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Hochul names Bassett to replace Zucker as New York’s health commissioner
New leadership Bassett currently serves as director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and FXB Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 2014 through summer 2018, she […]
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New leadership
Bassett currently serves as director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and FXB Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
From 2014 through summer 2018, she served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “where she made racial justice a priority and worked to address the structural racism at the root of the city’s persistent gaps in health between white New Yorkers and communities of color,” according to a news release from Hochul’s office. Dr. Bassett also led the department’s response to Ebola, Legionnaires’ disease, and other disease outbreaks.
“Our recovery from this pandemic requires tested leadership and experience to improve health equity and access across the state, and Dr. Bassett is perfectly equipped to lead the New York State Department of Health during this critical moment,” Hochul contended. “When I was sworn in as Governor, I pledged to build a talented team with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to stop the spread of COVID-19, return our lives to normalcy, and move our state forward. Dr. Bassett is both a highly regarded public health expert and an exemplary public servant, and I look forward to working with her to keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”

Bassett’s career has spanned academia, government, and nonprofit work.
“I am humbled and honored to return to my home state of New York to lead the Department of Health at this pivotal time,” Bassett said. “The pandemic underscored the importance of public health, while also revealing inequities driven by structural racism. As we move to end the pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to create a state that is more equitable for all New Yorkers. I look forward to working toward this with Governor Hochul and the team at the Department of Health.”
Zucker resignation
Zucker tendered his resignation in a letter to Gov. Hochul.
“There comes a time when the baton should be passed in this marathon journey that we call public service in New York State. With a fierce dedication to the public’s health, I have carried it through many a crisis in the last seven years and five months and placed the welfare of our residents at the forefront of all things, professional and personal. Though we continue to address new quagmires related to the pandemic, from issues of booster shots to legal challenges regarding vaccine mandates, I believe that in our particular state the most difficult aspects of this may be behind us … I therefore tender my resignation as Commissioner of Health for the State of New York and will work to help provide for a smooth transition,” Zucker wrote.

Cayuga Health, YMCA team up to share resources, offer new services
ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Health and the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County recently formed a collaborative partnership to share resources and “leverage unique assets,” resulting in new services and offerings for the entire community. YMCAs across the nation are partnering with health-care providers to share resources, “resulting in services with an emphasis on a
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ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Health and the YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County recently formed a collaborative partnership to share resources and “leverage unique assets,” resulting in new services and offerings for the entire community.
YMCAs across the nation are partnering with health-care providers to share resources, “resulting in services with an emphasis on a continuum of care that is convenient and high-quality,” per an Aug. 31 news release from the organizations.
More than half of YMCA facilities across the U.S. (more than 1,200) have forged a partnership with a health-care organization in their communities.
“We are very pleased to announce this exclusive partnership with our community Y,” Dr. Martin Stallone, president & CEO of Cayuga Health, said. “It is mutually beneficial to both mission-driven organizations to partner in the community we want to enhance, and to continue to be leaders in the community health movement.”
The agreement will introduce “new and enhanced” programming to the Y’s membership and community through the partnership that will include sports performance and injury-prevention clinics and clinical programs to help patients manage chronic diseases, such as diabetes and arthritis. The goal is to forge a healthier community.
The programming also includes expanded prevention and education services such as influenza clinics, wellness screenings, and health talks; active- older adult-education classes focusing on senior health and wellness; and flu vaccinations, biometric screenings, and nutrition classes.
“The YMCA’s vision is to create facilities that are far more than fitness or child-care centers. We are looking forward to a whole new level of benefits that this partnership with Cayuga Health will bring to our YMCA members, Cayuga employees and to the community,” Frank Towner, CEO of YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, said.

ASSOCIATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALSGARY M. PROULX, M.D., a radiation oncologist, has joined Associated Medical Professionals (AMP). A graduate of Harvard Medical School and expert in radiation oncology, Dr. Proulx joined AMP after serving as Exeter Hospital radiation oncology medical director for Massachusetts General Hospital for the past 15 years. CARTHAGE AREA HOSPITALJOANNE ATKINSON, physician assistant, has
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ASSOCIATED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
GARY M. PROULX, M.D., a radiation oncologist, has joined Associated Medical Professionals (AMP). A graduate of Harvard Medical School and expert in radiation oncology, Dr. Proulx joined AMP after serving as Exeter Hospital radiation oncology medical director for Massachusetts General Hospital for the past 15 years.
CARTHAGE AREA HOSPITAL
JOANNE ATKINSON, physician assistant, has joined the Carthage Area Hospital medical staff. She will provide primary health care to patients at Carthage Family Health Center on Mechanic Street in Carthage. Atkinson, who grew up in the North Country, attended Clarkson University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry. She went on to receive her master’s degree in physician-assistant studies at Clarkson in May 2021. Atkinson completed several clinical rotations at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, Lewis County General Hospital, and Carthage Area Hospital in the areas of family medicine, OB/GYN, and emergency medicine.
FINGER LAKES HEALTH
ANJANET PEREZ-COLON, M.D. has joined Finger Lakes Health will be practicing at Finger Lakes Gastroenterology. She is also an active medical-staff member at Geneva General and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospitals. Dr. Perez-Colon is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She completed her fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and her residency in internal medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City. She attended medical school at Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Perez-Colon is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and American Gastroenterological Association. She is fluent in Spanish and English. BRENDA SUHR, a physician assistant, has joined Finger Lakes Health, on its urgent-care team. Suhr received her physician-assistant certificate from Le Moyne College in Syracuse and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Brockport. She is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Finger Lakes Health has urgent-care offices in Geneva and Seneca Falls.
MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM
DANIELLE THESIER, MD, has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Vascular Surgery Group in New Hartford. She specializes in the treatment of conditions of the blood vessels and lymph system (vascular diseases), as well as vascular procedures. Dr. Thesier earned her medical degree, performed her residency in general surgery, and received fellowship training in vascular surgery at the SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Thesier also completed fellowship training in thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. VINCENT FIOCCO, a physician assistant, has joined the MVHS Orthopedic Group. Fiocco earned his master’s degree in physician-assistant studies from Long Island University Brooklyn. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at the University at Albany. Fiocco is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society of Physician Assistants.
CHERYL A. PALMER, a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner, has joined the MVHS Advanced Wound Care Center in New Hartford. Palmer comes to MVHS with more than 15 years of health-care experience in primary, emergency, and wound-care settings. Most recently, she worked at Community Memorial Hospital’s Waterville Family Health Center. Palmer earned her master’s degree in family nurse practitioner as well as her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH
SUHAYB KADURA, MD, an interventional cardiologist, has joined the St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute in DeWitt. In his new role, he joins a team of physicians providing heart care to the Syracuse–area community. Dr. Kadura is a board-certified cardiologist who grew up in and began his medical education in upstate New York. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester as well as a three-year fellowship in cardiovascular disease at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Dr. Kadura completed his subspecialty training in interventional cardiology at the University of Connecticut, where he trained in coronary and structural heart disease. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, Dr. Kadura worked as a hospitalist in Rochester at Highland Hospital and University of Rochester Medical Center, and as a hospitalist at the VA Medical Center in Syracuse. He will be continuing these roles.
SYRACUSE ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS
MAX GREENKY, MD, recently joined the joint-replacement team at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS). Greenky is a fellowship trained surgeon who specializes in hip and knee-joint replacement. He joins his father, Dr. Seth Greenky, and uncle, Dr. Brett Greenky, both founding partners of SOS and joint-replacement surgeons. Prior to joining SOS, Dr. Max Greenky completed a fellowship in adult reconstruction surgery at the Duke University Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He completed his residency and internship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he was named academic chief resident in 2019. Greenky received his medical degree from the Sydney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service assign credit ratings for Syracuse airport governing body
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Fitch Ratings has assigned the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) a credit rating of A-, while Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a

$1.5 million flood-resiliency project in Cayuga County is complete
STERLING, N.Y. — The state on Tuesday announced the completion of a $1.5 million flood-resiliency project in the town of Sterling in Cayuga County. It

McMahon says only 1 percent of county’s vaccinated have had breakthrough COVID cases
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon provided some data on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, along with details of a new testing

St. Joseph’s Health’s 122 suspended employees have until Oct. 8 to get vaccine, or lose their jobs
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — St. Joseph’s Health on Tuesday suspended 122 employees who didn’t comply with the state mandate to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Those affected

Hochul selects former NYC health official for state health commissioner
A woman who once served as she served as commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will soon become New

Hochul signs executive order to expand eligible health-care workforce after vaccine deadline passes
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday night signed an executive order that “significantly expands” the eligible health-care workforce and allows additional health-care workers to administer COVID-19

Site-Seeker to formally open downtown Utica HQ on Friday
UTICA, N.Y. — Digital-marketing firm Site-Seeker will formally open its new downtown Utica headquarters on Oct. 1. Formerly based in nearby New Hartford for more
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