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April 8, 2006

James F. Caravelli, MD

Attending Radiologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Director, Radiology Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering-64th Street
Professor of Clinical Radiology, Cornell University-Weill Medical College

Few disciplines in radiology demand so much from a technologist as mammography. In order to obtain a high quality image, the technologist must be skilled not only in the technical aspects, but also must have the inter-personal skills necessary to obtain the cooperation of an often anxious patient.

And then there is the need to work with different radiologists, who often have their own individual styles of practice. Meeting the requirements of regulatory agencies is yet another skill which must be mastered.

I know of no one better suited to teach these skills than Millie Cruz.Under the tutelage of pioneer mammographer Dr. Ruth Snyder at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, Ms Cruz played a fundamental role in the development of the highest quality mammography at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. She has taught numerous technologists these skills and established a tradition of excellence which, long after her leaving, is still maintained to this day. Having worked with her extensively in mammography and performing needle localizations, I can attest to her remarkable skills and the important effect it has had upon patient care in countless cases.

When she indicated to me an interest in becoming a CT/Special Procedures technologist, my regret that we would be losing a terrific mammography resource was balanced by the confidence that she would likely become an equally terrific CT technologist. Such was the case, and our department continued to benefit from her expertise until she decided to move to Los Angeles.Such breadth and quality of expertise is a rare commodity.

For those facilities and practices needing help getting their programs on track, I can think of no one better suited to contact than Millie Cruz.

November 15, 2005

Monte Clinton, CRA, FAHRA

Administrative Director of Radiology
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City
1974 - 1993

Director of Radiology
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire
1993 - 2005 (retired)

The conversion from film to computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) was one of the most high-risk, challenging projects in my 42 career in radiography. Shortly after our conversion to digital, we started hearing complaints from our radiologists about image quality. Even visitors said our images were not as good as their images.

We knew we had a problem that needed quick attention. Our chairman warned that either we fix the CR problems or the system had to be replaced.

Drawing on my network of friends and colleagues over the past 42 years, I called Millie Cruz, an applications specialist for Philips Medical Systems. I have know Millie since my days at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Millie had been the supervisor of our large mammography program. She had a reputation for running an outstanding department and achieving outstanding image quality.

Although Millie was based on the West Coast, she agreed to come back East to help us out. We were all amazed that within 30 minutes, she had found the multiple problems we were struggling with --- and corrected them. She stayed for several days, doing one-on-one technologist training as well as group inservice training for the technologists.

We received excellent advice and our equipment was calibrated properly. The radiologist's complaints turned to raves about the wonderful image quality.

We were confident that our technologists knew how to use properly use the equipment and take advantage of many features we were not using. Now, whenever there is a technical or quality problem, the techs say, "bring Millie back".

.....

Millie Cruz from Philips visits DHMC Radiology
By Monte Clinton, CRA, Radiology Director

Philips Medical Systems Applications Specialist, Millie Cruz, spent a few days in Radiology calibrating the Philips CR. Millie was wonderful, and very skilled at improving the image quality of the units. She said that DHMC's Radiology Department was one of the best she has seen. Millie and I worked together at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, over 20 years ago. Millie was the mammography supervisor at the hospital's radiology department. She currently lives in California, but spends most of her time traveling to other hospitals. She plans to return to DHMC Radiology in about two months.

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