Talberg joins NYISO board of directors

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RENSSELAER, N.Y. — The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), the nonprofit that operates New York state’s power grid, added Sally Talberg to its board of directors, effective April 18. She has more than 25 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields, with an emphasis on utility regulation and electricity markets, according to […]

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Shineman Foundation awards more than $272K to regional nonprofits

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — The Richard S. Shineman Foundation announced it has awarded grants to 11 Oswego County not-for-profit organizations in its first grant round of 2023 at its April board meeting. The projects encompass a range of focus areas, including health and human services, respite care, education and workforce development, and the arts. The foundation

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — The Richard S. Shineman Foundation announced it has awarded grants to 11 Oswego County not-for-profit organizations in its first grant round of 2023 at its April board meeting.

The projects encompass a range of focus areas, including health and human services, respite care, education and workforce development, and the arts. The foundation said its mission is to be a catalyst for change to enhance the quality of life in Oswego County.

The funded projects will benefit Oswego County on several fronts. The largest award, $74,600, was given to Fulton Family YMCA to support its Camp and Outdoor Recreation for Youth — designed as an outdoor recreation space — that provides summer and after-school programming to local youth. The second-biggest grant, $60,000, was awarded to On Point for College to support college-bound students with comprehensive support that includes the college-application process, college visits, and needed resources to ensure their success.

The Shineman Foundation also awarded several grants to support the arts community in Oswego County. The CNY Community Arts Center received a grant to revamp its website and develop a user-friendly online registration system. The Ontario Center for the Performing Arts, which operates the Oswego Music Hall, was awarded a grant to conduct targeted marketing with the goal of increasing its membership and audience. Symphoria received a multi-year grant to expand its Music for Oswego programming throughout Oswego County.

The Central New York Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance was awarded a disease-prevention education outreach grant for Oswego County services and programming. David’s Refuge was provided a grant to support respite, wellness, and community programming for Oswego County residents. The H. Lee White Museum received a matching grant to support its educational tall ship project.

Three mini-grants were awarded and included a mini-grant to Oswego Industries to support a redesign of its website. The State Street Methodist Church was awarded a mini grant for its Helping Hands Program, which provides under-resourced community members with toiletries and paper products. Peaceful Remedies received a mini grant to support Circle Talk for Men programming and technology upgrades.

Rome Health continues work to centralize, modernize facilities

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ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health is continuing the transformation it began about two years ago when it changed its name from Rome Memorial Hospital to Rome Health. The name more accurately reflects the breadth of services the organization provides, COO Ryan Thompson says, and Rome Health continues to work to make sure its facilities adequately

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ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health is continuing the transformation it began about two years ago when it changed its name from Rome Memorial Hospital to Rome Health.

The name more accurately reflects the breadth of services the organization provides, COO Ryan Thompson says, and Rome Health continues to work to make sure its facilities adequately support those services.

“It’s very exciting to watch us transform as a health system,” he says.

That transformation kicked off with an $11.3 million project, completed last November, to renovate the Rome Health Medical Center, located at 1500 James St., and bring together services that were previously spread out.

“We’ve co-located services together,” Thompson says. “This is where the majority of medical imaging takes place.” The 31,000-square-foot, two-story medical center gives patients better access to primary care with other services, such as cardiology, located nearby.

“We also have our community pharmacy … right in the medical center,” he adds. The pharmacy also opened last November. Along with providing medication for hospital patients, the pharmacy provides a convenient option for patients to get prescriptions filled following an appointment.

The changes are all about driving convenience for the patient, Thompson notes, but also factor in provider and staff needs as well. “It was a team that built it together.”

Rome Health also just cut the ribbon on its new women’s surgical services suite located on the fourth floor adjacent to the maternity department. While maternity services have been great, there was no getting around the fact that women who ended up needing a c-section had to be brought in an elevator to the first-floor operating rooms, Thompson says.

Now, those needing surgery travel just a short way down the hall. “It’s going to be a much better experience for the moms,” he says.

Rome Health received a $3 million grant from Oneida County’s American Rescue Plan Act funding for the project. Work on the women’s surgical suite began last September and it will be fully open in June.

This fall, Rome Health expects to break ground on a $30 million project to build four new operating rooms to replace ones that have been in use for more than 57 years. It will use $26 million in state health care facility transformation grant funds for the project.

“We just wanted to modernize surgical services,” Thompson says. The new rooms will be larger and contain the electrical systems necessary for advancements in medical technology such as robotics.

With surgical volume increasing 26 percent between 2020 and 2021, the need is great. The hospital has seen growth in general surgery as well as weight-loss surgery, and spine surgery. “We’re currently in the design phase,” Thompson says, with hopes to start work in late fall.

When the new operating rooms are complete, Rome Health will transform the old operating rooms into pre- and post-operating room space.

