Putnam County Department of Health Hosts Conference

CARMEL, NY—Putnam County Medical Reserve Corps volunteers had a special opportunity on Tuesday to hear from experts in the field of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. The occasion was an all-day training conference held at Centennial Golf Course in Carmel. They were welcomed by County Executive Kevin Byrne who kicked off the event with a sincere thank you to the volunteers.

     “The MRC’s unwavering commitment to serving our community in times of need is truly commendable” said County Executive Byrne. “Putnam County has always had a strong culture of volunteerism, and the MRC exemplifies the spirit of selflessness and compassion that defines our county. These volunteers play a crucial role in bolstering our public health response and safety of our residents. Their dedication and willingness to lend a helping hand during both emergencies and average days is a testament to the remarkable sense of community we have in Putnam County. I am honored to work alongside such remarkable individuals and express my sincere appreciation for their valuable contributions to our community."

     Connie Bueti, the emergency preparedness coordinator at the Putnam County Department of Health and interim Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, joined the County Executive in welcoming the crowd. Ms. Bueti, who coordinated the day’s events, outlined the agenda before introducing the first guest speaker. “Sergeant AJ Pizzuto has 18 years of law enforcement experience, including 12 on the Putnam County tactical team where he is currently team leader,” she said.

     Sergeant Pizzuto began the morning session with a dynamic and comprehensive discussion on active killer situations. Sergeant Pizzuto, who is also a “CRASE” instructor, standing for “civilian readiness for active shooter events,” explained the term has evolved to active killer situations to address a fuller scope of “attempted mass murder events.”

     All critical incidents, including those Sergeant Pizzuto described, have both short and long-term physical, and mental health effects. The afternoon session furthered the discussion on these consequences with a lively forum presented by Frank Guglieri, the regional safety coordinator for Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES; Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health and Social Services Sara Servadio, and Commissioner Mike Piazza. The discussions ranged from protective actions, such as continuity of operations planning for emergencies, to reunification and long-term, ongoing recovery efforts after serious incidents.

     Mr. Guglieri, who has extensive experience in school-based emergency planning, expressed confidence in Putnam County’s ability to respond in the short term as evidenced in the expertise and work of Sergeant Pizzuto and his team. “Our next focus is on enhancing capabilities in terms of handling the impact of, and recovery from a critical incident in the first 72 hours, and three months, and beyond,” he said.

     Ms. Servadio, who joined the County’s Department of Mental Health and Social Services in 2022, after working 15 years for Westchester County’s Department of Community Mental Health, pointed to the challenges involved responding to long-term mental health needs. “We need to address these issues not just of those affected directly, but also their families and communities. It is in this aspect of community recovery efforts where we are hoping to engage and channel support from the MRC.” A primary focus of her work has been with individuals dealing with serious mental health issues and their families, who become involved in the justice system.

     “One of the most important things we can do after an event is to promote a sense of safety,” said Commissioner Piazza, who has more than four decades of public sector mental health experience. “For people to recover they must be able to continue their lives without fear. Dispelling myths and rumor are part of this.” The commissioner joined the department in 1979 as a substance abuse counselor and became director of alcohol and substance abuse services, and mental health, prior to becoming commissioner in 1994. He ended with an observation and further words of wisdom, saying that he still finds the resiliency of some who have suffered great losses amazing, while also emphasizing the importance of self-care for mental health care providers.

     In addition to hearing from these experts in handling critical incidents and their aftermath, the MRC volunteers learned from state and county staff involved in coordinating and developing Medical Reserve Corps capabilities. Jack Porter, who retired from a 32-year military career, now works in the New York State Department of Health’s office of health emergency preparedness as both the NYS volunteer program coordinator and MRC state coordinator. He explained his role, saying “I am here to assist local health departments in growing their volunteer programs and Medical Reserve Corps so that when the next emergency situation arises all are prepared to respond effectively.”

     The day’s agenda was organized by Ms. Bueti, and Stacey Gussak, the MRC program assistant, who also presented MRC updates and talked about local efforts to increase engagement. “You will be hearing from us, and we want to hear from you,” she said. “We are open to all suggestions about how you would like to contribute and what further trainings are needed.” Ms. Bueti thanked Stacey for her determination and added, “We hope all our volunteers will join us in our continuing efforts to enhance the county’s preparedness for handling short- and long-term recovery.”

For more information or to join Putnam’s Medical Reserve Corps, visit: www.putnamcountyny.com/mrc.

     The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit our County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.

PHOTO 1 caption: County Executive Kevin Byrne, right, and interim Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat MD were among the officials who took time from their schedules to welcome the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers at the all-day training conference at the Centennial Golf Club County Executive Byrne offered thanks to the volunteers and applauded their altruism and dedication to Putnam’s residents.

PHOTO 2 caption: Volunteering is a family affair for Monica Maxino, center back, who volunteered the most time—174 hours—during the COVID pandemic. She attended the conference with her volunteer parents and family friends. From left, is Nona Malaguit, a volunteer nurse;  Monica’s Vickie and father Jo, both nurses. Opposite them, are volunteers Corazon and Alfredo Dubongco. Corazon is a nurse and Alfredo, a respiratory therapist.

PHOTO 3 caption: From left, Sue Moore, a volunteer since 2010, and Keiren Farquhar, former MRC coordinator turned volunteer, are joined by Cathy Pizzuti, another familiar face at the vaccination clinics the PCDOH held during the pandemic.

PHOTO 4 caption: Serving the public is what they do.... Sergeant AJ Pizzuto in the Sheriff’s Office keeping residents safe; Shanna Siegel, RN, in the Health Department, as Public Information Officer and health education supervisor; Commissioner Mike Piazza, Department of Mental Health and Social Services, and Deputy Commissioner Sara Servadio. Together they represent more than half a century of public service! On Tuesday, they put this experience to work educating Putnam’s MRC.

PHOTO 5 caption: Developing and engaging the volunteer Medical Reserve Corps is a daily mission for Connie Bueti, left, who serves as the emergency preparedness coordinator at the health department; conference presenter Jack Porter, the NYS MRC volunteer coordinator, and Stacey Gussak, the health department’s MRC program assistant.

PHOTO 6 caption: Volunteers for the Medical Reserve Corps serve in all types of roles. Logistics and clinical functions are critical in a public health emergency response. Denis Hanrahan, left, and Jim Lynch, spent much time volunteering during the COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Denis filled key logistical roles by keeping the crowds in order and lines moving smoothly, while Jim, a registered nurse, administered vaccines.