Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation Award Five Scholarships
WESTERLY,RI - The Westerly Hospital Auxiliary awarded college scholarships to five local students who plan to pursue a career in healthcare.
Recipients were selected from a large field of applicants. In addition to submitting their career plans and academic and extracurricular achievements, each student was required to write an essay explaining why they have chosen healthcare as a career path.
Of the five $1,000 Auxiliary scholarships awarded, one of those scholarships came from the Mary C. Pucci Foundation, established by the late Joseph Pucci in 1999 in memory of his wife Mary to honor her involvement in the Westerly Hospital Auxiliary. The Mary C. Pucci Scholarship is awarded to a student who wishes to pursue a career in “hands on” patient care and make a different in a patient’s experience. This year’s Mary C. Pucci Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 was awarded to Emily Turco who is currently attending the University of Rhode Island and plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Students who received the four $1,000 Auxiliary scholarships were: Jane Mueller from Westerly High School who plans to attend the University of Rhode Island and pursue a career in pharmacy; Kelsey Woodworth from Stonington High School who plans to attend Auburn University and pursue a career as a dietician; Meredith Milligan from Wheeler High School who plans to attend the University of Connecticut and pursue a career as a pediatrician and Mary Hodshon from Chariho High School who plans to attend the University of Rhode Island and pursue a career in nursing.
NEW SURGEON JOINS WOMEN & INFANTS’ PROGRAM IN WOMEN’S ONCOLOGY STAFF
David A. Edmonson, MD, FACS
David A. Edmonson, MD, FACS, recently joined the staff at the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.
Dr. Edmonson is a breast surgeon who comes to Women & Infants from private practice in Albany, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Vanderbilt University and a medical degree from St. Georges University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in general surgery at Albany Medical Center and a Fellowship in surgical oncology of the breast at Women & Infants.
”We are happy to welcome Dr. Edmonson back to Women & Infants. During his fellowship, he showed great compassion and skill for treating patients, and he embodies the mission of the Program in Women’s Oncology,” said Cornelius “Skip” Granai III, MD, director of the Program.
Dr. Edmonson is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons. His research interests include the treatment of breast lesions, the use of morphometric measurements to determine metastasis in breast cancer, and patients with high-risk profiles for breast cancer and genetically-based breast cancers.
WOMEN & INFANTS’ PHYSICIAN NAMED CO-CHAIR OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE
Paul A. DiSilvestro, MD,
Paul A. DiSilvestro, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, was recently named co-chairman of the Ovarian Cancer Committee of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG).
Dr. DiSilvestro is also the research director for the Program in Women’s Oncology and is credited with developing the research infrastructure, particularly in the area of clinical trials, and working to elevate the research program to an internationally-recognized level. When he was recruited by the hospital in 2003, there was one staff member for oncology research. There are now 12 and the research program is running 40 to 50 active clinical trials at any given time, enrolling approximately 500 participants a year.
“As a result of Dr. DiSilvestro’s perseverance, our research program is now one of the most prolific recruiters in the region for gynecologic cancer studies,” said Cornelius “Skip” Granai III, MD, director of the Program in Women’s Oncology. “This appointment is testament to his leadership abilities and speaks to the trust and respect the GOG affords him. We’re proud that he is being recognized for his excellence. It’s an honor for him and for this institution.”
