Upstate Advanced Practice

05/22/2026

Congratulations Dean Austin-Ketch!

05/18/2026

Congratulations to Caitlin on this incredible achievement!

Congrats 🎉to Caitlin, FNP, CLC who completed her education, training, and passed her exams to become another Certified Lactation Counselor at Upstate Medical University- Upstate Family Birth Center-Upstate Community Hospital! Caitlin is one of our awesome Inpatient Neonatal Advanced Practice Providers on the Family Birth Center! Thanks, Caitlin for pursuing specialty certification to help support extraordinary, evidence-based care at Upstate!!

Caitlin, new CLC is sitting pictured in the middle of, surrounded by fellow certified Nurse IBCLCs and CLCs. Upstate NursingUpstate Health

05/15/2026

Advanced Practice Grand Rounds presentation!

The EQ Prescription: The Remedy to Thrive in HealthCare and Beyond

Presented by Dr. Mickey Lebowitz, MD, FACE, EQAC, EQPC, EQCC
📅 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 In-Person: Weiskotten Hall 103 (WSK 103) - Please RSVP

https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m7ef8f58138d526bcad1c06a541912705

05/08/2026

We are proud to recognize Leah Marinelli, NP, for receiving the 2026 Beth Baldwin Oncology Nurse Award!!!

Leah’s compassion, expertise, and unwavering dedication to oncology patients continue to make an extraordinary impact across our institution and community. Pictured with Leah are Dr. Jason Wallen (left) and Dr. Michael Archer, DO, FACS (right), both of whom shared heartfelt praise for her exceptional work and commitment to patient care.

As shared by Dr. Jason Wallen, MD, MBA, FACS, FCCP:

“Ms. Marinelli is one of the most caring oncology nurses that I know. She has been caring for cancer patients for nearly 10 years. She is absolutely tireless. I read once that doctors cure and nurses care. Leah certainly does. My surgeons do lots of damage to the bodies of cancer patients. Leah picks up the pieces. She helps them care for their wounds. She holds their hands when they are in pain. She teaches them to eat again and she helps them to breathe. If you think that managing a post-operative collapsed lung is difficult, try to imagine how challenging that it could be to teach a senior citizen how to eat again, after their esophagus has been removed, when they have been eating the same way for 5, 6 or even 7 decades. She sees them often, sometimes once, twice, or even three times per week. She gives out her cell phone number and has even dropped off food at peoples’ houses when a family member was hospitalized. When the outpatient work is done, she heads into the hospital. She sits at the bedside and teaches people how to manage drains and chest tubes. She unclogs feeding tubes and helps heal the excoriation around their stomas. She holds the hands of patients and family members. When all of that is done, she looks to see what she can do to help the rest of her teammates. A lot of this is simple caring and loving, but the Baldwin award is also about expertise, and some of what I have addressed is exactly that. But there is more. Apart from care provider, she is also proceduralist and radiologist. She started and ran our pleural effusion clinic, performing palliative pleural drainage for dyspnea, often with only hours notice. She can read a chest CT better than many radiologists and has diagnosed more lung cancers than most doctors. As a reward, she gets countless letters from our patients and her survey results are the envy of our department. My personal patients are visibly disappointed when they come to clinic and see me there, instead of Leah. She is really a tough act to follow. She is an example for us all.”

Dr. Michael Archer, DO, FACS shared similar sentiments as well — the accolades are simply too many to list.

Congratulations, Leah, on this incredibly well-deserved recognition and thank you for the compassionate, expert care you provide to patients and families every day!!!

05/01/2026

Congratulations to Sarah Carr, NP, on being nominated for the 2026 Beth Baldwin Nursing Award!

This award recognizes a nurse who exemplifies “the perfect mix of expertise and compassion, providing hope and comfort to those facing the unimaginable.”

Thank you, Sarah, for your dedication, compassion, and the exceptional care you provide to your patients every day!

Learn more about the award:
https://www.upstate.edu/news/articles/2023/2023-05-17-baldwin.php

04/22/2026

Celebrating Excellence in Advanced Practice

Kathleen Tindall has successfully completed the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) APP Certificate Program in Benign and Malignant Breast Disease—a significant achievement in advanced clinical education.

This intensive 7-month program provides a deep dive into the same clinical standards used in surgical fellowships, covering high-risk genetics, advanced risk assessment, and the latest approaches to both surgical and medical management of breast disease.

💬 “I chose to pursue the ASBrS APP Breast Certification to strengthen my clinical decision-making and ensure I’m always providing patients with evidence-based, compassionate care. The experience was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I’m excited to bring this knowledge back to our breast care team at Upstate and continue delivering the highest level of care for our patients.”

Kathleen’s dedication to continuous learning and clinical excellence reflects the commitment of our Advanced Practice team to delivering high-quality, evidence-based, and patient-centered care.
👏 Congratulations, Kathleen!

04/17/2026

Kristi Springall, NP from Development Pediatrics has been recognized with the Pediatric Ambulatory Patient Experience Award!

Kristi was nominated by the staff she works with, reflecting the impact she makes every day.

As shared in her nomination:
“Kristi is constantly going above and beyond for her patients and their families. She reaches out to them often and provides extra support when needed.”

Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to patient-centered care truly exemplify excellence in pediatric care. Congratulations, Kristi!

04/10/2026

Our APPs had a fantastic time at the Hospitalist Spring 2026 Business Retreat!

The day was filled with energy and connection, highlighted by interactive game time that sparked teamwork, collaboration, and a little friendly competition.
🎁 Attendees also enjoyed a gift basket raffle featuring a variety of exciting prizes—there was truly something for everyone!

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event both fun and memorable. We’re grateful for such an engaged and collaborative team!

04/07/2026

📣 Advanced Practice Providers Grand Rounds

Join us for an upcoming session focused on identifying and managing weight loss and eating disorders across care settings.

🗓 Tuesday, April 7, 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 1:00 PM
💻 Via WebEx
🔗 Join here: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=me2081515c7ca8c39b4dd04e47dbd2586

This session will cover:
• Key components of a focused weight loss history
• Differential diagnosis of weight loss
• Criteria for inpatient vs. outpatient management
• Levels of care in eating disorders
• Barriers to accessing appropriate treatment

🎤 Speakers:
Elizabeth Lodge, MD, FAAP
Elyssa Max, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC

Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.

03/30/2026

On March 30, 2026, National Doctors’ Day is an opportunity to recognize and thank physicians for their unwavering dedication, clinical excellence, and commitment to patient care. Each day, they navigate complex decisions, lead teams, and invest in teaching that shapes the next generation of healthcare providers.

For Meaghan Strempel, PA currently completing a nine-month Critical Care fellowship, learning is constant. As she shares, “Being part of rounds with Dr. Amzuta brings new lessons every day.” (*Meaghan pictured in blue)

Thank you, Dr. Amzuta, and all the physicians across Upstate, for your dedication, mentorship, and lasting impact on our teams and patients.