Department of
Pediatrics
Home

Something Old; Something New - Pediatrics Welcomes (back) Jody Sima, M.D.

Editor's note: This is an uncensored bio submitted by Dr. Sima. It does not necessarily reflect the views of this paper:

My assignment was to re-introduce myself to the department. My instructions were to tell you about "the fun stuff, like family, outside interests, or really anything else you would like to tell us" (well, actually, being you, I suppose there may be some limitations). (Editor's Note: That is correct.)

Here are some important facts:

Important Fact #1: My kid is the screaming banshee Crier mascot.  He is the greatest kid in the world. And I mean the whole wide world.  Break it gently to your kids when you tell them.  

Important Fact #2: My husband is fairly normal. He is a controls engineer for dairy production.  That means he makes milk, cottage cheese, and even that super cool drinkable yogurt.  He is also good at making babies. Ours is cute, smart, and well endowed.  See Important Fact #1 for further details.

(Note: Picture also uncensored)

Important Fact #3: Indiana was really conservative and while I was there I got in touch with my republican roots. I now listen to Rush Limbaugh regularly and am a huge part in an organization working to extend the presidential term limit to 12 years so George W can have extra time to git er dun.  (I am not really sure if you spell that dun, or done. With the word git in a sentence I don't think it matters.)

Important Fact #4: We sold our house a little over two months ago and had to finish our sentence time in Indiana living in the Extended Stay (Not So) Deluxe Hotel.  Please be patient if I cook up Sam's Club stir-fry on a hot plate in the corner of my office.  Check out their web site for a list of amenities and floor plans (www.extendedstaydeluxe.com). Unfortunately the web site is not scratch and sniff so you won't get the full experience, but I can lend you a dirty diaper to wrap around your head while you surf. 

Important Fact #5: I was voted most likely to be sued for sexual harassment by my residency classmates.  That's actually not true. However, I was voted class clown in high school and some other girl got most likely to succeed. I am still bitter but moving back to Syracuse has given me hope.  She teaches English at OCC. If she had a kid and the kid gets cancer I bet she would swap titles with me.

Important Fact #6: I am currently living with my parents, but not in the basement so it's not like we are pathetic or anything.    

Censorship Alert!! In total there were six important facts. If less than this number appears in this publication the man is keeping me down and like Howard Stern I am going to satellite radio so I can say what I want while nobody listens. This would not be much different than home. 

Greatly Appreciated

Wednesday, June 11th was the annual housestaff appreciation dinner held on the lovely shores of Cazenovia Lake. But the view wasn't the main attraction that night, as our housestaff and several faculty members were being recognized and appreciated. In addition to the PL-3's, the special awards given were as follows:

Pediatrician of the Year - Michael K. Soeder, MD

Special Appreciation Award – Pediatric Case Managers (Lisa Commane, Chris Reichel, Wendy Broton, Stephany Hess)
Pediatric Faculty Award - Kevin G. Ragosta, DO

House Staff Teaching Awards:

PL-1: 1st - Marvin Mata, 2nd - Megan Pecha, 3rd - Sarah Finocchiaro

PL-2: 1st - Ramzi Souki, 2nd - Sharon Somekh Portnoy, 3rd - Kirti Kandalkar

PL-3: 1st - Nicholas Bennett, 2nd - Sean Button, 3rd - Wafik Zaky

And finally, the award for the First Annual Richie Cantor Look-Alike Contest went to Majd Dardas.

Congratulations to all!

Here Comes The Bride

Congratulations to Randa Khairallah who went to Lebanon in May and came home with a husband. Here's the inside scoop:

"We Did It, Yeeeeeeees! After a long debate whether we should postpone our wedding or not, my fiancé, Anthony Razzouk, and I decided to take the plane on the 20th of May hoping we would be able to have our wedding on the set date. Beirut was crying with happiness as well as the people after the major parties in Lebanon reach an agreement and elect a president on the 25th, which was our wedding date.  From the Church of St. Anthony to Chateau Raphael Hotel where the reception/dinner took over, people were chanting "you brought peace and happiness, why didn't you come earlier?" There were happy faces everywhere, fireworks lightened the sky of every city...We are very glad everything went well and are back home and I would like to take a moment to thank my friends and colleagues for being there for me when I really needed them."

Editor's note: And the award for the First Annual Evita Look-Alike contest goes to...

