National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter has named State Representative Russell Morin a 2009 MS Corporate Achiever – one of only 20 business leaders to be named.

A resident of Wethersfield, Morin received his certification in culinary arts from E. C. Goodwin Technical School in New Britain. He was first elected in 2006 to represent the 28th House District in Wethersfield. He is an assistant majority leader and a member of the finance, commerce and transportation committees. Morin served as Mayor of Wethersfield from 2003 to 2007 after serving as appointed Town Councilman from 1997 to 2003. He was a member of the Board of Education from 1995 to 1997 and is a member of the Wethersfield Democratic Town Committee. After receiving his State Food Service Certificate in the early 1980s, Morin trained and worked as a chef for several years.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter has named Michael Tracey, director of operations for Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (CRRA), a 2009 MS Corporate Achiever – one of only 20 business leaders to be named.

A native of Tolland and now a resident of Middletown, Tracey received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Connecticut in Storrs. He received his Master’s degree in structural engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill.

In his role as director of operations for the Hartford-based CRRA, Tracey provides overall direction and management of operating projects and relevant business objectives, including waste-to-energy facilities, recycling facilities and customer service functions.

Previously, Tracey served as senior engineer with United Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft where he was responsible for the design and analysis of aerospace structures and worked on NASA’s first manned space station.

“When I learned about the MS Corporate Achievers program, it took me all of 10 seconds to get involved,” said Tracey. “I have a friend in Mansfield who battles MS. Through my participation in the MS Corporate Achievers program I hope to do my part in the quest to find a cure for this disease.”

Tracey is affiliated with the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, participating on a study related to waste heat and electrical power stations. He is an active leader in youth sports, coaching baseball and serving on the board for the Ahern-Whalen Baseball League in Middletown. He also coaches football for the Cromwell Youth Football Program.

“Mr. Tracey is truly an effective leader,” said Lisa Gerrol, Connecticut Chapter president. “He is committed to elevating life throughout the region, including his hometown of Middletown.”

St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Andrew P. MacKenzie, M.D., of Woodstock, has joined the Medical and Dental Staff of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. MacKenzie received his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn.  He served as an intern, resident and chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, N.Y., and a fellow in maternal-fetal medicine and administrative chief for fellows at the New York University School of Medicine.

A diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. MacKenzie is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is board certified in maternal-fetal medicine.  He is a member of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology and American Medical Association.

He is the author or co-author of six chapters in an online medical resource and 13 articles and 18 abstracts in professional journals.

Matthew S. Warren, M.D., of West Hartford, has joined the Medical and Dental Staff of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. Warren received his medical degree from the Saint George’s University School of Medicine, Saint George’s, Grenada.  He served as an intern and resident in pediatrics at the Yale University School of Medicine/Bridgeport Hospital.

A fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Warren is a member of the Hartford County Medical Association, the Connecticut State Medical Society and the international medical honor society Iota Epsilon Alpha.

Dr. Warren most recently was associated with Doctors’ Pediatric, Wilton, and held an appointment as an Attending Pediatrician at Norwalk Hospital.  He previously held appointments as an Attending Pediatrician at Saint Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital – Continuum Health Partners, New York; Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York; Coney Island Hospital, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Saint Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport.  Dr. Warren also previously served as an Instructor in Clinical Pediatrics at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Manhattan, where he specialized in the care of critically ill babies.

Constantin A. Dasanu, M.D., Ph.D., of South Glastonbury, has joined the Medical and Dental Staff of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. Dasanu received his medical degree summa cum laude from the Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Moldova, and his Ph.D. in immunology from the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.

He served as a resident in internal medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University Hospitals, New York, and as a fellow in hematology/oncology at New York Medical College.  Dr. Dasanu also served as a resident/fellow in internal medicine/hematology and transfusion medicine at Fundeni Hospital – National Hematology Institute, Bucharest, Romania, and as a fellow in immunology at Cantacuzino Research Institute, Bucharest, Romania.  He also held an appointment as an Assistant Professor of Immunology at the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry of Ecological University, Bucharest, Romania.

Dr. Dasanu is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and its subspecialty board on hematology and medical oncology.  He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Eastern Oncology Group.

Dr. Dasanu has been active in clinical research and served as a principal investigator in a number of cancer therapy clinical trials.  He has authored over 40 scientific and scholarly articles in peer-reviewed medical journals.  He has also served as a reviewer/consultant for the oncology and hematology sections of the American Journal of Medical Sciences, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Southern Medical Journal, Annals of Fundeni Hospital (Bucharest, Romania) and the Nail Disease Centre, (Cannes, France).

He most recently served as a hematology/oncology clinical associate at Group Health Permanente-Franciscan Health System, Seattle, Wash.  At Saint Francis, he will practice as a member of Davis, Posteraro & Wasser, M.D.s, L.L.P.

VNA Health Network
Local home health care and hospice agency VNA HealthCare appointed Kathleen Peirce, RN, BSN, MS of Glastonbury as Vice-President Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Peirce will be responsible for the overall management and direction (strategically and operationally) of VNA HealthCare’s clinical operations, performance and clinical outcomes.

She is a graduate of St. Anselm College and holds a Masters of Science degree from Rensselaer at Hartford. Prior to coming to VNA HealthCare, Ms. Peirce was with Connecticut VNA and Manchester Memorial Hospital.

“We welcome Kathy’s breadth of experience to carry out the agency’s mission. Her strengths in operations and program development will complement the strong clinical capabilities we have at VNA HealthCare,” stated Ellen Rothberg, President and CEO, VNA HealthCare.