Carthage Area Hospital recently added four licensed master social workers to its clinical staff.

STEPHANIE SMITH joined the Carthage Middle School Based Health Clinic and provides therapy services to students. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Troy University in 2019 and her master’s degree in social work from Nazareth College in 2021. She originally hails from Adams, and currently lives in Adams Center.

JACLYN (JACKIE) SWEARINGEN came aboard the LaFargeville School-based health clinic, where she provides therapy services to students. She received her bachelor’s degree in criminology and psychology from Florida State University in 2015 and her master’s degree in social work from Florida State University in 2017. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she currently resides in LaFargeville.

RICHARD (RICK) LEONE joined Carthage Behavioral Health, where he provides therapy services. Originally from Watertown, Leone recently received his master’s degree in social work from Nazareth College in 2021.

MEGAN SMITH also joined Carthage Behavioral Health, providing therapy services. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2017 and her master’s degree in social work from Nazareth College in 2021. Prior to her work at Carthage Area Hospital, she provided mental-health therapy for co-occurring disorders.

VALERIE PIRRO has joined the Center for Cardiology at Oswego Health as a new physician assistant. She previously worked as an EMT-basic for the Baldwinsville Ambulance Corps, where her passion and drive for helping others began. Pirro is well-rounded in cardiology and had clinical rotations in pediatrics, internal medicine, behavioral medicine, emergency medicine, women’s health, and general surgery. She studied at Le Moyne College, where she earned both her bachelor’s degree in biology in May 2019 and physician-assistant studies master’s degree in August 2021.

MARISSA BECK recently joined MACNY, The Manufacturers Association as marketing and communications manager. In her role, she supports various marketing and communications initiatives for both MACNY and Partners for Education & Business, Inc. (PEB). She will also work directly with MACNY’s training and events teams to deliver content and offerings to MACNY members. Most recently, Beck was the marketing and PR manager for The Travel Corporation in Dublin, Ireland. Her career also includes experience as a communications associate and marketing consultant. Beck holds a bachelor of honors communication degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a corporate communications and public relations post-graduate diploma from Fanshawe College.