local industry notes
Updated January 29th

Andrew Arcuri joins dental group
Dr. Andrew M. Arcuri recently completed the orthodontic residency program at Temple University in Philadelphia. He is an associate orthodontist in Fayetteville with the dental group Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for All Ages. He joined the practice in October.

Originally from Utica, Arcuri graduated from Utica College of Syracuse University. He graduated from Buffalo School of Dental Medicine in 2002 and earned a certificate in orthodontics from Temple.

Arcuri treats children and adults and is a certified Invisalign practitioner.

Ronquillo joins Valley Health Services
Registered speech therapist Angeline Ronquillo joins Valley Health Services. She graduated from SUNY Fredonia where she earned a master’s degree in speech pathology. She will work with inpatients and outpatients. To make an appointment, call 866-3330, extension 149.

Taylor promoted to nurse supervisor
Rome Memorial Hospital registered nurse Linda Taylor, who has been the 2 East nurse manager on the 3 to 11 p.m. shift since 1989, has been promoted to nurse supervisor for the same shift. Taylor will oversee all nursing operations, including proper staffing and patient safety.

Since 1984, when she graduated from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica-Rome’s nursing program, Taylor has worked at Rome Memorial Hospital. She began her career as a registered nurse and after five years became a nurse manager.

She lives in the town of Lee with her husband, Michael, and her children Jennifer and Joseph.

Tomy joins staff of Slocum-Dickson
Dr. George Tomy joins Slocum-Dickson Medical Group’s internal medicine department. Tomy is board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He completed his residency at Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York Medical College, in New York. Tomy earned his medical degree at Kottayam Medical College, Kerala University, India. To schedule an appointment, call 798-1408.

Bassett names Metz monthly ambassador
Rhoni Metz, lead registered nurse at Bassett’s Herkimer Urgent Care Center, was named Ambassador of the Month for November. In the nomination, Scott Bonderoff, administrative director of emergency and trauma services, said “Rhoni goes above and beyond in her smiles and attitude. She has earned her ‘role model’ status in Urgent Care and serves as a role model for all Bassett employees.”

Her professional nursing career spans 20 years. Before joining Bassett four years ago, she worked in the emergency department at Little Falls Hospital, where she still works on occasion. Metz has been part of Bassett’s Urgent Care Center since its inception in 2000. Metz assesses patients who walk in and takes appropriate action — calling 911 or consulting a physician.

She plans to attend Utica College of Syracuse University to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She and her husband live in Little Falls.

Sodhi relocates office to Park Place
Dr. Ranbir Sodhi has relocated his St. Johnsville office to the Little Falls Hospital St. Johnsville Primary Care Center at 8 Park Place. Sodhi’s patients can call (518) 568-3403 to make an appointment at the new location. Sodhi’s hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rome Memorial welcomes internist
Dr. Restituto B. Acosta, a specialist in internal medicine, joins the medical staff at Rome Memorial Hospital.

Acosta specializes in providing comprehensive primary care for adults. He is trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, infections and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints and digestive, respiratory and vascular systems. His focus is caring for the whole person, advocating prevention and managing chronic illness to enhance quality of life.

Acosta earned his medical degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and completed his residency in internal medicine at the Metropolitan Hospital Center in New York City. He had been an attending physician at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.

Acosta’s office is at 117 W. Liberty St., Suite 2, Rome. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and Saturdays by appointment. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 337-2582 for an appointment.

Physician assistants join Bassett
Philip Arcuri and Clare Chiles join Bassett Healthcare as physician assistants in the department of surgery.

They recently completed physician assistant surgical residency programs at Duke University. Chiles will work with surgical residents, and Arcuri will work in the ICU.

Chiles has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. Arcuri was an emergency medical technician for Syracuse University Ambulance Service.

Chiles and Arcuri are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and are members of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Surgical Physician Assistants.

Little Falls Hospital receives grant
Little Falls Hospital has received a $22,500 grant from the F. M. Kirby Foundation Inc. The funds will benefit the hospital’s 2004-2005 Development Fund Drive, assisting in the purchase of a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine camera providing radiologists with comprehensive images of nearly 100 different procedures.

The F. M. Kirby Foundation Inc. in Morristown, N.J., annually recognizes a limited number of organizations of interest to the Kirby family or projects that are reflective of important, contemporary issues of society. The foundation favors programs that encourage the solving of problems on the local level and without government aid.