As we move deeper into the fall season, Iroquois Healthcare Alliance continues to advance our work on behalf of rural healthcare across our region. The challenges facing our member hospitals are well-documented, but I'm encouraged by the proactive steps we're taking together to strengthen our collective voice and position our organizations for the future.
Elite Business Associate Member Sponsors and Business Associate Membership Information
Upcoming IHA Events
IHA’s newsletter features highlights and updates on our advocacy efforts, programs & initiatives, United Iroquois Shared Services (UISS) group purchasing updates, what’s happening inside IHA and a new series sharing insights from our CEOs. We hope you enjoy this edition!
Advocacy Update
Kevin Kerwin
President & CEO
Lauren Ford, LMSW
Vice President, Strategy and Analytics
Grace Rust
Senior Associate for Advocacy
and Government Relations
As we look ahead to 2026, the political environment in New York is already shifting. Next year is an election year for the State Legislature. With that, retirements and vacated seats will result in a reshuffling of roles and committee assignments within the State legislature. All of this while speculation continues to build around Representative Elise Stefanik, who is all but certain to enter the Governor’s race, but has not yet made her candidacy official. Meanwhile, all eyes remain on New York City for the results of the highly contentious mayoral race. These results will be the basis of much analysis and forecasting for the 2026 elections. IHA will continue to monitor these developing changes, as they will have an impact throughout the state.
In addition, at the federal level all members of Congress are up for re-election next year and Democrats have pinned their hopes on big wins in the midterm elections to slow, counterbalance and even undo what are widely viewed as unpopular actions by the Trump administration.
Caring Gene® Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program
The Caring Gene® Career Pathways Training (CPT) Program connects people to a career in care—and at a time when the need for compassionate, empathetic professionals has never been greater. New York’s healthcare workforce shortage continues to strain hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. According to the Iroquois Healthcare Association’s 2025 Semi-Annual Vacancy and Turnover Survey, vacancy workforce rates remain high with 10.5% across all staff.
UISS Supply Chain Excellence: Celebrating Innovation and Leadership
What an incredible UISS 2025 Supply Chain Symposium! Thank you to all attendees who joined us at Turning Stone Resort on September 18th. From AI policy updates to supply chain innovation strategies, we covered the critical topics shaping healthcare's future.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsors Nexera and BRG for making this event possible. And to our speakers, Dr. David Dobrzkowski, renowned Supply Chain Professor from the University of Arkansas for his insightful talk on the adoption of AI in supply chain and strategic planning, and Mason Ingram from Premier for his DC policy update on Artificial Intelligence, Interoperability and the Health Tech Ecosystem.
The energy and collaboration at this year's symposium reinforced what we already know: supply chain professionals are the backbone of healthcare delivery, driving innovation, managing unprecedented challenges, and ultimately enabling better patient care across our region. And as we celebrate Supply Chain Executives Week (October 5-11), we're reminded once again of the vital leadership these professionals provide every single day.
Celebrating Our Industry's Best
This year's symposium was particularly special as we honored outstanding achievement across multiple dimensions of supply chain excellence. We were proud to present the UISS 2025 Supply Chain Recognition Award to SUNY Upstate Medical University, whose transformative work over the past year exemplifies the innovation and dedication that define our industry.
In the following articles, we spotlight SUNY Upstate Medical University's remarkable achievements and examine how the continuum of care approach is reshaping healthcare supply chain strategy.
In this final installment of our popular CEO Insider Series, we are highlighting CEOs from each of the five Regions that make up our membership (i.e., Capital District, North Country, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and Central New York). Our CEOs share their insights, challenges, and vision - Enjoy!
This quarter, we introduce you to the following CEOs:
Cecil M. Miller, III, President and Chief Executive Officer, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital
Dr. David Lubarsky, President & Chief Executive Officer, WMCHealth on behalf of Margaretville Hospital
Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, President and CEO, Bassett Healthcare Network
Dorothy Urschel, DNP ACNP-BC FNP-BC MBA, Columbia Memorial Health
Dr. Robert J. Corona, DO, MBA, Upstate University Hospital
