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ECPC expands Manchester Road Race sponsorship

Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants is honored to expand its sponsorship support for the beloved Manchester Road Race, held each year on Thanksgiving.

The race is a proud local tradition in the greater Manchester area. This year, the practice has elevated its support as one of two presenting sponsors of the Ray Crothers Blood Drive, held each year in conjunction with the race. Since its inception nearly four decades ago, the blood drive has collected more than 8,200 pints of blood. Just last year, the event set a new record for a single year, collecting 372 pints benefiting 1,116 patients in need of blood, plasma and platelets.

For the ECPC team, supporting both events represents our strong investment in the health and wellbeing of the patients and communities we serve.

This year’s road race kicks off at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning. The blood drive will be held the next day, Friday, Nov. 29th, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Manchester High School gymnasium. Everyone who donates a pint of blood will receive a free race T-shirt.

Learn more about the Ray Crothers Blood Drive.

Learn more about the Manchester Road Race.

Waterbury Hospital earns national accreditation for rectal cancer program

Waterbury Hospital, one of ECPC’s hospital partners, has attained national accreditation from the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) – becoming only the third hospital in Connecticut to achieve this distinction.

Elizabeth Marie Rinehart, MD, FCAP, an ECPC pathologist and Chair and Medical Director of Waterbury Hospital’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, was part of the team that worked toward this accreditation.

As a participant of the NAPRC, Waterbury Hospital has earned distinction as an ACS Surgical Quality Partner – which means the hospital is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in surgical care.

“Earning this accreditation means we provide some of the best care in the country to rectal cancer patients. Each case is rigorously reviewed by the multidisciplinary team to ensure the care plan for
each patient is the best course of action and one that can deliver the best results,” said John Zhang, MD, a colorectal surgeon. “This approach delivers personalized, patient centered care and is the first and major step towards Waterbury Hospital becoming a world class digestive disease center.”

ECPC co-sponsors childhood literacy event

MANCHESTER – Clinicians and staff from ECPC donated their time and support this summer to make a childhood literacy event an overwhelming success for local youth.

“ECPC is happy to contribute, in any way possible, to the development of literacy and learning skills in the children of the community,” said Dr. Dennis O’Neill, ECPC president.

The Read to Grow Bookmobile event drew 140 children to Wadell Elementary School on Aug. 7. The income-based Summer Camp program allowed children to choose an age- and language-appropriate book to keep. The children had the opportunity to read their new books to Manchester Mayor Moran.

In addition, ECPC donated individual string bags filled with back-to-school supplies for all participating children. Pet therapy dogs, provided by Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN), were also on-site.

ECHN is a long-time supporter of the Read to Grow “Books for Babies” program, which provides literacy training for new parents in its Family Birthing Center.

“Books for Babies is such an enhancement to the nurturing, patient-centered care parents receive in our Family Birthing Center,” said Deborah Weymouth, president and CEO of ECHN and Waterbury Health. “Extending more literacy opportunities to the community with the bookmobile is an initiative we’re very proud to be a part of.”

2024 Scholarship winners announced

MANCHESTER — ECPC celebrated the achievements of six local seniors with our 2024 ECPC Scholarship awards, now in its third year.

ECPC selects one senior each from a half dozen local high schools in the communities we serve. Each scholarship award is $2,500 and can be used toward the college of the student’s choice. All recipients plan to pursue a degree in a health-related field, which may include nursing, medicine, healthcare administration and other related specialties.

At ECPC, we view ourselves as being closely connected to the communities where we practice. We recognize that the health of our community includes the pursuit of constant growth through education.

We are proud of this year’s recipients and wish them the best of luck as they prepare for college in the fall. Please join us in recognizing these local students:

High Schools in Waterbury, CT:

  • Nicole Montalvo from Waterbury Arts Magnet School, who will study Nursing at UConn
  • Madelyn Kieras from John F. Kennedy High, who will study Nursing at Merrimack College
  • Hauwa Mukhtar from Crosby High, who will study Nursing at Southern Connecticut State University

Rockville High School in Vernon, CT:

  • Alina Naheed, who will study Health Care Management at UConn 

Manchester High School in Manchester, CT:

  • Jakob Smyth, who will study Nursing at Western Carolina University

Holyoke High School in Holyoke, MA:

  • Alivia Kaifer, who will study Biology at Northeastern

The potential career paths identified by these outstanding students include nursing, pediatric nursing, radiology and medicine.

Dr. Rinehart meets with federal lawmakers over pathology protections

WASHINGTON, DC — Elizabeth Marie Rinehart, MD, recently met with federal lawmakers to advocate for protections for pathology services. Rinehart, a long-time pathologist with ECPC, is also a delegate for the College of American Pathologists (CAP) House of Delegates.

On April 16, Rinehart and CAP members met with lawmakers to discuss how Congress can mitigate Medicare payment cuts to physicians, set limits on future clinical laboratory fee cuts, and increase the medical workforce to address current shortages.

Rinehart met with the Connecticut delegation in Congress, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Joe Courtney, Rep. John Larson, and Rep. Jim Hines.

These align with key CAP priorities that are vital to pathology, including:

The advocacy meetings coincided with CAP’s annual Hill Day and the 2024 Pathologists Leadershp Summit.

Dr. Rinehart has held multiple committee assignments within the College of American Pathologists. She was included in The Pathologist magazine’s 2016 Power List of inspiring leaders, researchers and educators. The Power List highlights pathologists with exceptional and influential achievements.

ECPC Vice President honored with Excellence Award

MANCHESTER — Monica Srodon, MD, FCAP, has been awarded the Hospital-based Physician of Excellence Award at Eastern Connecticut Health Network (ECHN). Dr. Srodon’s received her award among other 2024 Milestone Award recipients at the John. A. Dequattro Cancer Center. The honor recognizes her unwavering commitment to excellent patient care.

Dr. Srodon, Vice President and Secretary of ECPC, is also co-medical director of the cancer program, which has been recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer. Only 14 percent of hospitals nationwide receive this award.