Career Pulse

HOLYOKE — Kathleen Krisak, a nuclear-medicine technologist at Holyoke Medical Center (HMC), was named Outstanding Technologist of the Year by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging during a national conference in St. Louis. The award is given annually for “outstanding service and dedication to the field of nuclear-medicine technology.”

Krisak, who has worked at Holyoke Medical Center as a nuclear-medicine technologist for 31 years, also chairs HMC’s radiation safety committee. She has been active in the New England Chapter of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and its executive committee for over 20 years, serving in various leadership capacities, and is a fellow of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. She served as program and education chair for the annual meeting in 2013, and as incoming finance committee chair from 2010 to 2013, and she will begin serving as president of the New England Chapter in 2016.

“Kathy has exhibited a continued commitment to advancing our organizational expertise in nuclear medicine to improve patient health. Kathy is absolutely making a difference in the future of her profession,” said Holyoke Medical Center Vice President of Operations Carl Cameron.

Meanwhile, Manager of Radiology Jim Suprenant credited Krisak with promoting the nuclear medicine profession regionally and nationally. “Kathy has long been an advocate for Holyoke Medical Center. Her work has also provided Holyoke Medical Center with exposure to her professional society locally and nationally.”

A native of Springfield, Krisak graduated from Springfield Technical Community College in 1983, earned her bachelor’s degree from Worcester State College, and chose to work in Holyoke Medical Center’s Nuclear Medicine Department upon graduation. Over the years, she has served as senior technologist and department manager, and she has witnessed numerous technological advances that have improved patient care.

“Holyoke Medical Center has always had a progressive nuclear medicine department. We were one of the first in the area to offer bone densitometry for osteoporosis with our dedicated physician, Dr. Upatham, who always committed to furthering the field,” said Krisak, who most enjoys her interactions with patients, some of whom fondly call her the “warm blanket lady” as she helps them to be comfortable in the temperature-controlled Nuclear Medicine Department.

Krisak has also coordinated volunteers for HMC’s annual Golf Fore Health tournament for 25 years and presently serves as chief of staff for parade coordination on the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade committee.

FLORENCE — Dr. Theresa Hoang has joined the dental practice of Florence Dental Care at 41 Main St., Florence.

Hoang is an accomplished general dentist who enjoys all aspects of dentistry and has an especially strong passion for helping children, and says she aims to take the fear and anxiety out of the dental experience.  She was born and raised in New Jersey and earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Villanova University, then received her doctoral degree in Dental Medicine at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Upon graduation, she completed her post-doctoral general-practice residency at the Lyons and East Orange Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in New Jersey.

WESTFIELD — Attain Therapy + Fitness recently announced the hiring of Michael Fall, who will act as the facility Manager and treating Physical Therapist at the recently acquired facility at 65 Springfield Road in Westfield.

Fall has been practicing orthopedic physical therapy for more than 30 years. He has owned, built, and subsequently sold two private practices in Connecticut. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from Quinnipiac University in 1983, a master’s degree in orthopedic physical therapy in 1992, and his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Connecticut in 2001.

In 2013, he was accepted into the prestigious Gray Institute, where he completed two 40-week fellowship programs in applied and advanced applied functional science, and earned his fellowship in applied functional science.