FACULTY

Neil C. Mitnick, D.O. F.A.A.F.P., Professor, Alice E. Fruehan Chair, and Residency Program Director, is one of the longest serving family medicine residency program directors in NYS and even nationally. In 2006 he was selected by the ACGME to receive the Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. He is the first DO and only the 6th family medicine residency program director to ever receive this national recognition. His reputation of caring and being committed to quality education and patient care follows him where ever he goes. He serves as a role model for residents, always available to them for both personal and professional guidance. His enthusiasm, sense of humor, and love of life make coming to work each day enjoyable and worthwhile. Residents, faculty, and local and national colleagues have nominated Neil for various teaching awards including best preceptor, educator of the year from the NYS Academy of Family Physicians and the CDPHP Physicians Academy. He oversees all residency and departmental teaching and clinical activities. He also can tell you all you need to know about caring for dogs and fish.

Scott Deckelbaum, D.O., Assistant Professor and our newest faculty member and cat lover, joined us in August 2006 after the completion of his family medicine residency program here in Albany in June 2006. He is a faculty development fellow interested in urgent care and inpatient medicine. His projects this year will be to strengthen both of these curriculums for the residents as well as continue teaching and mentoring medical students. Dr. Deckelbaum has the distinct honor of receiving the predoctoral teaching award two years in a row for exceptional commitment and dedication to teaching medical students. He received these awards both as a second and as a third year resident. When not working, you can find Scott hiking, rock climbing, or doing something in the area of wildlife biology or ecology.

Peter H. Forman, Jr., M.D., Assistant Professor and Predoctoral Director, graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 2000 and Albany Medical College's Family Practice Residency Program in 2003. Dr. Forman served as our Chief Resident during the 20022003 academic year. He has a special interest in adolescent medicine and in medical education and is the Principal Investigator for a large NYS Department of Health Grant involved in medical education. The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine presented Peter with the Emerging Leader Award at their Northeast Regional Meeting in Danvers, MA in October 2006 recognizing his leadership potential as an early career family medicine educator. When not teaching or caring for patients, Dr. Forman can be seen tooling around in either his sports car or on his motorcycle.

Mary Johnston, M.B.Ch.B., Clinical Associate Professor, is one of the more sought after preceptors due to her ability to teach and guide using her quick wit and her great sense of humor. She also serves as a positive role model for women in medicine, knowing how to manage her time and maintain her priorities. Dr. Johnston has a large patient following consisting mostly of the baby boomers and their families.

Gretchen C. Kaneb, M.D., Assistant Professor, is a graduate of St. George's School of Medicine and is a 2003 graduate of our residency program. Dr. Kaneb served as our Chief Resident during the 2002 -2003 academic year. She coordinates our Core Curriculum Lecture Series and our Pediatric Educational Program. Dr. Kaneb has a special interest in women's health and practice management. In 2004 our graduating residents presented Dr. Kaneb with their Faculty Rounder of the Year Award and in 2006, she was presented the most dedicated faculty member award. When not acting as a doctor or caring for her two young sons, Dr Kaneb oversees a variety of businesses including rental property, online advertising specialty merchandise business owner, and operating a vegetable farm and apple orchard. We still haven't figured out when or if she sleeps!

Warren C. Litts, M.D., Clinical Professor and Behavioral Science Consultant, is a 1975 graduate of State University of New York Upstate Medical College, Syracuse and a 1978 graduate of St. Margaret's Memorial Hospital Family Practice Residency Training Program, Pittsburgh, P A. Dr. Litts has been a family physician for over 25 years and brings valuable insight into patient-physician communication. By shadowing residents he is able to give immediate and balanced feedback on such issues as the doctor-patient relationship and communication styles.

Mason Appleton A. Mason III, M.D., Associate Professor and Geriatric Coordinator, came to the residency program and academia as a faculty member after having more than a 20 year history of private practice in Nashua, NH. Dr. Mason brings the unique ability to bridge the two worlds of practice and teaching. He has a particular interest in medical ethics and end of life issues. He serves as medical director of Community Hospice and at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center nursing home where family practice residents provide continuity of care to patients. In addition to his CAQ in Geriatrics, Dr. Mason is the proud father of Cloe, his Labrador therapy dog, who he brings to the nursing home, much to the delight of the residents. If you are among the more fortunate, you may even be invited to go for a sail on the Hudson with Tony.