“As things continue to evolve and change, you want to be able to evolve and change with that,” Thompson says. Modernizing Rome Health’s facilities to offer new technology means Rome residents won’t have to travel to Utica or Syracuse to receive care. “We’re redefining what community-based health care is to our community.”

“People want and need their health care to be delivered locally,” he says. “It needs to be convenient to them.”

The nonprofit Rome Health provides everything from primary care to specialty care to patients. It is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health and an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.

Whitman School to launch business and mental-health initiative with donation

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management this fall will start a new program that seeks to support students’ personal and professional development “at the intersection of business and mental health.” Syracuse is using a donation of $500,000 from 1991 graduates David and Dina Nass. David Nass is a graduate of

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Syracuse is using a donation of $500,000 from 1991 graduates David and Dina Nass. David Nass is a graduate of the Whitman School and Dina graduated from Syracuse’s College of Arts and Sciences.

The program aims to help students develop the tools and skills needed to address mental health-related issues they might face in school and as working professionals, “while also promoting greater work-life balance,” the school said.

The hope is that this programming will help students entering “high-stress” business careers to “confidently identify red flags” associated with mental health and to seek help for themselves and others.

“This kind of support for mental health-related issues is something we haven’t seen at many other business schools, despite it being increasingly important for young professionals to understand,” Alexander McKelvie, interim dean of the Whitman School, said in a news release. “The programming we are creating through the generosity of the Nass family is forward-thinking and rare. It’s asking our students: ‘What does happiness look like to you?,’ ‘How will you prioritize the important things in your life?’ and ‘How will you deal with the challenges?’”

McKelvie went on say, “Creating this signature initiative, which will leverage expertise from across campus, will help students do just that. And, we are very grateful to the Nass family for helping the Whitman School make this possible.”

As managing director and head of real-estate finance at UBS Investment Bank in New York City, David Nass “knows all too well the stresses and long hours involved in rising through the banking industry,” Syracuse said. Dina Nass — who majored in psychology and for a time worked as a substance-abuse counselor — also “understands the pressures and stigma attached” to mental-health issues in the workplace.

The initiative will encompass more than coursework and include expert guest speakers, symposiums, technology, and the introduction of a variety of mental-health topics for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Syracuse University will hold a formal launch event early this upcoming fall semester.

Oswego Health adds gastroenterologist Ali

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OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health recently added experienced gastroenterologist Mohammad Fahad Ali, MD, to its medical staff. Dr. Ali joins the Center for Gastroenterology & Metabolic Diseases, which is located in Suite 400 of the Seneca Hill Health Services Center at 105 County Route 45A, Oswego. In addition, Ali will serve as director of endoscopy

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Upstate to be extension campus of SUNY College of Optometry

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It’s an effort by two SUNY campuses to increase the number of eye doctors in Central New York and Western New York. SUNY Upstate Medical University is planning to become an optometry campus extension program of the SUNY College of Optometry in New York City. The partnership creates an optometry campus extension

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — It’s an effort by two SUNY campuses to increase the number of eye doctors in Central New York and Western New York.

SUNY Upstate Medical University is planning to become an optometry campus extension program of the SUNY College of Optometry in New York City.

The partnership creates an optometry campus extension program offering a Doctor of Optometry degree, collaborative vision research, access to eye care, and economic opportunities in the region, Upstate said in its late February announcement.

This partnership also “provides a more affordable option for aspiring eye-care professionals, especially those who live in New York State,” Upstate contends.

The program will “parallel” the Doctor of Optometry program currently offered by SUNY College of Optometry. The first class is anticipated to start in the fall of 2025 with an estimated 30 students, pending successful completion of all state and accrediting body approvals, Upstate said.

“We are addressing several critical issues through this partnership — the future of health care delivery with an interdisciplinary focus, collaborative research opportunities to improve eye and vision care, and the regional workforce shortage,” Dr. David Heath, president for SUNY College of Optometry, said. “Being part of the SUNY System provides unique opportunities to participate in solving challenges and we are looking forward to partnering with Dr. Dewan and his team to provide a greater resource for the upstate region.”

Reports from area optometrists and ophthalmologists indicate that many eye-care positions remain vacant “putting pressure on an already lean workforce” and leaving some communities without ready access to eye and vision care, Upstate said.

Further, a recent survey conducted by SUNY College of Optometry found that 25 percent of optometrists practicing in the region anticipate retiring within the next five years, an increase over the previous survey conducted in 2010.

“We are delighted to bring the world-class expertise of SUNY Optometry to enrich Upstate’s internationally-recognized Department of Ophthalmology and Center for Vision Research. By serving as their extension campus, we will increase the number of eye care professionals available to serve our communities,” Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University, said. “This also fulfills Upstate’s goal to deepen partnerships with other SUNY schools and to increase the breadth of health professional programs offered by Upstate Medical University.”

