SARANAC LAKE — The Adirondack North Country Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT), now in its second year, says it plans to reschedule its workshop series for transitioning businesses to this fall. 

Some of the workshops were originally scheduled for both April and May, but CBIT is currently focusing its efforts on COVID-19 response and e-commerce for small businesses, Danielle Delaini, business transition program coordinator, tells CNYBJ in an email.

The CBIT is a program of the Saranac Lake–based Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA). The Center is a collaboration of regional organizations and leaders whose goal is to support existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in developing successful business-transition strategies. 

The center’s workshop series seeks to address topics relevant for transitioning businesses. The workshops were scheduled to be hosted by partner organizations throughout the region.

They include “Business Transitions Overview: Where Do You Start?,” hosted by Lewis County Economic Development/IDA; and “Mentoring a New Owner: The First Year,” hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

They also include, “From Hello to Key Transfer: Communicating During the Transition Process,” hosted by Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce; “Marketing Your Available Business,” hosted by the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and the County of Franklin Economic Development/IDA.

The remaining workshops are titled “Determining Value: Perspectives from Buyers and Sellers,” hosted by Hamilton County IDA; and “Your Best Possible Successor is Already Working for You,” hosted by Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

CBIT announced the topics for its 2020 workshop series following its annual gathering of lead partners and representatives in Saranac Lake on Jan. 17. 

North Country business owners looking to transition their operations to new owners or a new ownership model — along with aspiring entrepreneurs looking to take over an existing business — can contact CBIT at transitions@adirondack.org or (518) 891-6200 for more information or to be connected with a community liaison. 

Information about the center and its programs can be found at www.adirondack.org/businesses-in-transition.

About CBIT

The Adirondack North Country Center for Businesses in Transition works to address the loss of area businesses by providing matchmaking services with potential buyers, access to planning tools, and connection with existing services.

The CBIT is a partnership between regional organizations and individuals “invested in the retention of local businesses and the future of our communities,” per the ANCA website. The goal is to help owners sell their businesses on the open market, complete intergenerational family transitions, or convert to an employee-owned or cooperative model.   

SYRACUSE — Upstate Medical University in Syracuse on April 10 graduated 65 medical students who became doctors early so they could join other health-care workers in helping patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this month issued an executive order enabling medical students to graduate early to aid with the COVID fight, Upstate Medical University said.

The 20-minute virtual ceremony featured the recitation of the physician’s oath and remarks by Dr. Lawrence Chin, dean of Upstate’s College of Medicine.

The dean expressed his disappointment at not being able to share this proud moment with students in person. 

“As much as I wanted to share and celebrate these moments with you, I believe your sacrifice is the right thing to keep this terrible disease from causing more damage,” said Chin.

Students who participated in the ceremony “did so with the intent” of going to hospitals to provide relief to an already strained health care workforce treating COVID patients, Upstate Medical University.

Dr. Jared Sweeney, who took part in the ceremony from his apartment in Albany, “wants to support his health care colleagues in any way possible,” per an Upstate Medical University news release. 

“Even though I may have limited experience, I’m ready to offer myself to do what’s necessary,” he said. “I know staffs are strained, and any role I can play to undo the burden on many, I will be ready.”

Sweeney is set to begin his residency in neurosurgery at Albany Medical Center on July 1. He’s contacted the medical center to offer his assistance. He also completed the online New York State Department of Health survey for physicians looking to support the COVID-19 effort in New York City.

“This what we signed up for when we entered this field,” Sweeney added.

The remaining medical students — and students in the colleges of Graduate Studies, Health Professions and Nursing — will receive their degrees in a virtual ceremony May 1, the medical school said.

SYRACUSE — As of April 14, Upstate University Hospital has sent 44 employees, in two groups of 22 each, to Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island to help treat patients with COVID-19.

The second group — which departed the hospital the morning of April 14 — included 12 nurses, two respiratory therapists, three pharmacists, and five pharmacy technicians, the hospital announced. 

The pharmacists are needed to continue to sustain the core pharmacy services at Stony Brook University Hospital, such as mixing chemotherapy compounds, Upstate said. The pharmacists will also support Stony Brook’s sterile compounding needs, which includes such services as preparing intravenous fluids.

Pharmacy technicians will assist the hospital with drug delivery to patient floors. Respiratory therapists will be working in the intensive-care units.

Upstate University Hospital had already sent a group of 22 nurses on April 9 to help the staff at Stony Brook.

Dr. Robert Corona, president and CEO of Upstate University Hospital, said the top official at Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island “made a call out for help.”

“They need staff badly. The call went to our nursing staff and we have a large [contingent] of nurses that are going to be heading downstate to help out with the Stony Brook initiative,” Corona said in remarks at the April 8 Onondaga County daily coronavirus briefing at the Oncenter. 

Most of them will stay at Stony Brook University for two weeks. The Long Island university will provide food and lodging.

“They are getting overwhelmed right now with COVID-positive patients. They’re building a 1,000-bed hospital on their football field, and our nursing staff is going to go down there and support them, so I’m very, very happy about that,” Corona said. 

Hospitals on Long Island along with the rest of the New York City area have been inundated with sick patients during the coronavirus outbreak. 

The Upstate nurses who went to Stony Brook University Hospital are working alongside staff in intensive-care units with critically ill patients on ventilators and in the emergency department.

“There are fellow [registered nurses] from across our region who are also answering New York City and Long Island’s call. The passion for our patients and the passion for nursing’s profession is really the selfless driver of these incredible staff [members],” Nancy Page, chief nursing officer of Upstate University Hospital, said in remarks following Corona’s announcement at the Oncenter. “Upstate nurses come from across our emergency departments, from all of our intensive care units.” 

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon praised the efforts of the nurses at Upstate University Hospital, both locally and those who’ve traveled to Stony Brook.

“We’re one state. What can we do to help? Upstate and Stony Brook have a proud history of helping each other, and certainly Long Island, when you look at what is happening in New York State, Long Island is really in a point of crisis right now,” said McMahon.