New doctors join Elizabethtown Community Hospital

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Dr. Tracie DiMarco (right) consults with Kristin Dooley, a nurse at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital clinic. Staff Photo/Alvin Reiner/re 1.0.2
Jackson Hooper, 4, checks out his sister, Julia, 3, under the supervision of Dr. Michael Celotti. Staff Photo/Alvin Reiner/re 1.1.1

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November 8, 2010

Quality of life attracted new physicians

ALVIN REINER Press-Republican The Press Republican Mon Nov 08, 2010, 02:28 AM EST

ELIZABETHTOWN — For Dr. Michael Celotti, it was a homecoming.

For Dr. Tracie DiMarco, it was "serendipitous."

The two physicians recently joined the staff at Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

Securing physicians for rural areas is often difficult, as it takes a considerable amount of time, energy and resources to recruit them, so hospital officials are pleased to have the new doctors.

NEED FOR PEDIATRICIAN

"The community has been requesting pediatric services for nearly six years, and trying to attract a pediatrician, such as Dr. Celotti, to the area has always been a challenge," Elizabethtown Community CEO Rod Boula said.

"The Essex County area has traditionally lacked pediatric services. The hospital's community surveys have indicated a real need. It's important that our area residents have access to these services."

HEALTHY START

For Celotti, who grew up around Crown Point, becoming a pediatrician seemed like the natural thing to do.

"I grew up with younger cousins, and sometimes being responsible for them focused me on child care. In medicine, I get a good feeling when I can fix things with kids and mold them into good habits to shape a healthy lifestyle.

"I love this area and the outdoor activities. I enjoy cycling, fishing, camping and other outdoor activities."

Celotti encourages parents to have their kids become acquainted with a physician and to have regular checkups.

"It seems like most parents only bring their kid in when they are sick and also rely on the schools for any medical care. There are a lot of new recommendations for children's health of which parents may not be aware."

Pediatricians can also help in recognizing behavioral conditions, such as hyper-activity and inattentiveness, which may manifest themselves in problems at school.

As far as obesity in youngsters, Celotti felt it was more of an issue in cities, as kids tend to be more active outdoors in rural areas. However, when they reach ages 11 or 12, they tend to become more sedentary.

Celotti expects to be in Elizabethtown two days a week and will provide services in Moriah and Ticonderoga the rest of the week.

Before coming to Essex County, he worked at Community Care Pediatrics in Saratoga for six years.

PRIMARY-CARE DOCTOR

"The hospital is thrilled to have Dr. DiMarco joining its professional, talented team," Boula said. "It's important that our area residents have access to primary-care physicians close to home."

DiMarco, a graduate of SUNY Buffalo and Marist Colby, is a family practitioner with an emphasis on nutrition.

"I have a slant to dealing with the whole person and preventive care. I have a great interest in nutritional concerns, as well."

DiMarco feels that being a woman may make female patients more at ease, as she can "relate to them on a more personal level, and I have an understanding of what women go through.

"Women have some unique challenges in terms of illness, hormonal issues and weight control. I would like to help women overcome those challenges through proper medical care, nutrition and overall health and wellness education."

PILLAR OF WELLNESS

DiMarco said she "fell in love with the scenic beauty of the area. I came up here as a child, and the area was a warm fuzzy to me. I grew up in a small town and feel at home here.

"Since I was in a solo practice, I have more confidence in coming into a setting such as this."

There are two coincidences that also make DiMarco feel more at home. She previously lived in the Duchess County community of Pleasant Valley — also the name of the valley in which Elizabethtown is located — and her mother's name is Elizabeth.

"I'm really excited to be here and hope I can help the hospital and clinic build a pillar of wellness and bring preventive health to the communities we serve."

QUALITY OF LIFE

ECH Community Relations Director Jane Hooper said physicians are often drawn to urban centers because they offer more opportunities.

"ECH is fortunate that Dr. Celotti and Dr. DiMarco have placed significant value on their quality of life and have chosen to live in an area that boasts a much less harried pace and is close to their families.

"Essentially, and luckily for us, they have brought their medical training and expertise to a place they love."

E-mail Alvin Reiner at: rondackrambler@yahoo.com