscular Medicine. In addition to her clinical duties, which involve participation in the MDA/ALS multidisciplinary clinic and supervising the residents in the clinic and in the hospital, she serves as the Associate Clerkship Director for the 3rd year medical students at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. She is board certified in Neurology.
In her spare time, Dr. Martin Schaff enjoys cooking, working out with Peloton classes, and spending time with her family, including her college sweetheart and husband, Mark, and their newborn baby girl
NOELLE ANGELA MELE , PA , HS ’17
Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant, Staten Island University Hospital-Northwell Health
Noelle Mele graduated from the Wagner College Physician Assistant Program in 2022 and is currently working as a Hematology/Oncology PA on Staten Island. She works with a diverse group of patients, and feels so grateful to work amongst such spectacular clinicians. Noelle’s days as a Hilltopper were instrumental in preparing her for PA school and ultimately her career. Her growth
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through the years at Hill allowed her to develop the discipline, work ethic, compassion, and confidence to be the health care provider that she is today. Noelle always says that her journey to becoming the best version of herself started at St. Joseph Hill Academy.
DR. REBECCA PIETRO, DO, HS ’09
Rheumatology Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital
Rebecca Pietro is a born and raised Staten Islander She attended St. Joseph Hill Academy and graduated in 2009. She went on to study Biology at Quinnipiac University, graduating in 2013. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked as an emergency room scribe at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island. She completed her medical education at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Virginia followed by her internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai West/Morningside Hospitals in Manhattan. During residency, she completed the Graduate Medical Education Leadership program and research projects focused on osteoporosis and lupus nephritis. She was then chosen to serve as Chief Resident leading the Women in Medicine Committee and Research Council in 2023. She is currently a first-year Rheumatology Fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital and plans on pursuing a career in academic medicine upon graduation.