Seven staff members across the Department of Internal Medicine will be retiring by the end of 2021. Those staff members are:
- Donna Carrano (Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine)
- Pamela Dann (Endocrinology & Metabolism)
- Kathy DePonte (Infectious Diseases)
- Sharon Jennings (Geriatrics)
- Linda Leo-Summers (Geriatrics)
- Yelena Mann (Cardiovascular Medicine)
- Augustine Sanchez (Infectious Diseases)
“Each of these individuals has had a tremendous impact on their section, and the department as a whole, in areas of clinical care, education, and research. We are so grateful for their years of service and dedication to internal medicine, and wish them all the best for a happy retirement,” said Vice Chair, Finance & Administration Mark A. Holter, CMPE, CPA.
Read more about each individual and what their colleagues had to say about working alongside them.
Donna Carrano, Clinical Research Nurse 2
Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine
Donna Carrano, clinical research nurse 2, first started at Yale in 1994. Carrano worked at the Yale Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases. “Donna put her whole heart into everything she did for our program and especially for the patients. She has been a tireless advocate with a truly warm and caring nature. We all congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement,” said Danielle Antin-Ozerkis, MD, associate professor of medicine (pulmonary).
“Donna Carrano was the heart of our research program for more than a decade. Her dedication and devotion supported ILD centers. Her contributions enabled ground-breaking discoveries in the basic biology and clinical management of interstitial lung disease. Her legacy cannot be overstated and she will be sorely missed,” said Erica Herzog, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (pulmonary).
Pamela Dann, Research Associate 2, MS
Section of Endocrinology & Metabolism
Pamela Dann has been at YSM for over 20 years, and is retiring from the Section of Endocrinology & Metabolism. “Pam Dann has been the glue that has held my laboratory together for many years. She had been working in the laboratory of Dr. Andrew Stewart, a former mentor of mine, and I was incredibly lucky that Pam joined my fledgling laboratory after Andy left to become the chief of Endocrinology at Pittsburgh. In Andy’s lab, she had worked to develop and test the first clinical immunoassay for parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and she has remained the world’s guru on measuring PTHrP in research settings ever since. She has contributed to innumerable basic and clinical studies involving the physiology and pathophysiology of this remarkable cytokine/hormone that was originally discovered here at Yale. Over the years, her scientific and organizational skills and energies have really made my laboratory flourish and I am deeply indebted to her. Most importantly, she has become a friend, confidant and mentor to me and a long list of former and current postdoctoral fellows and students who have spent time in my lab, as well as those in many other labs in the section. Everyone always knew, if all else fails, ask Pam. We will miss her dearly, but are also excited that she can spend time traveling and visiting family and grandchildren,” said John Wysolmerski, MD, professor of medicine (endocrinology); section chief, Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Kathy DePonte, Research Associate 2, MS
Section of Infectious Diseases
Kathy DePonte has worked as a research associate at YSM for over 40 years, across multiple sections within the department. “Kathy was remarkable. She could do it all. We worked together for over 30 years, and she was very particular about honesty and her interpretation. She was a valuable head technician that you could discuss the project or the experiment with, and you knew it would be done very well,” said Fred Kantor, MD, Paul B. Beeson Professor Emeritus of Medicine (Immunology).
“From the get-go, Kathy has always been very independent-minded, very rigorous. Kathy was one of the few that trained me scientifically in terms of how to plan experiments in Fred’s lab, including how to do Western Blots, ELISAs, and how to do an experiment rigorously. She trained me how to work with mice and ticks, and how to work with immunologic reagents. Very early in our career when Fred and I were working on the original Lyme vaccine, Kathy was with us for our first most crucial experiment. As the years went on, my lab grew, and I moved back to infectious diseases, and Fred was retiring so Kathy then became a lab manager in my lab nearly 15 years ago. She ran the laboratory and she’s such an outstanding person, and I don't know many who have contributed over the years as much as she has had. Also, Kathy and I both share an interest in golf, and I'm very jealous of her because she's gotten a hole in one, and I never have,” said Infectious Diseases Section Chief Erol Fikrig, MD, BA, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and professor of epidemiology (microbial diseases) and of microbial pathogenesis.
Sharon Jennings, Administrative Assistant
Section of Geriatrics
Sharon Jennings, administrative assistant in the Section of Geriatrics, is retiring after a 25-year career. “Sharon has been one of the critical ingredients in the tremendously supportive and caring environment we have been able to create in Building 35A. Also, I’ve never seen a design or graphics issue that she hasn’t been able to dive into and come up with a beautiful table, figure, certificate, or whatever else was required,” said Terri Fried, MD, section chief, Geriatrics; professor of medicine (geriatrics).
