Early Detection Empowers
- May 7
- 4 min read
By Rachel Dutil ◆ Photos by Jessica McCafferty
Dr. Anthony Conti, MD, founder and sole Radiologist of Lake Champlain Imaging in Plattsburgh, has a motto. “Modern radiology done the old-fashioned way.” He explained,
“My philosophy about medicine is when a patient goes to see their doctor, they should ‘see’ their doctor. I am present in the office every day. I protocol, oversee and read each test,
then diagnose and discuss the results with my patients.”
Dr. Conti, a graduate of the Ohio State College of Medicine, completed his radiology training at McGill University in Montreal and an additional year of training in musculoskeletal imaging at the University of Southern California. He is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and spent more than 20 years as a staff radiologist at CVPH Medical Center before opening his own practice in August of 2024.
Today, Dr. Conti, and his hand-selected team of 11, offer a wide variety of radiology services including ultrasound, echocardiogram, CT scan, X-ray, fluoroscopy, lung cancer screenings, bone density, joint injections, Holter monitor, ankle brachial index, and vascular exams.
Dr. Conti is proud of his wonderful team. “They are both professional and very knowledgeable. Everyone here shares the same objective — to provide care for our patients by creating a welcoming environment as we assist them in their healthcare journey.”
Practice Manager Michelle Roes explained that the Lake Champlain Imaging team provides patients with personalized care, “We care wholeheartedly about our patients and that is reflected in the work we do.”
Dr. Conti’s wife, Francesca, works with the front office staff and manages scheduling. She echoed Roes’ sentiment, adding, “Our office culture is to greet every patient with a welcoming smile and care for everyone in a manner we would want for our own family.”
Lake Champlain Imaging provides services to patients of all ages that include pediatric fluoroscopy, infant hip ultrasounds and mobile X-ray services to local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Stepping Stones to Diagnosis
Patients may be referred to Lake Champlain Imaging because they are experiencing symptoms that could be caused by health conditions as varied as fractures, infections, congestive heart failure, emphysema, cancers, arthritis, tumors, and blood clots.
“We are proud to offer a comprehensive range of radiologic imaging and cutting-edge diagnostic services,” Roes explained. “When Dr. Conti opened the practice, he insisted on having state-of-the-art equipment. Our 128-slice CT scanner — the only one in the region — allows us to provide lower radiation and faster scan times and enables high-resolution images that make it easier to detect abnormalities.”
Preventative Cardiac Care
In recent years the North Country has seen an uptick in the demand for cardiac-related screenings such as coronary calcium score testing — a specialized CT scan of the heart that identifies calcified plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, which is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. The test is recommended for patients who have one or more of the cardiovascular risk factors — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity.
The scan takes pictures between heartbeats and provides a score based on the pictures. Physicians can then use the score to determine next steps for the patient. It may be recommended for the patient to have a Cardiac CTA, which uses CT scan and AI post-processing to create 3-dimensional images of the arteries that can show exactly where the plaque buildup is located.
Personalized Care
Dr. Conti, Roes, and Francesca Conti all agreed that the relationships with their patients are what they enjoy most about their work.
“My passion to help people led to a career in medicine,” Dr. Conti explained. “I chose radiology because it plays a critical role in diagnosing diseases which affects both patient care and outcomes. What I truly enjoy most is interacting with my patients because I believe it is important to have a good relationship based on trust and transparency,” he added.
“I love helping patients,” Roes echoed. “Most of the time when someone comes in, they’re sick, they’re in pain, they’re worried. I like to be able to be an integral part of helping them, giving them the care they need, letting them know they are seen, they are heard and they matter.” Francesca added, “Our model of care is what sets us apart.”
Lake Champlain Imaging is able to see patients quickly. “In most cases X-rays can be done on a walk-in basis. You can come in with your physician’s order and have your X-ray today,” Roes said, adding that CT scans and ultrasounds are almost always done same day or next day. “Let’s figure out what the cause of your pain is and get you the answers you need now so you can receive treatment,” she emphasized.
Dr. Conti, the only private radiologist in Upstate New York concluded, “We want the community to know that when you come to Lake Champlain Imaging, your tests are going to be read by a local radiologist who strives to provide our community with a more personalized approach to healthcare.”
Lake Champlain Imaging
675 State Route 3, Suite 105
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
518 699-9729
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