Finding Nimeh's Wedding

By Nick Bennett
May 24th 2008 will go down in pediatric history as the day one of our illustrious chiefs was married off.  Amusement was high that someone would want Dr Nimeh for themselves, but our reporter is reassured that alcohol was not required to convince the lovely Amy that Joe was the one for her.

The wedding took place at Hendricks Chapel on the SU campus.  This rotund building with a pillared frontage was the stage for a play of love.  Friends and family witnessed a very personal ceremony, complete with trumpet and guitar.  The highlights included Joe and Amy reciting their vows in canon and unison, word perfect, and a fantastic rendition of the Landon Pigg song "Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop" – perfect because that's exact what happened to the two of them.   Amy was radiant.  Joe didn't look scruffy.

The reception was held at the Linklaen House in Cazenovia, after detours through the coffeeshop in question just down the hill from the chapel, and then the lakeside park at Caz.  The food was great, including a spread of candy-store treats that youngsters and their dads alike got stuck into.  Amy's dad gave a great speech, passing on wisdom and survival tips - "A man who doesn't argue when he is wrong is wise -- a man who doesn't argue when he is right is still married."

Joe "Old Blue Eyes" Nimeh serenaded his new wife with a surprisingly good voice, singing live the Sinatra song "Fly me to the Moon". And perhaps one of the most telling moments was the Nimehs celebrating not their own marriage, but pulling out two members of their families whose birthdays were that day and encouraging a chorus of "Happy Birthday" while presenting them with a candle-lit birthday cake.

It was a memorable day for all involved and a great way for the two of them to start a new life together.  The Nimehs are heading down to Florida, although they're hoping to be back after Joe's fellowship.  In the meantime this roving reporter is hoping they'll keep a spare couch ready to crash on…

The Groom's Perspective

"They say it should be one of the best days of your life.  For Amy and I, it was nothing less than that.  On Saturday, May 24, we were married in Hendrick's Chapel on a cool but beautiful day.  We had family and friends from London to Vancouver and everywhere in between.  We had best friends presiding, best men playing trumpet, cousins playing guitar and singing, and the support of many many close family and friends.  It was truly an overwhelming and wonderful experience.  After a few photos, we gathered at Starbuck's in full wedding attire to celebrate the place of our meeting.  Then it was off to the Lincklaen House in Cazenovia for the reception.  In short, the day completely exceeded all of our expectations, and we wouldn't have changed anything. 

By the time this issue of the Crier is released, I'll be starting my hospitalist fellowship in Tampa, Florida 1500 miles away.  It goes without saying that many of the best years of my life have been spent at Upstate, and that you will all be missed very much.  Thank you for the years of friendship, support, and shared experiences.  I look forward to seeing you all soon."

 

 

Jolly Good Fellows

Congratulations to our two newest fellows-to-be, Imad Absah, who matched in Peds GI at the Mayo Clinic, and Ramzi Souki who matched in Peds Cardiology in Pittsburgh. We're proud of both of you!

One Moro Shower

On June 11th several of the women in the department (and Len) had a baby shower for Roberta and soon-to-be baby girl Moro. Stay tuned to the Crier for any upcoming birth announcements.

Baby Cole

We received the following from former resident Adrienne Tedeschi:
"Cole James Tedeschi arrived on 5/30/08 at 5:01 PM, weighing 9 lbs 7 ozs and measuring 21.5 inches in length.  Cole and Mom came home yesterday and are doing well.  Big sisters Olivia and Mia have been very helpful and super excited.  Have attached a pic of our gorgeous boy!"

Congratulations, Adrienne!

 

 

 

Talk to the Hand

It was brought to the Crier's attention that one of our residents has been moonlighting as a meteorologist.  Dr. Beth Nelsen's hand holding grape-sized balls of hail was featured in an article in the Post Standard. Beth claims she snapped the picture to capture the moment and offered it to the Post who had it on their website within the hour (at which point the sun was back out).

 

Photo Caption Contest

Once again a picture has been submitted to the Crier that begs for a caption. The winning entry will be printed in next month's Crier and an appropriate prize will be awarded at that time.

JULY BIRTHDAYS
7/2 Kim Vogelsang
7/6 Robin Jodoin
7/14 Esther Livingstone, Karen Teelin
7/16 Mouhammad Yabrodi
7/20 Jana Shaw
7/23 Chris Kuehnle