Faculty Excellence Award Winners

College of Health Professions faculty members were honored for demonstrating excellence in their profession and service during the Fall 2008 Faculty Convocation ceremony. All award recipients are shown at right in photos below receiving their awards from University President David R. Smith, MD.

Wiezalis Named Distinguished Service Professor

The SUNY Distinguished Service Professor distinction was presented to Carl P. Wiezalis, MS, RRT, FAARC, professor of Respiratory Care, who has devoted nearly four decades of extraordinary service to his campus, his profession and his community.

Since his start with SUNY Upstate in 1969, Wiezalis has contributed significantly to curriculum development and educational literature, and published numerous articles and professional reports.  He has been a constant influence on the definition, creation and maintenance of quality education in respiratory therapy internationally. He was president of the Central New York State Chapter of the New York Society for Respiratory Care, the New York State Society for Respiratory Care, the American Association for Respiratory Care, and consultant to two international organizations.

Wiezalis has served in faculty governance for 20 years in a variety of elected positions, including senator and campus governance leader. Currently, in his second term as president of the SUNY-wide Faculty Senate, he has helped enhance the quality of education in the SUNY system. A member of the SUNY Chancellor's Strategic Planning Committee, he holds critically important roles on the Chancellor's Advisory Committee, NYS Commission on Higher Education and the SUNY Board of Trustees.

Locally, he has used his professional skills to serve in organizations such as the Wellness Council of Central New York, the chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, St. Camillus Home Health Care Agency, the Snow Emergency Unit of Civil Defense and the Taunton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.

His value to his discipline and the wider community has been amply noted by several awards, including the SUNY UUP Excellence in Professional Service, SUNY Upstate Medical University Excellence in Professional Service and the President's Award for Excellence in Affirmative Action. Wiezalis holds his BA degree from the University of Hartford, and an MS degree in Education from Syracuse University.

Darling Honored for Teaching Excellence

Edward M. Darling, MS, CCP, associate professor and clinical coordinator in Cardiovascular Perfusion, received the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. A consummate teacher and perfusionist, Darling works tirelessly to find new and exciting ways to communicate knowledge and passion to students and peers. Whether working in the research lab, speaking at conferences, performing challenging cases involving very sick babies, Darling exemplifies the roles of teacher and mentor, preparing students to become effective members of the surgical team.

As clinical coordinator, Darling provides students with practice opportunities in area hospitals as well as in specialized cardiac centers, such as Duke Medical Center and the Children's Hospital in Dallas. Darling also recognizes the importance for students' relaxation and has organized various informal outings for them with faculty.

His educational influence extends beyond his department to include clinical training and lectures at both University and Crouse hospitals, and an annual engineering lecture at Syracuse University which wins rave reviews as guest lecturer. He teaches continuing education at national and international conferences. A nationally recognized expert in infant and pediatric cardiovascular perfusion, Darling is a prolific funded research scientist and peer-reviewed author for the college.
Darling has a BS degree in biology from Nazareth College, the Certificate in Extracorporeal Technology from Alton Ochsner School of Allied Health, and an MS degree in education from the University at Albany.

Taub Outstanding Volunteer Educator

The President's Award for Outstanding Voluntary Faculty Service went to another outstanding perfusionist, Jay Taub, RN, CCP. Taub works behind the scenes educating students in the cardiovascular perfusion program at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, NY. Since 2001, perfusion students have benefited from Taub's training when Ellis Hospital became a recognized clinical affiliate for SUNY Upstate. He teaches CVP students strictly on a volunteer basis and also allowed several students to live in his home during their clinical rotations at Ellis. He is a gifted teacher who skillfully guides students through the formative technical aspects of cardiopulmonary bypass. Training students to operate a heart lung machine in the operating room's dynamic environment is a critical responsibility. His teaching ability and skills enable students to grasp the most technical points of cardiopulmonary bypass.

His wealth of experience and long career provide an important professional perspective for students. He was chief of perfusion, holding academic appointment at St. Louis University School of Medicine. As director of Clinical Perfusion Research his focus was on long-term cardiopulmonary support for adults and children. A role model for students, Taub instills the need for lifelong learning in an ever-changing technological career. He earned his perfusion degree from Mount Sinai Medical College, and has authored several publications, book chapters and professional presentations. He invented an Internal Thoracic Artery Retractor used at Ellis Hospital and around the world.   He is a board member of the New York State Society of Perfusion and is a member of several professional organizations.