One of a series of roundtables I collaborated on (and named) with the brilliant and quirky Dr. Grasso.

1. Cynthia de Luise, PA, Ph.D.
Senior Epidemiologist, Pfizer Pharmaceutical
“Despite it being one of the most important diseases of this century, COPD is universally underdiagnosed
throughout the world, with only about ½ of all cases being identified. The prevalence of COPD nearly
triples in persons in the 7th decade as compared to people in their 40’s. Since there is presently no cure, the
only way to address COPD is through prevention (not smoking), early diagnosis, quitting smoking, and
aggressive treatment of symptoms and concurrent diseases.”
Cynthia (Cindy) de Luise has been employed for over 6 years as an epidemiologist in
drug safety at Pfizer Inc. Prior to working as an epidemiologist, Cindy spent about 8
years in clinical medicine as a physician assistant at Cabrini Medical Center in NYC.
Her clinical work involved considerable exposure to geriatric care. Cindy’s areas of
expertise are respiratory and infectious disease epidemiology.
Victor L. Marchione, M.D., F.C.C.P.
Internal & Pulmonary Medicine
“Regardless of one’s age, it is never too late to stop smoking.”
Victor Louis Marchione, M.D., F.C.C.P. is a native of Hoboken, NJ, with 25 years of
service to the New York – Metropolitan area as a Board Certified Pulmonologist. He is
a former medical director of a large multi-specialty medical group with research
interests in tobacco cessation and early detection of lung carcinoma. As the founder
and Medical Director of the “I Quit Smoking Program” at Palisades Medical Center in
North Bergen, NJ, Dr. Marchione invites all smokers to join smoking cessation efforts.
Stevens Roundtable:
Health, Technology & Society
July 11, 2007
Vikki Hazelwood, Ph.D.
Industry Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Enhancing the Delivery of
Stevens Institute of Technology
“Biomedical technologies are essential components of the overall healthcare delivery system for detecting, Healthcare Services to an Aging
U.S. Population
preventing, and treating disease and injury.”
Dr. Vikki Hazelwood has held executive positions in sales and business development
for several medical device companies focused on drug delivery technology
and surgical techniques for orthopedics and interventional cardiology. She
received her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from Stevens Institute of
Technology. Her research emphasis is in Sports Medicine and Translational Research,
focusing on the development of efficacious medical devices and physiologic methods
which improve public health, especially obesity prevention and pain management.
The impact of the roundtable was powerful in its complete coverage of its topic. Panelists discussed the delivery of
healthcare from the inception of ideas for new medical techniques, equipment and drugs by researchers (including
undergrad students working on advanced projects), through service provision by a variety of professionals in
different settings, to hospice care. I was especially impressed by the expertise and dedication of Messrs. Irizarry
and Ramos who presented on the role of public agencies and government and by the exciting contributions which
Manny Pena-Perich
medical informatics can bring to the continuum of healthcare.
Manager of Professional & Community Relations
— Dr. Silvio Laccetti
Compassionate Care Hospice
"Hospice affords the patient and their caregivers a core interdisciplinary team of nurses and professionals
who focus on the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual comfort in the final stages of a life-threatening
illness. It is very gratifying to assist a patient and their caregivers in allowing hospice the privilege to Roundtable Coordinator: Dr. S. Vincent Grasso
complete a spiritual journey."
Manny Pena-Perich is Manager of Professional and Community Relations for Hudson &
Roundtable Moderator: Patrick Berzinski
Bergen Counties for Compassionate Care Hospice. Manny has an extensive
background in healthcare, including Director of Patient Services and Rehabilitation for
the American Cancer Society, and Patient Relations Coordinator for Hospice of New
Jersey. Manny serves on two palliative care committees for the Liberty Healthcare
System.

2. S. Vincent Grasso, D.O. Ruben Ramos, Jr.
Surgeon & Family Physician, North Bergen, NJ Councilman at Large, Hoboken, NJ
Medical Informaticist & Business Analyst, TIMA 1997 Democratic Nominee, NJ State Assembly, 33rd District
Adjunct Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology “As a Hoboken councilman and cancer survivor, health care has always been a very personal
“I am personally and professionally committed to improving healthcare delivery to seniors: clinically issue to me. As Assemblyman, I will continue to make comprehensive health care for our growing
as a physician and technically as an informaticist.” senior population throughout Hudson County a top priority.”
