The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has named Diane Oyler as its next vice president of programs.
In this position, she will provide leadership, management and oversight for all program-related activities of the Foundation. Oyler will work closely with the Health Foundation Board of Trustees, president Nora OBrien-Suric and other staff to pursue the Foundation’s mission of advocating for continuous improvement in health and health care for Western and Central New York. She will also build relationships and partnerships with policymakers, funders and intermediaries to advance the Foundation’s goal that all New Yorkers will have access to quality, affordable care by 2027.
“Diane’s contributions to the Foundation have been invaluable, opening doors to new partnerships and opportunities,” said OBrien-Suric. “Equally important is her great strengths in collaboration, community engagement and thoughtful analysis. Her strategic vision and deep experience will make the Foundation more effective at serving the organizations on the frontlines of social change and improving the health of our communities.”
Oyler joined the Foundation in 2016 as program officer, where she was responsible for overall strategic direction and grantmaking for the Foundation’s older adult programs and initiatives. In 2016 she launched “Aging by Design”, a four-year initiative in which the Foundation brings community-based organizations and older adults together to develop programs and interventions to improve the health of older adults through a process known as human-centered design. Oyler also led the initiative to partner with the New York State Office for the Aging to expand the Aging Mastery Program throughout western New York. AMP offers community-based organizations a clear path to engage and strengthen the physical, financial and emotional wellness of older adults. OBrien-Suric and Oyler are currently leading an effort to support Governor Cuomo’s pledge to make New York the first Age Friendly state. AARP and the Foundation will partner to host the annual Leading on Livability Pre-Conference and Summit in early August, which will convene leaders across the state to discuss how to improve the health of a community for all ages through innovative and creative practices that address social determinants of health. The Foundation will further support Cuomo’s efforts by offering grants to community organizations with a goal of engaging regional and local agencies in a collaborative approach to make health improvement a focus of policies and regulations of every agency.
Formerly coordinator of Neighborhood Services for the Erie County Department of Senior Services, Oyler led the Department’s efforts to coordinate the delivery of Older American Act services through a network of public and non-profit agencies. Her key responsibilities included overseeing departmental planning activities, service system development, identification of new resources to improve and expand services to Erie County’s older adults and contributing to advocacy efforts. Oyler was responsible for bringing a number of new programs forward during her time with the Department, including Ready Set Home which puts needed services in place for frail elders and the disabled after a hospital stay.
She earned a Ph.D. in political science from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and is a graduate of the Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Fellows program.
Oyler is a resident of South Buffalo.
