MVHS Donates X-Ray Equipment to the Utica Zoo

On Thursday, April 22, 2021, the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) donated used X-ray equipment to the Utica Zoo, including analog portable equipment, cassettes and cassette readers.

“Last year, we were able to purchase four new digital X-ray machines for the Medical Imaging Department at MVHS,” said Anthony Dischiavi, BS, RT(R)(CT), administrative director, Medical Imaging, Interventional Radiology at MVHS. “This meant that our old equipment no longer had a use for us. I remembered a conversation I had with a board member about the Zoo needing this type of equipment so I reached out and they were very excited to take it. I’m so glad that we were able to find a use for our old machines and that we could help a great local business at the same time.”

Prior to the donation, the zoo had to transport animals to either Burrstone Animal Hospital or Beaver Meadow to get X-rays, which sometimes required them to be sedated. Having X-ray equipment at the Zoo will reduce the frequency with which this happens. This will be the first time in over 17 years that the Zoo will have such equipment.

“The Utica Zoo animal care team is elated to receive this contribution of X-ray medical equipment from MVHS,” said Andria Heath, executive director of the Utica Zoo. “With this quality machinery, the Utica Zoo can continue to progress in meeting the needs of the animals under our care in new ways. In this case, what might have been an off-site visit to our partnering veterinary clinics can now be an on-grounds procedure.”

Kathy Gargas, MVHS Medical Imaging operations manager, provides instruction to Utica Zoo staff on how to use the newly-donated X-ray equipment from MVHS.