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| Mosaic Administrator Michele Montroy present Dr. V. Prasad Yitta with a framed John Morrow print titled "Upward Bound." The print depicts a ship traveling under the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge. |
OGDENSBURG
– The contributions of Dr. V. Prasad Yitta were honored Thursday with a
ceremony announcing
the dedication of a new fitness center at the United
Helper’s Mosaic complex to the man who has served as the
agency’s medical
director for the past 25 years.
Dr.
Yitta’s tenure with United Helpers will be coming to an end this fall, as he
has already moved to Texas to be closer to his family. He flew in on Wednesday
for what he thought was a meeting.
“I’ve
really enjoyed the past 25 years and taking care of my patients, but it’s
coming to an end,” he said. “In October, they’re going to make a change. It’s
hard to keep flying in from Texas.”
Dr.Yitta’s
career with United Helpers began when he simply agreed to cover a weekend for
Dr. Aranjyothi Kotha, who was serving as medical director at the time.
“I
covered one weekend and then she asked me, ‘They really like you. Would you
like to help me?’” he recalled. “I said that’s fine and I found it very easy.”
A short
time later, Dr. Kotha would resign from the position and Dr. Yitta would take
over.
During
a time of tremendous growth within the organization, Dr. Yitta approached
United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight, who was Mosaic administrator at the time
and asked if it would be possible to hire a second doctor to share duties with him.
“It was
a lot of work and he said, ‘How about bringing someone else in to help?’ Mr.
Knight recalled.
After
an exhaustive search to find another doctor to come on board, Mr. Knight said
he can remember Dr. Yitta coming to him and saying, “‘I can take care of this.’
I think that sums up what he’s done for us for well over 20 years. He can take
care of it.”
Mosaic
Administrator Michele M. Montroy called the past 20 years she’s spent working
with Dr. Yitta, “the best experience of her life.”
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| Dr. V. Prasad Yitta with United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight |
“Over
the past 25 years with our company you have literally made a difference in
hundreds of lives,” she said. “In the years I’ve worked with you, I’ve
witnessed first hand the depth of your compassion for others, your commitment,
and the advocacy for others that you have shown to the people we serve. I
appreciate that.”
In
addition to the dedication, Dr. Yitta was presented with citations from
Assembly Woman Addie Jenne Russell and Senator Patricia A. Ritchie. Ogdensburg
Mayor William Nelson also spoke.
“I
think giving 25 years to any one given cause is truly remarkable, but you have
given it to those who are the most vulnerable in our community and those who
need it the most in such an unselfish manner with such beauty and grace,” Ms.
Russell said.
James
E. Reagan, who represented Ms. Ritchie at the event said Dr. Yitta was someone
the Senator holds in very high regard.
“She
has a great deal of regard for Dr. Yitta, as do all of us who have watched his
career in Ogdensburg over the years.”
While
he was being honored for his commitment to United Helpers, Mr. Nelson noted
United Helpers isn’t the only organization to benefit from Dr. Mitta’s kindness
and generosity.
“He’s
done so much for the community. There’s so much that’s been done visibly, but
there’s so much more,” he said. “It’s kind of like the tip of the iceberg. You
see the iceberg, but the majority, what you don’t see is the dangerous part.
Well, in this case what we don’t see is the good things Dr. Yitta has done, not
only for United Helpers Mosaic, but also the so much Dr. Yitta, his wife and
his family have done for the community, the greater community, not just
Ogdensburg, but the north country and St. Lawrence County. We miss you so much
in this community.”
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