Landsberg begins role as Crouse Health chief medical officer

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Described as a “long-time member” of the Crouse Health staff, Dr. David Landsberg is now serving as the health-care provider’s chief medical officer. He assumes the duties that Dr. Seth Kronenberg previously performed, prior to his appointment as president and CEO of the health system. In this senior leadership role, Landsberg will

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Bassett selected for skin-cancer treatment clinical trial

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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Bassett Healthcare Network has been selected as a clinical-trial site for Alpha DaRT, an investigational treatment for recurrent skin cancers. Bassett Cancer Institute received regulatory approval to conduct the trial. “We are proud to be chosen as the first clinical-trial site for Alpha DaRT statewide outside of New York City,” Dr. Timothy

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Health Foundation awards $75K grants to six rural health networks

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“Rural health networks are the backbone of community health across much of New York State, relying on their collective strength to effectively meet the needs of the people they serve. Even as they carry out that important work, they have faced highly disruptive reductions in funding over the past several years,” Cheryl Smith Fisher, chair of the board of trustees of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, said. “As part of a group of foundations whose focus areas include rural communities that were provided generous gifts by MacKenzie Scott in 2022, we wanted our first action with these funds to reflect her approach of unrestricted, trust-based giving.”

Rural health networks

Rural health networks are collaboratives of community-based organizations and health-care providers addressing the needs of people in rural communities, as described by the Health Foundation. These networks build on cross-organizational strengths to provide health and social-care services in areas that often “suffer” from health-care provider and facility shortages, underfunded programs, and other resource challenges.

Some examples of the work led by the grant recipients include addressing maternal health needs of migrant farm workers, assisting families victimized by child abuse, providing housing to older adults and respite to caregivers, and keeping infants safe by training the public on safe sleep.

Over the past several years, rural health networks in New York have had a “sharp decline” in public funding, even as they faced additional community health needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Foundation said. In 2016, rural health programs were allocated $16.2 million. Since then, the executive budget has “repeatedly reduced” funding to these programs to $9.4 million.

These funding cuts “create serious challenges” for rural health networks as they work to improve the lives of the people they serve and meet community-wide health equity goals, the foundation stated.

CNY report

The Health Foundation’s 2022 report Community Health Needs and Opportunities in WNY’s Southern Tier highlighted “systemic barriers” to good health in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties. “Social determinants” of health — such as transportation challenges, lack of health insurance, poverty, and food insecurity — are drivers of health outcomes in those regions.

As a complement to that report, the Health Foundation will also fund a report of community health needs in rural Central New York. It’ll use the remaining $50,000 of the dedicated $500,000 for this report and for a public-awareness campaign that tells the story of the personal impact of rural health disparities. The goal of this work is to “influence and inform” public investments and policymaking around rural community health, the foundation said.

Loretto appoints director of nursing

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Loretto recently announced that it has appointed Aderonke (Ade) Alao as director of nursing for Loretto Health & Rehabilitation. Alao joined Loretto as a nurse manager in July 2014 and has been serving as an assistant director of nursing since January 2019. She brings more than 15 years of progressive nursing experience

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Loretto recently announced that it has appointed Aderonke (Ade) Alao as director of nursing for Loretto Health & Rehabilitation.

Alao joined Loretto as a nurse manager in July 2014 and has been serving as an assistant director of nursing since January 2019. She brings more than 15 years of progressive nursing experience to this role, including previous positions at Upstate Medical University, St. Joseph’s Health, and James Square Nursing Home.

As director of nursing, Alao will develop an interdisciplinary approach to the residents’ total care, including rounding on all floors daily; collaborating with administrators, the nursing team, and medical director to continually improve processes and practice standards; and working with Loretto’s nurse educator in the development and delivery of educational programs to ensure a well-educated nursing service department, according to a March 30 news release from Loretto. She will also be supporting residents and families, and assuring the delivery of safe, effective, and efficient care by staff.

“The Director of Nursing at Loretto is one of the most important roles in ensuring the highest degree of quality resident care across our entire organization,” Dr. Joelle Margrey, chief nursing officer at Loretto, said in the release. “Over the past 9 years, Ade has proven that she is absolutely the right fit for the clinical care that Loretto provides, as well as the culture we want to create for our employees, and the compassionate, healing environment we want for our residents.”

Alao holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Keuka College and earned her registered nurse degree from Morrisville State College.

Loretto describes itself as the fourth-largest health-care provider and the sixth-largest employer in Central New York. The organization has about 2,500 employees at its 19 locations, delivering care to close to 10,000 people of all ages, income levels, and care needs in Onondaga and Cayuga counties annually.

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