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MVHS formally opens new surgery center as it completes final readiness steps
UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) on Wednesday formally opened its new ambulatory surgery center, which it calls the Mohawk Valley Surgery Center. The event was held in conjunction with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce. Community leaders, health-care partners and MVHS staff attended the event at the Medical Office Building at 601 […]
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UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) on Wednesday formally opened its new ambulatory surgery center, which it calls the Mohawk Valley Surgery Center.
The event was held in conjunction with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce.
Community leaders, health-care partners and MVHS staff attended the event at the Medical Office Building at 601 State St. in Utica, marking a “significant milestone in the expansion of outpatient surgical services in the region,” MVHS said in its announcement.
MVHS says it is still determining official start dates, as the health-care system is “actively completing final readiness steps.” Its goal is to be patient-ready by Dec. 15 with the hopes of receiving full regulatory clearance so it can begin to schedule surgical cases by mid-January.
Located on the third floor of the building, the Mohawk Valley Surgery Center includes four operating rooms designed to provide “high-quality, efficient” outpatient surgical care. The center was designed to enhance patient comfort, streamline care delivery, and support an “exceptional patient experience,” MVHS contends.
“These services will significantly expand access to outpatient surgical care for patients in the Mohawk Valley,” Dr. William LeCates, president and CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System, said in the announcement. “This new center represents an exciting step forward for MVHS and for the communities we serve.”
In addition to the ribbon cutting, attendees were able tour the new surgery center along with CNY Cardiology and other new MVHS services housed in the building, including laboratory, imaging and pharmacy.
MVHS leadership also recognized the many teams whose collaboration made the project possible, including facilities, clinical operations, physicians, nurses, support staff, and administrative leaders, per the announcement.

Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, co-founder of FOCUS Greater Syracuse, dies at 100
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Charlotte (Chuckie) Holstein, who co-founded FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc. and considered herself a “Citizen Trustee” through activism and volunteering, died Tuesday at

Ask the Expert: Investing in the Future with Registered Apprenticeship
In today’s competitive job market, finding and retaining top talent can be incredibly challenging. For companies, Registered Apprenticeship is an investment not only in its

JetBlue to relaunch direct flights from Syracuse to Fort Lauderdale
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — JetBlue will restart year-round, nonstop air service, five times per week, from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton appoints COO
HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) says it has appointed Kipp Jones as its new COO to oversee daily operations of primary and specialty practices. He begins his duties on Dec. 8, CMH tells CNYBJ in an email. In this new role at the hospital, Jones will play a key role in advancing CMH’s
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HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) says it has appointed Kipp Jones as its new COO to oversee daily operations of primary and specialty practices.
He begins his duties on Dec. 8, CMH tells CNYBJ in an email.
In this new role at the hospital, Jones will play a key role in advancing CMH’s strategic initiatives, “ensuring continued excellence in patient care, quality, and performance,” per the CMH announcement. He brings experience in health-care leadership and a proven ability to strengthen operational systems that support both providers and patients, the hospital said.
“Kipp brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of how to strengthen operations while keeping patients at the center of every decision,” Jeff Coakley, president and CEO of Community Memorial Hospital, said in the announcement. “We are confident he will be an outstanding addition to our leadership team and help us continue to advance our mission of providing exceptional care close to home.”
Most recently, Jones served in leadership roles with HCA Healthcare in New Hampshire, and a private practice, where he made contributions to rural health care in New England. His accomplishments include leading the recruitment and contracting of providers to strengthen access to care and expand provider capacity. Jones also led the implementation of electronic medical record (EMR) systems in newly acquired practices.
His skill and experience in these areas will “prove to be uniquely beneficial” as CMH continues to advance and grow during an upcoming upgrade to the organization’s EMR, the hospital contended.
“I am eager to partner with our team members, medical staff, board, and the broader community to build on the outstanding work already being done,” Jones said. “Together, we will continue to strengthen CMH’s role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care that’s close to home — just as we have done since 1952.”
Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree from Cornell University.
Community Memorial Hospital offers primary and specialty care in locations that include Hamilton, Cazenovia, Morrisville, Munnsville, Sherrill, and Waterville.

SU’s Hendricks Chapel dean to become next president of Valparaiso University in Indiana
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rev. Brian Konkol, who has been serving as VP and dean of Syracuse University’s (SU) Hendricks Chapel, will become the 20th president

Design phase set to start for $450M annex at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The design phase is set to begin for the $450 million hospital annex at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. The design will

MMRI accepting applications for 2026 summer fellowship program
UTICA, N.Y. — College students interested in a summer fellowship at the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) in Utica can now apply for consideration. The program is open to both local and national undergraduate and graduate students. The MMRI Summer Fellowship is a 10-week, hands-on training program designed to get undergraduate and graduate students involved
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UTICA, N.Y. — College students interested in a summer fellowship at the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) in Utica can now apply for consideration.
The program is open to both local and national undergraduate and graduate students.
The MMRI Summer Fellowship is a 10-week, hands-on training program designed to get undergraduate and graduate students involved in scientific research.
The upcoming fellowship will run from May 11, 2026, through July 17, 2026 at MMRI, which is located at 2150 Bleecker St. in Utica.
Fellows will gain hands-on laboratory experience, mentorship from some of the nation’s leading scientists and “valuable insight into the process of scientific discovery,” MMRI said. The program also offers opportunities to network with peers and experts, attend educational workshops, and receive guidance on medical and graduate school applications.
“The summer fellowship helped me to decide on my future career path that I wasn’t necessarily sure of prior to the program,” Gianna Frank, a 2024 summer fellow and pre-medical student at Syracuse University, said in the MMRI announcement. “Participating in this fellowship not only taught me skills necessary for hands-on benchwork, but it also showed me the ‘behind the scenes’ of the entire research process.”
Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing science-related programs, including biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology, nanomedicine, physiology, drug delivery and other life sciences, are encouraged to apply.
The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. To learn more about MMRI’s summer fellowship program, visit mmri.edu/summerfellow.

Syracuse football fires four assistant coaches following disappointing season
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After posting a 3-9 record in the 2025 season, Syracuse University football head coach Fran Brown has parted ways with four assistant

Griffiss Institute produced $15.4 million economic impact on Mohawk Valley in FY24
ROME, N.Y. — The Griffiss Institute (GI) in Rome generated a $15.4 million impact on the Mohawk Valley economy during fiscal year 2024 (FY24). That
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