Contact: Carol Rubiano
212-580-9706
BETH ISRAEL’S NEW HI-TECH RADIOLOGY SUITE OPENS
AT THE KINGS HIGHWAY DIVISION
October 22, 2007 -- A large crowd of hospital staff and community representatives
gathered on October 22 to witness the official opening of a new multi-million dollar
Interventional Radiology Suite at Beth Israel Medical Center-Kings Highway Division
(KHD).
Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive technique that offers exciting and
innovative treatment alternatives to surgery. It uses ultrasound, CAT-scan and X-rays to
guide tiny instruments through the body to diagnose or treat a variety of conditions.
Eric Berkowitz, MD, physician in charge of KHD’s Interventional Radiology program,
presided over the ribbon-cutting along with various dignitaries.
Rhona Hetsrony, KHD VP for Administration accepted a special proclamation from
Senator Carl Kruger presented by Chief of Staff Jason Koppel that lauds Beth Israel’s
continuing efforts to enhance community health care services. NY City Council Member
Mike Nelson vowed to work on getting funding for other essential services that will
benefit Brooklyn residents.
Also present were BI’s Chief Medical Officer David Bernard, MD; Radiology Chairman
Michael Abiri, MD; COO Richard Freeman; Chaim Bernstein, MD, KHD Associate
Medical Director; and Emma Koralek, RN, KHD VP for Patient Care Services. KHD
physicians including Merab Krikhely, MD, Associate Chairman and KHD Chief of
Surgery; Dino Paiusco, MD KHD Chief of Medicine; and Elizer Parnes, MD, KHD Chief
of Nephrology, toured the impressive high-tech facility.
“Interventional radiology is used successfully to relieve blockages in the blood vessels,
kidneys and liver, as well as to treat tumors and fibroids by blocking the arteries that feed
them,” said Dr. Berkowitz, a board-certified radiologist who practices at the Kings
Highway Division and the Petrie Division. “It is also used to treat a variety of vascular
problems, from aneurysms and blood clots to improving blood flow in kidney dialysis
patients.”
The KHD interventional radiology team consists of Dr. Berkowitz, who completed his
vascular and IR fellowship at Beth Israel in 2006; Nachum Weingarten, PA, a graduate of
the Physician Assistant program at Touro College School of Health Sciences; and
specially trained nurses, including Marie Walsh, RN, a critical care specialist. Together
they provide the latest advances in treating vascular, gastrointestinal and genitourinary
conditions, as well as new treatments in cancer care.
“The best advantage of interventional radiology is its minimally invasive approach,
which means patients may require a shorter hospital stay and recuperation time,” said Dr.
Berkowitz.
For more information or appointments for interventional radiology procedures at Beth
Israel-Kings Highway Division, please call 718-951-2970.
Photo caption: Present at the opening of the new high-tech Interventional
Radiology (IR) Suite at Beth Israel Medical Center-Kings Highway Division
(BIMC-KHD) were (l-r) David Bernard, MD, BIMC Chief Medical Officer;
Rhona Hetsrony, KHD VP for Administration; Marc Katz, Radiology
Administrator, Continuum Health Partners; Emma Koralek, RN, KHD VP for
Patient Care Services; Vince Monte, KHD Radiology Administrator; Jason
Koppel, Chief of Staff for Sen. Carl Kruger; Eric Berkowitz, MD, Physician in
Charge of KHD IR; Chaim Bernstein, MD, KHD Associate Medical Director;
NYC Council Member Mike Nelson; Michael Abiri, MD, Chairman, BI Dept of
Radiology; and Richard Freeman, BI Chief Operating Officer.