Retirements

After 47 years, Lee D Pollan, DMD, MS, professor of Clinical Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, is retiring. He served as the OMFS Residency Program Director and Interim Chair, and was very active in state and national professional OMFS associations.

Who is the person who most influenced you?

Over the past 50 years, there are several. Therefore, it is difficult to select one. My father, who was a general dentist in a small town, played a significant role in my development as a professional. He was extremely ethical and was admired by many. I wanted to achieve the same success as my dad. Dr. Bejan Iranpour, who was admired by his staff and patients, was most influential to me before and during the establishment of my private practice due to his kindness and generosity. Bejan encouraged me to become involved in the hospital and the residency program. He was primarily responsible for helping me get actively involved in local, state, and national oral and maxillofacial surgery circles and introducing me to people who would also become my mentors.

What are you most proud of?

My involvement in the New York State Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Being elected Trustee from the Northeastern District of AAOMS and my eventual election as President Elect and President of AAOMS was almost surreal. I never envisioned that a kid from a small town could achieve those lofty, almost unreachable, goals. The AAOMS Presidency gave me the opportunity to travel worldwide and to meet and become friendly with the most highly regarded, well respected oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the world.

What about teaching do you find most rewarding?

There are several. I love the idea that many residents still think I know more than they do. I love the fact that they seem to want me to be pleased with their progress. I think it’s great when they introduce me to their families as one of the faculty who was responsible for their success. I am thrilled when they inform me of their successes in finding an associateship, or faculty position, or have successfully passed the Boards. Don’t tell them, but I am prouder of them than they are of themselves. I get a huge charge when a former resident calls me out of the blue to ask my advice about a particular case or problem.

Professionally speaking, is there anything you would do differently?

I think all of us can look back and wish we could have treated a particular patient or performed a particular procedure differently. I have heard some colleagues state they wish they had pursued a medical degree with their OMFS training, but I never felt that it was right for me. I feel that my training had prepared me well to practice the scope of OMFS I wanted to practice in a supportive and collegial hospital and community environment. I also feel that I have been fortunate to strike the right balance of academia and private practice in my professional life. I can’t think of anything I would change.

What advice do you have for EIOH junior faculty/ future leaders?

Don’t focus exclusively on one specific aspect of your professional life. Performing one additional third molar or implant case per day or week isn’t going to make or break you professionally. In the grand scheme of things, the few additional dollars you make are not going to have much impact on your professional life. Add greater diversity to your professional life—practice the full scope of your profession for which you are trained, become involved in your community, volunteer and become active in your local dental society or association, and become a spokesperson or advocate for your profession. Most importantly, don’t abandon your families for the sake of becoming a force in your profession.

What are you looking forward to during retirement?

I already play lots of golf. I am looking forward to having minimal structure in my life. I would like to volunteer, audit college courses unrelated to health care or oral and maxillofacial surgery. Once the pandemic is under better control, I would like to travel and spend more time with my daughters and grandchildren. I have had a very fulfilling career. I’d like to have more me time. After 33 years with the University, Robert G. Quivey, PhD, is retiring. Read about Dr. Quivey’s career.

Delores Lessard

Delores “Dee” Lessard worked for EIOH for 23 years, the last eight years full time with the billing department. She had various responsibilities through the years including sorting patient visit summaries, orthodontics billing, allocating insurance and collections.

“I will miss all the people I worked with,” Dee said. “They were my family away from home, and I think about them often.”

Her advice to the person replacing her: “Ask questions, take notes, and make a copy of things that will be used often to keep as a reference.”

Yvette Washingtonn

Yvette Washington worked as a dental assistant for 21 of the 25 years at Eastman Institute and then as an Outpatient Access Lead before retiring. She loved working with people from all over the world and getting to know other cultures. “The most rewarding experience was the staff I was lucky to work with,” she said. “I will miss the people and the diversity, but I’m very happy.”