“Having worked with Sharon for over 20 years, she has become part of the Yale/VA family with all our children growing up together. She has been a great support to our building 35A group, always willing to lend a helping hand, creative with solutions, and an important source of humor. Sharon has a lot of patience and doesn’t overwhelm easily! Always available to listen without judgement and give honest advice. If you are ever doing home improvement or restoration projects Sharon is your go to person,” said Lynne Iannone, research associate 111 for the Program on Aging.
“Sharon has been a delight to work with over the years. She is very creative and always willing to help out and lend a hand. She will be missed,” said Richard Marottoli, MD, MPH, professor of medicine (geriatrics).
Linda Leo-Summers, Systems Programmer
Section of Geriatrics
Linda Leo-Summers has been with the Section of Geriatrics since 1983, working as a systems programmer. “Linda has made innumerable, outstanding, lasting contributions to the Program on Aging (POA) during her 40+ years of service. She is truly a respected and esteemed colleague. One of her phenomenal accomplishments during her career is to co-author over 80 published manuscripts, an incredible testament to the collaborations with POA investigators over the years. Above all she is a wonderful colleague, positive, kind-hearted, always willing to lend a hand to help and offer advice. Words cannot express the depth and breadth of Linda’s hand in research accomplishments for the Yale Pepper Center and Program on Aging. A single person will not fill her shoes. The rare combination of a practiced eye for graphics, knowledge and experience with SAS and CMS data as well as being a wonderful colleague have made her a respected and beloved member of our team. We don’t want to see her go,” Katy Araujo, MPH, associate director for data management & informatics and Denise Acampora, MPH, lecturer in medicine (geriatrics).
“For studies ranging in scale from entire populations to individual molecules, we count on Linda to devise creative solutions to very tough problems. Linda has developed specialized computer algorithms and programs for biostatistical analysis. Her results and advanced graphical data displays appear in dozens of published papers, and faculty at Yale and elsewhere have benefited hugely from collaborations with Linda, as have uncounted individuals worldwide from research supported by her work,” said Peter Charpentier, associate director for data management.
“It's hard to put Linda's contributions into a finite number of words. Linda has always been an invaluable member of our team. She is a whiz with CMS, data management, graphic design, and so much more; her unique skill set has resulted in innumerable contributions to the geriatrics literature, including our work on older adults who have been in the ICU. Our team truly enjoys working together, with a genuine camaraderie of which Linda is an integral part. I will miss working with her,” said Lauren Ferrante, MD, assistant professor of medicine (pulmonary).
“Linda has been an invaluable member of the Program on Aging since its inception in 1991. Her expertise as a SAS programmer and data manager, specialized graphical programming skills, extensive experience with CMS data, collegiality, and equanimity in the face of pressing deadlines and multiple competing demands, will be truly missed,” said Thomas Gill, MD, Humana Foundation Professor of Medicine (geriatrics) and professor of epidemiology (chronic diseases).
Yelena (Lena) Mann, Office Assistant 3
Section of Cardiovascular Medicine
Yelena Mann began in the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine in 1995 as a transcriptionist. Most recently, she was in charge of processing expense reports. “Lena’s dedication and persistence is tireless. She must be creative, flexible, and influence faculty in supporting the Yale policies for making purchases and closing the loop with supporting documentation. Lena’s work ethic and determination ensure that she meets timelines more often than not. I am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Lena and to have been her manager in my 12 years in Cardiovascular Medicine,” said Ann Sousa, administrative operations manager.
Augustine Sanchez, Social Worker/Bilingual Counselor
Section of Infectious Diseases
Augustine Sanchez, social worker/bilingual counselor, began his career for the AIDS Program in 2009. “Augustine used a humanistic approach and was one of the most patient centered therapists I have worked with. He was a strong advocate for the client’s self-determination, always promoting a sense of dignity, and employed a nonjudgmental, non-shaming approach. He was extremely skilled at motivational interviewing, hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques while helping clients look at the logical consequences of their decisions in life and in their struggles with substance abuse. He was viewed by his patients as supportive, flexible and empathic. He offered the added feature of bilingual fluency which is important in our community. He will be sorely missed,” said Mary Lindsay Powell, APRN.
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