Adam Kolesar, John Paul Rincon, and Myra Baltazar Become Board Recognized Specialists
Three of St. Mary’s rehabilitation staff have gone above and beyond the call of duty as they became board recognized specialists in their fields, an accomplishment that enhances the quality of care they provide for the children of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, and one that is widely acknowledged by consumers, colleagues, and healthcare professionals.
Adam Kolesar, SLP, Clinical Manager of Speech and Language at St. Mary’s, became a Board Recognized Specialist in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (BRS-S). This distinction has been bestowed on only 12 other practitioners in New York State, and ranks Adam among the 107 Board Recognized Specialists in the United States by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
John Paul Rincon, PT, Clinical Specialist at St. Mary’s, earned the title of Pediatric Certified Specialist (PCS) in Physical Therapy. John Paul is one of only 49 physical therapists in New York State to achieve this level of recognition by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and the American Physical Therapy Association.
Myra Baltazar, PT, Assistant Director of St. Mary’s Traumatic Brain Injury Program and Director of St. Mary’s Healing Arts Program, became a Certified Wound Specialist (CWS) after successfully passing the National Board Certification Exam of the American Academy of Wound Management, a national interdisciplinary certifying board for healthcare professionals dedicated to the prevention, care, and treatment of acute and chronic wounds. Ms. Baltazar is the first therapist at St. Mary’s to obtain this acclaimed designation.
Board certification provides formal recognition for those with advanced clinical knowledge, professional education, experience, and skills unique to a special area of practice, and assists consumers and the healthcare community in distinguishing these professionals. The application process for all three specialty certifications is very competitive with only a handful of healthcare professionals achieving board recognition in their fields.
