Program Directors
The Department of Pediatrics has brought together a team of committed physicians, educators and mentors to deliver a comprehensive and innovative curriculum that will challenge residents to excel and will address multiple learning styles. This team has developed and will continue to expand the varied and rewarding clinical experiences, the innovative didactic curriculum, an inclusive system for evaluation, and opportunities to develop skills in areas of communication, child advocacy, research, and patient safety. The directors have developed a program that allows residents to learn from a talented faculty at the bedside, in the classroom, in simulations, and in rich discussions. We are proud of the program and know it will meet the needs of any resident, whether that resident is seeking a career in primary care or looking for an academic position in the subspecialties.
Residency Program Director: John S. Andrake, MD
Dr. Andrake is a native of Upstate New York and went to medical school at the SUNY Upstate Medical University and stayed on for his Pediatric Residency and Chief Residency. He has served as the Residency Director since 1991. His clinical expertise is in General Pediatrics and Hospital Medicine. He has interests in teaching communication skills and developing a wide range of special curricula and evaluation methods. Nationally, Dr. Andrake has presented a number of educational workshops on topics such as: implementing programs in direct observation, teaching communication skills, developing programs to teach residents to teach, and developing faculty development programs.
Vice Chair for Medical Education and Pediatric Clerkship Director: Ann S. Botash, MD
Dr. Botash is from New York and attended medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University. She was pediatric resident and chief resident at SUNY. In 1991, she became Co-Director of the Pediatric Residency Program, currently she serves as the Vice-Chair for Medical Education in the Department and Pediatric Clerkship Director for the Medical School. Her clinical expertise is in General Pediatrics and Child Abuse, where she is a national figure. Locally she directs the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site and nationally serves as the Vice Chair and President Elect of the Helfer Society. She directs the Child Advocacy Training program and training in Systems Based Practice. Nationally she has given numerous presentations and workshops on Child Abuse and developing Child Advocacy Programs and has authored numerous publications on this topic.
Associate Residency Program Director: Bradley G. Olson, MD
Dr. Olson's medical school training was at St. Louis University and his Pediatric Residency was at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. He has worked as a Navy physician, in primary care pediatric and as a hospitalist. He joined the faculty in 2000 as Associate Program Director. Dr. Olson has since attained his Masters of Sciences in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation at the Syracuse University.. His clinical expertise is in General Pediatrics, ADHD, and Refugee Health. He was instrumental in developing an On-line Curriculum to enhance the didactic training of residents. He, too, has presented national workshops in Developing On-Line Curricula and programs in Direct Observation.
Associate Residency Program Director: Gloria Kennedy, MD
Dr. Kennedy comes from Troy, NY. She attended the SUNY Upstate Medical University for her medical school training, her Pediatric Residency and Pediatric Hematology and Oncology fellowship. She served as a general community pediatrician before returning to the Department of Pediatrics as faculty in the Hematology and Oncology Division. Her clinical expertise is in Hematology and Oncology and she directs the Pediatric Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center. She joined the educational team in January 2008 and oversees the resident evaluation system and the Advisor/Mentor Program.
Education Administrator: Jay Peacock, MS
Mr. Peacock is a native of Albany, NY. He received his undergraduate Physical Education degree from Norwich University and a graduate degree in Educational Administration from Syracuse University. He joined the Pediatric Department in January 2007 from a career in public education as a school administrator. He assists in the writing of curriculum, and works with the faculty, residents, and students to improve the teaching/learning process. Jay is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing and hunting. He is also very involved in the sport of ice hockey. He is the head coach of the Men's Club Ice hockey Team at Oswego State College in Oswego, New York.
Residency Program Coordinator: Patty Mondore, MA
Ms. Mondore is from the Upstate, New York. She received her BA from Houghton College and her Masters from Syracuse University in Music Education. She taught music (K-12) in a public school for a few years after graduating. In her spare time she is also a prolific writer (six books currently in print, and a contributing writer for two area newspapers), and a singer/song writer with five music CD's and three music videos of her own inspirational songs. She has been the Pediatric Residency Coordinator here at Upstate since 1990 and is the creator of Patty's Pediatric Page 
. Patty also uses her writing abilities to edit the Pediatric Crier, the departmental newsletter.