Dr. S. Vincent Grasso was born, raised, and educated in Hudson County, New For the past decade, Ruben Ramos Jr. has represented his fellow citizens on
Jersey. He is a graduate of North Bergen High School (1981), St. Peter’s College the Hoboken City Council. He received his BA in Political Science in 1995 from
(1985), Des Moines University (1991), and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Fairleigh Dickinson University and is now a middle school Social Studies
General Surgery Manhattan Program (1997). His Postdoctoral Fellowship in teacher at Public School 15 in Paterson. Ruben is a cancer survivor, having
Advanced Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery was completed at the Yale been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease in 1999. After a rigorous chemotherapy
University School of Medicine in 1999. While at Yale, he worked with the NASA treatment at Sloan Kettering Hospital, he was diagnosed cancer-free in 2000.
Yale Commercial Space Center for Medical Informatics and Technology Ruben is happily married to Norma P. Ramos, and is the proud father of their
Applications, CSCMITA, as a NASA Program Manager to perform research within two daughters, Isabel and Gail. In June 2007, Ruben Ramos Jr. became the
the discipline of Medical Informatics. He has delivered healthcare internationally Democratic nominee for the New Jersey State Assembly in the 33rd Legislative
via his not for profit company AYUDAMOS since 1991. Dr. Grasso is a physician in District.
private practice in Hudson County, NJ, and was recently married to Christina De
Croce Grasso.
Patrick A. Berzinski Christopher F. Irizarry
Director of University Communications President/CEO North Hudson Community Action Corp.
Stevens Institute of Technology Commissioner of Parks, Public Property, and
“The delivery of healthcare poses an ever-expanding challenge to the entire healthcare community, Recreation, Union City, NJ
especially as a larger segment of America’s population grows older. The time for discussion is now, as “High-quality health care should be afforded to all. Regardless of age, color, race, religion, creed,
the first wave of the Baby Boom Generation settles into retirement.” or immigration status, everyone should have the ability to access health care. We have a
Patrick A. Berzinski has worked in a variety of media during a career spanning
more than 20 years. His principal medium is the written word, and his literary
responsibility to assure that everyone living in our great nation has the ability to see a doctor so
and expository writing have been the vehicles that have led him to work in radio, that we remain a healthy community. There should be no limit on investment for a healthy
video, web, public and media relations, and networking for business society.”
development. Since 2000, his work has been primarily in institutional Mr. Irizarry received a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University in the Administration of
communications for Stevens Institute of Technology where he currently serves as Justice in 1993 and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from John Jay College of
director of university communications. Criminal Justice in 1998. In 2002, Mr. Irizarry was elected in Union City as a Commissioner
and is currently the Commissioner of Parks, Public Property, and Recreation. In March of
2006, Mr. Irizarry was appointed as President/CEO of North Hudson Community Action
Corporation, where he oversees both the Community Action Program as well as the
Federally Qualified Health Center. Mr. Irizarry was married in 2003 to his wife Keila.
Silvio Laccetti, Ph.D. Ed Davis
Professor of Social Sciences Administrator, Harborage at Palisades Medical Center,
Stevens Institute of Technology North Bergen, NJ
“The impact of the Roundtable was powerful in its complete coverage of its topic. Panelists discussed “As the health care needs of the older population increase, systems have to evolve to meet the need
the delivery of healthcare from the inception of ideas for new medical techniques, equipment and in the community first.”
drugs by researchers (including undergrad students working on advanced projects) through service Ed has worked his entire career in Long Term Care. He has been the
Administrator of the Harborage at Palisades Medical Center for the past 15
provision by a variety of professionals in different settings, to hospice care. I was especially impressed years, where he was responsible for the licensing and opening of the 245-bed
by the expertise and dedication of Messrs. Irizarry and Ramos who presented on the role of public nursing home and specialty needs provider located in North Bergen, New
agencies and government and by the exciting contributions which medical informatics can bring to the Jersey. Prior to the Harborage, he worked as the start-up Administrator for a
continuum of healthcare.” private nursing home chain, opening up new facilities in New Jersey and
Dr. Laccetti has been a long-time Professor of Humanities at Stevens. He has Maryland. Ed is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator and received his B.S.
authored a book about Drug Abuse Education and Community Outreach from Salem College, West Virginia.
Programs, edited two books on New Jersey public policy issues and is now a
national columnist covering various national issues. He has thrice been honored
as “Teacher of the Year” at Stevens.
According to a 2004 National Institute of Health statistic, approximately The annualized rate of fall injury episodes for non-institutionalized
50% of all seniors living within the U.S. suffer from heart disease, a adults aged 65 years and over in 2003–2006 was 51 episodes per 1,000
physician’s diagnosis of arthritis, and chronic joint symptoms. population. Rates of fall injuries increased with age, and were higher for
women compared with men.