Holly Barone................................26 years Nicole Beaumont .........................21 years Kathy Bohn..................................35 years Rita Cacciato.................................21years Lisa DeLucia Bruno.....................20 years Deborah Burke ............................20 years La-Shawn Michelle Cady.............22 years Carletta Carter.............................21 years Jack Caton....................................51 years Elizabeth Chernyak .....................27 years Diane Chiesa................................23 years Sharon Connellan........................28 years Michele Crawford-Henderson.....23 years Stacy D’Armiento ........................21 years Carlo Ercoli..................................24 years Roberta Faustoferri......................34 years Kim Hampton .............................29 years Sharon Hatch...............................36 years Karen Judy...................................39 years Jane Kadysh .................................21 years Sally Kouwe .................................20 years Alla Krokhmal .............................22 years Dorie Leitten ...............................24 years Linda Lipani ................................29 years Wayne Lipschitz...........................24 years Lisa Lisuzzo .................................25 years Lisa Lord......................................40 years Jane MacBride .............................24 years Elaine Maholick...........................23 years Hans Malmstrom.........................29 years Christine McCabe........................20 years Sean McLaren ..............................20 years Cyril Meyerowitz .........................45 years Antonia Muratore........................23 years Neha Naik ....................................21 years Phuong Ngo.................................22 years Catherine Ovitt............................20 years Bernadette Peters .........................30 years Carol Porras .................................33 years Yanfang Ren.................................24 years Noemi Rivera ...............................33 years Christie Rodriguez.......................21 years Patricia Saraceni ..........................32 years Ralph Saunders............................46 years

Congratulations! EIOH Employees Mark 20+ Years of Service to EIOH/UR

Barb Birecree 45 years

Barb worked as a dental assistant in General Dentistry for 15 years before moving to the Orthodontics Department, where she’s been for the last 30 years.

“I enjoy meeting so many different people and making so many friendships throughout all these years,” said Barb, who is now a lead dental assistant. “I enjoy learning about all the cultures, languages, different foods and holidays that others celebrate.”

Thanks to social media, Barb has been able to keep in touch with many EIOH alumni, and likes to see their growing families and thriving practices. She has also appreciated the opportunity to grow and learn on the job.

“Whether it be with patients, staff or even the doctors, it is definitely an interesting place to work,” she said. “There is always something different going on – exhaustion, fun, challenges, excitement, stress, and laughter.”

Kathy Scott-Anne ........................24 years Linda Stauber...............................23 years Natasha Stewart ...........................21 years Thomas Venner ............................28 years Roseanne Waterstraat ..................34 years Gene Watson................................28 years Cynthia Welch .............................21 years Robert White ...............................29 years Rosalie Wratni..............................21 years Michael Yunker............................24 years Medina Zelenjakovic ...................20 years

Pat Ragusa 35 years

In 1986, Pat Ragusa started her career with Eastman as a lab technician in the Periodontics department.

“Back then, I did all of the film processing, slides and presentations for the department,” Pat recalled. “We did our own darkroom work and I taught a photography course to the residents as part of their curriculum. I also did histology for periodontal regeneration studies.”

In the late 1990’s, she started working in clinical research, assisting with school based exams sponsored by New York State, as well as NIH funded grants working with older adults, traveling throughout the state doing dental exams for both populations.

Her role transitioned to a study coordinator, mainly working on teledentistry studies with local daycare centers before her more recent work with the Dental Practice Based Research Network, and Dr. Kopycka’s NIH grant looking at factors associated with early childhood cavities.

“I enjoy the variety of my job, especially meeting many new people from all walks of life,” Pat said. “Until COVID, I enjoyed the travel to train different practitioners for studies and the meetings that brought so many diverse talents together. But my favorite aspect of my job over the years has been the studies with childrenthey always bring a smile to my face!”

Jane Devries 30 years

For Jane Devries, being recognized by Eastman’s senior leadership was the most humbling and amazing experience that has ever happened to her.

“To have an administrative award named after Clare Shaffer and myself that would be presented year after year to deserving candidates who embody the mission and vision of Eastman Dental/ EIOH was, and is, just an overwhelming honor,” she said about the Shaffer-Devries award, established in 2007 and awarded each year at the graduation ceremony.

Jane officially began her career at EIOH in early 1991, as the credit manager for several years before she and a colleague shared the duties of the Patient Accounting Office, running the record room, front desk and the up-front billing. Her strong attention to detail and accomplishments led to her being asked to manage the conversion of hard copy scheduling to computerized appointments and create a centralized registration system.

Before a medical leave in 2008, she had been promoted to senior operations manager for Eastman Dental, and was responsible for all front end staff, the record room, the DCBO and treatment plan coordinators.

When she returned in 2009, she took the role of senior administrator for the University Dental Faculty Group and a year later was working on the expansion project that yielded a second office at Clinton Crossings, suite 125.

“The people that I have worked with over the years have been a tremendous part of why I love my job,” she said. “I have worked with some unbelievable people and have learned so much from my supervisors and peers over the years along with staff who have supported the mission and vision of EIOH.” ♦