Elizabeth K. Misener, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., Assistant Professor, Co-Coordinator of Behavioral Sciences and research assistant, has been with the department since 2001 and assists with the Behavioral Science and research activities. She is involved in shadowing residents and assisting with community referrals when necessary. In addition she oversees the cultural diversity summer elective for medical students as well as the medical student interpreting services. When not working, she can be found playing with her two year old son or boating on the inner water ways of Florida.

Robert J. Paeglow, M.D., Assistant Professor and Associate Predoctoral Director, brings to the department a unique perspective on life and medicine. In 2006 he was awarded the AAMC Humanitarian Award for his dedication to medical school teaching and inspirational role modeling of being a caring physician. His passion and interests center on care for the underserved, international health, teaching residents, medical students and rural health care. He has traveled extensively in the developing world performing medical missions. Dr. Paeglow is the founding director of Compassion in Action / Koinonia Primary Care which is housed in a 24 hour prayer and healing center in the inner city of Albany, providing family medicine health care for all who chose to enter, regardless of their ability to pay. He is an ordained minister as well as a family physician. He is nationally sought after as an inspirational speaker and is the recipient of numerous local and national awards.

Inez Pagnotta, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, is a graduate of Albany Medical College. Dr. Pagnotta has experience in inner city medicine while serving as Chief Resident at Downstate Medical Center. She then practiced solo in an underserved rural area through the US Public Health Service. She has practiced for over ten years in a staff model HMO setting. Her enthusiasm for teaching and for medicine is contagious.

Judy Platt, M.D.,Instructor and our second newest faculty member, joined our department in July 2006 immediately after finishing her residency training program here in Albany. She served as chief resident during her third year of training. She too is a faculty development fellow primarily interested in women's health including both the GYN and OB aspects of health care. Judy always has a smile on her face and a story to tell. She has the rather distinct honor of getting married twice within the same month. Some may tease her and say that decisions can be difficult for Judy! She brings an amazing level of enthusiasm and expertise in teaching and providing quality health care.

Jacob Reider, M.D., Assistant Professor and Associate Dean for Clinical Informatics, is an Albany Medical College graduate. He has special interest and expertise in medical informatics, health policy and evidence-based medicine. He is a nationally recognized leader in medical informatics serving on various national committees. In addition to his teaching and national consulting activities, he maintains a private family medicine practice which serves as a teaching site for our medical students. He is part of the residency teaching activities and assists residents and the program with developing user friendly informatics tools.

roche Sean P. Roche, M.D., Associate Residency Director and Associate Professor, has a CAQ in Adolescent Medicine. He was among the first family physician in NYS to obtain this certification. Dr. Roche has taken the lead in selecting and overseeing the implementation of the EHR for the practice making our residency and faculty medicine office a premier teaching and provider of quality health care facility. Almost every year since 1999, Dr. Roche has been selected as the Teacher of the Year, or best preceptor or some other award from the residents for his teaching abilities and commitment to education. He is the "organized one" on the faculty, sometimes putting the unorganized ones to shame but more impressive is his quick wit, his ability to be satirical, and his uncanny way of coming up with the "Top Ten List" on almost any topic. He can put David Letterman's writers out of business. When he is not working in the office, he is manicuring his lawn, training for his next run, or working on his family genealogy.

M Smith Mary F. Smith, Ph.D., LCSW-R, Professor, Vice-Chair, Behavioral Science Coordinator and Director of Academic Programs, is an experienced Family Medicine educator, social work clinician, and researcher. Being an Albanian, she has a unique knowledge of the community and its resources and needs. She often describes herself as being the "old timer" in the department having been with AMC Family Medicine since its inception in 1977. She serves on various college and institutional committees and functions as the link between AMC and CCP. When not working, writing grants and history books, or maintaining a small private counseling practice, Dr. Smith has, some gypsy blood in her with her travels and running an international B& B. However, most people still do question: "just what does Mary do here?" and her answer is always, "I'll never tell!"

Stang Aimee F. Strang, Pharm. D., CGP, CDP, an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the Albany College of Pharmacy, obtained both her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees at the Albany College of Pharmacy. She then completed a specialized residency in Ambulatory Care with an emphasis in education at Midwestern University, Chicago College of Pharmacy. She and 6th year pharmacy students serve as a drug information resource for the residents and faculty at the Family Practice Group as well as the patients. She is certified in Geriatric Pharmacy and Hyperlipidemia Management and her interests include diabetes management, lipid management, anticoagulation and patient-assistance programs.