KENT HALL, M.D., has been named chief physician executive at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). He is responsible for overseeing the medical staffs of the St. Elizabeth Campus and the St. Luke’s Campus, credentialing, the MVHS medical staff office, family medicine residency program, dental residency program, Palliative Care, Medical Libraries, and the MVHS Medical Group. Hall is involved in the quality of medical care delivered as well as responsible for driving quality and safety initiatives throughout MVHS. He also works directly with the department chairs, directors of contracted medical groups, and hospital-based physicians to coordinate patient care and safety efficiently. Most recently, Hall was chief medical officer (CMO) at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, as well as Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone. There, he worked to improve patient outcomes and delivery through improved clinical quality processes, as well as improve operational efficiencies within and between hospital-based clinical services. Prior to that, Hall also served as Emergency Department medical director at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Cincinnati Hospital in Ohio. Hall received his medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, and his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Union College in Schenectady. His office is located at the St. Luke’s Campus.

St. Joseph’s Health announced it recently hired RUSSELL FIRMAN, M.D., as medical director of utilization review and physician advisor. In this role, Dr. Firman will consult physicians, clinical staff, and leadership on necessary medical treatments to ensure all services are in compliance with applicable regulations. He joined in December. Firman has over 30 years of experience in clinical and supervisory positions. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, he served as a staff physician at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center in Cortland, and Samaritan Hospital in Albany. Firman will continue to serve at both sites alongside his recent appointment at St. Joseph’s Health. He was also the chief medical officer and physician advisor at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. Prior to that, Firman was the medical director of the department of emergency medicine also at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. In addition to practicing medicine, Firman teaches at SUNY Upstate Medical University as an assistant professor of emergency medicine. He began his medical career in New York state. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology and his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Firman completed his medical training with a residency in emergency medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center in Ohio.

Fiber Instrument Sales, Inc. recently made two additions to its Oriskany operations headquarters.

Joining the company as a regional sales associate is WILL BLOOMQUIST, a 2010 Virginia Tech graduate and former U.S. Army officer. After seven years of honorable service, including a tour in Afghanistan, he left active duty in 2017 and moved to New York. Bloomquist continues to serve in the Army Reserves. He has prior manufacturing, warehouse supervisory, and IT helpdesk experience.

JEFFREY BAKER will serve as the company’s sales manager, with key responsibilities to include the coordination, training, and assisting Fiber Instrument’s sales department members. He previously spent some 20 years in the action sports industry, focusing on the retail store management of specialty higher-end bicycle, ski, snowboard, and technical outerwear. 

Syracuse University head football coach Dino Babers has hired CHRIS ACHUFF as the team’s linebackers coach. A Bellefonte, Pennsylvania native, he most recently served as the defensive line coach for the Arizona Cardinals, where he worked with former Syracuse star and 2019 NFL All-Pro Chandler Jones. Achuff joined the Cardinals in 2018 as the team’s assistant defensive line coach and was promoted to defensive line coach in 2019. Prior to his time with the Cardinals, Achuff spent the first 19 years of his career at the collegiate level. Achuff spent the 2017 season at Navarro (Texas) Junior College working with the defensive line. Before that he had stints as the defensive line coach at Baylor (2008-16), Tennessee-Martin (2006-07), Charleston Southern (2005), and Chattanooga (2004). During his tenure at Baylor, the Bears won back-to-back Big 12 Conference championships (2012-13) and Achuff coached three All-Americans and 12 all-conference selections. Before his nine-year stint in Waco, Achuff worked for two years at Tennessee-Martin, helping the Skyhawks win the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) title and advance to the FCS playoffs with a 9-3 record in 2006. Achuff began his coaching career at his alma mater, Bloomsburg University, in 1998 as a student assistant working with the team’s linebackers. He then coached outside linebackers and led the school’s strength and conditioning program at Bryant College in 1999. From there, he moved on to Kutztown University where he was in charge of the linebackers and strength and conditioning for two seasons (2000-01). During his own playing days, Achuff played linebacker and was a standout on special teams at Bloomsburg (1994-97), where he was a part of four conference championship teams.