Christine Bonarski: Expanding the Health Office
Christine Bonarski is no stranger to the medical field. Having spent the past eighteen years at SUNY Upstate Medical University, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role at SUNY CCC.
“In a SUNY hospital, it’s very cutting edge,” says Bonarski who, before accepting her current position as a nurse in the CCC Health Office, also spent time working in home care, as well as with both Guthrie and Arnot health systems.
“I really like to look for high standards,” she says, when asked what it was that drew her to SUNY CCC. “I like to make sure there’s opportunities to do things the best way possible, not just the way it’s been done before.”
In addition, Bonarski saw the opportunity as a way to get back into academia – something she’d been so passionate and heavily involved in during her time at Upstate Medical.
Although she’s been a Registered Nurse for 25 years, she also worked on the surgical floor, teaching transplant classes for nurses. In addition, she was heavily involved in the hospital-wide orientation committee, working to help acclimate new nurses to the job.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Bonarski says.
If you’ve yet to visit the Health Office, it’s located in the Campus Safety Suite (room 154) downstairs in the Commons building. There, staff are able to take vital signs, offer first-aid and over-the-counter medications and make recommendations free of charge—for example, whether someone may need to see a doctor or just keep an eye on their symptoms.
“I’m excited to be able to work with students, to know what they need and to set these resources up for them.”
And that, Bonarski says, will be her first challenge: finding out what students and staff may need or want to learn.
“I can go out on campus and offer things like nutrition workshops or offer health education,” she says. “I’d like to find out what [the campus community] is interested in.”
Have something in mind? If so, drop in the Health Offices during their regular hours (see below) or email Christine directly at cbonarsk@corning-cc.edu.
“I’m interested in anything they may have to share—what’s working, what’s not. What I can do to help.”
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Update (7/13/2020):
As SUNY Corning Community College monitors the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, the Health Office is urging students, staff and faculty to continue practicing safe social distancing practices.
While the Health Office remains open, Bonarski says she's been hard at work researching how to best keep students safe while on campus and educate staff and faculty on best practices.
In addition, if you experience any potential COVID-19 symptoms, you're asked the call the Health Office before arriving.
Health Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am-2:00 pm
(Modified during summer and break periods).