The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has selected 34 skilled professionals from health-related and safety net organizations throughout western and central New York for its eighth cohort of Health Leadership Fellows.
The goal of the Health Leadership Fellows program is to produce a network of diverse, highly-skilled leaders that will learn to lead collaboratively from both within and outside of their organizations and become advocates for improved health care delivery, particularly for older adults and children impacted by poverty.
During the 18-month program, which begins in September 2017, fellows will participate in sessions on personal leadership, results-based leadership, leading change and communicating as a leader. In additional to four residential retreats, Fellows will meet monthly and develop a collaborative inter-organizational project in a small team setting. Each Fellow will also receive executive coaching.
The 2017-2019 Western and Central New York Fellows are:
- Betsy Behrend, senior director of operations and communications, Say Yes Buffalo
- Denise Bothwell, administrator, Elderwood at Lancaster
- Kathleen Bronson, outcome broker for Green and Healthy Homes, Home Headquarters
- Renee Cadzow, assistant professor, health services administration director, Center for Research on Physical Activity, Sport and Health, D’Youville College
- Aaron Carlson, finance director, The Dale Association
- Patricia Carey, vice president of school age services, Upstate Cerebral Palsy
- Judette Dahleiden, Woman, Infant and Children program director, Catholic Charities
- Gary Damon, Jr., county director, Center for Employment Opportunities
- Joseph DiStasio, chief financial officer, Lake Shore Behavioral Health
- Bridget Dolbear, program services coordinator, Oswego County Opportunities – Nutrition Services
- DeAnna Eason, executive director, House Opportunities Made Equal
- Concetta Ferguson, senior vice president, People, Inc.
- Lisa Fasolo Frishman, senior program officer, Health Foundation for Western and Central New York
- Beth Gosch, executive director, The Western New York Foundation
- Marc Howe, chief operating officer, Neighborhood Health Center
- Pamela Kefi, executive director, Deaf Access Services
- Jodi Martin, supervising public health nurse, Oswego County Health Department
- Jane Mogavero, executive director, Patrick P. Lee Foundation
- Jessie Mossop, director of quality improvement and information services, Jericho Road Community Health Center
- Rebecca Newberry, executive director, Clean Air Coalition
- Karen Nicolson, chief executive officer, Center for Elder Law and Justice
- Brandiss Pearson, faculty member, St. Joseph Health, College of Nursing
- Brittany Perez, senior research associate, adjunct instructor, Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access , University at Buffalo
- Michael Prutsman, executive director, Council on Addiction Recovery Services
- Karen Pusateri, managing director, Towne Square for Aging
- Karen Rybincki, assistant deputy commissioner, Erie County Department of Social Services
- Karl Shallowhorn, director of community advocacy, Mental Health Association of Erie County & Compeer of Greater Buffalo
- Rebecca Shultz, director of surveillance and statistics, Onondaga County Health Department
- Ellen Somers, assistant director, Jewish Family Services, Syracuse
- Constantina Spiropoulos, M.D., pediatrician, Main Pediatrics
- Manika Suryadevara, faculty, SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Joyelle Tedeschi, director of hope services, Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center
- Saralin Tiederman, post-acute care manager, Millennium Collaborative Care
- Lauren Wetterhahn, director of program operations, Central New York Care Collaborative
Since 2005, the Health Foundation has accepted 287 Fellows into its program. The Fellows were selected through an application process by a selection committee; selection criteria include leadership ability, the support of the nominee’s organization and the potential benefit of the program to the applicant’s organization and community. As graduates of the Health Leadership Fellows program, they continue their work as members of the Fellows Action Network.
