LYME DISEASE OUTREACH: Upstate Professor Saravanan Thangamani, PhD., left, with State Sen. John Mannion at Lyme Disease Awareness Day in Albany to showcase Upstate’s efforts in Lyme disease prevention and tick surveillance. In its citizen science program, Thangamani’s lab receives ticks from all across the state to be analyzed to see if they are carrying disease.

VIP VISIT: State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, right, toured the CNY Biotech Accelerator (CNYBAC) during a stop in Syracuse May 11. Greeting DiNapoli, from left, are Dave Mankiewicz of CenterStateCEO; Richard Uhlig of Quadrant Biosciences, which has space in the CNYBAC, and Kathi Durdon, executive director of the CNYBAC. DiNapoli was briefed on numerous projects underway at Quadrant Biosciences, including the saliva Covid test that is in wide use today. The test was developed in partnership with Upstate Medical University.

CELEBRATING LINDA MCALEER: In honor of McAleer’s more than 30 years of service to Upstate and her role as deputy director of nursing at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital since the facility opened, the children’s hospital has introduced the Linda McAleer Award for Patient Safety, a tribute to McAleer’s dedication to creating a culture of safety ensuring that patients and families received the safest care possible.

MEDICAL MISSION OF SORTS: Upstate's Dr Gennady Bratslavsky, the Dr. Phillip Capozzi, MD, Endowed Professor in Urology, traveled to Ukraine recently, to bring medical supplies to the war-torn country and to check in with the friends.

SENATORIAL VISIT: Upstate Medical University President Dr. Mantosh Dewan acknowledges the work of U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, during the senator’s visit to Upstate April 29. Gillibrand chose Upstate to highlight her efforts at lowering prescription drug costs.

TWO DEGREES: Christine Ly and Nick Huang, who after 8 years of study, will receive both an MD and PhD at Upstate's Commencement May 1. Christine hails from Flushing, N.Y., attended Cornell University, and will do her residency at the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital in family and urban medicine. Nick grew up in Stony Brook, N.Y., and attended Stony Brook University and will begin his residency at UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) in the internal medicine research track.

SPEAKING OUT: Upstate Nurse Manager Despina Garcia speaks at the Governor’s Covid-19 briefing, held April 20, at the CNY Biotech Accelerator. Garica thanked lawmakers for additional funding for heath care workers and recounted what it was like to manage a Covid unit during the height of the pandemic.