The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York has named its 2016 class of Health Leadership Fellows, recognizing 39 diverse, highly skilled professionals from health-related and safety-net organizations in western and central New York.
Now in its seventh cohort, 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 vulnerable older adults and children impacted by poverty.
The 18-month fellowship is designed to improve critical thinking skills of leaders in health and human service organizations. In addition to four residential sessions spanning two to three days each, fellows meet monthly and develop a collaborative inter-organizational project in small teams. The fellowship additionally offers individual leadership development, academic and team support and executive coaching.
The 2016-2018 western and central New York fellows are:
- Michael Ackerman, associate director of nursing, Niagara University
- Inga Back, coordinator, Oswego County Opportunities
- Denise Bienko, vice president, People, Inc.
- James Butcher, director of primary behavioral health care integration, Lakeshore Behavioral Health
- Christina Cain, director, Herkimer County Public Health
- Karen Carroll, director of education, Crown Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Charlotte Crawford, CEO, Lake Plains Community Care Network
- Kelly Dickerson, director of community initiatives, ARA Services
- Karen Hall, health improvement program manager, P2 Collaborative
- Betsy Harned, vice president of external affairs, Planned Parenthood of Central and Western NY
- Shannon Holmes, program director, The Parkway Center
- Catherine James, CEO, Alzheimer’s Association of CNY
- Melissa Jillson, director, Liberty Resources, Inc.
- Andrea John, exercise specialist supervisor, Seneca Nation Health System
- Daphene Johnson, CAO, Syracuse Community Health Center
- Kristin Kight, senior director, business development and population health, Kaleida Health
- Hilary Kirk, quality director, Neighborhood Health Center
- Chris Koenig, CEO, Niagara Lutheran Health System
- Meichle Latham, director of school-based services, Catholic Charities of Buffalo
- Julie Lulek, nurse-family partnership program administrator, Catholic Health System
- Sandra Macfarlane, system director of rehabilitation and occupational health, Upper Allegheny Health System
- Candace Murray, CCO, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County
- Valerie Nowak, clinic coordinator, Community Concern of WNY
- Kathryn Pagliaroli, director of quality and patient safety, Oswego Hospital
- Tracy Reed, operations/program director, Hearts and Hands
- Judith Reilly, services director, Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc.
- Catherine Roberts, senior vice president, Community Action Organization of Erie County
- Shannyn Ryan, director of senior services, The Salvation Army
- Kate Sarata, executive director, The Services Collaborative of WNY
- Sheri Scavone, executive director, WNY Women’s Foundation
- Lynn Shea, early childhood program director, Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center
- May Shogan, director of international exchanges department, International Institute of Buffalo
- Rebecca Stevens, advocate program supervisor, Crisis Services
- Daniel Strauch, CEO, Olean Medical Group
- Daniel Szewc, long-term care coordinator, Erie County Department of Senior Services
- Chantele Thompson, director of managed care, Buffalo Psychiatric Center
- Christine Verni, lead advanced practice provider, University Emergency Medicine Services
- Andrea Wanat, manager, behavioral health projects, Millennium Collaborative Care
- Donna White, director of inpatient rehabilitation services and occupational therapy supervisor, The Centers at St. Camillus
Since 2005, the Health Foundation has accepted 253 health leadership 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.
