Tag: rbj_power_list_health_2022

LOUISE WOERNER

CHAIRWOMAN AND CEO, HCR HOME CARE

Years in current role: 44

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

The ability of our clinicians to make a difference in the lives of so many people during COVID, while dealing with the many challenges they faced.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

We expect health care to continue to be challenged with staff shortages and a growing demand for care.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Become an expert in chronic disease management for diverse populations.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

To lose 10 pounds.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

Boating on the Genesee River and Lake Ontario, and kayaking up to Ellison Park. Visiting the Strong National Museum of Play. The generous people and the beauty of our parks.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

BRIDGETTE WIEFLING

FORMER EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ROCHESTER REGIONAL HEALTH

Editor’s note: Dr. Wiefling is starting a new role as SVP of Clinical Transformation High Mark Health at the end of this month.

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

RRH has been focused on the wellness of our patients and our employees. We successfully launched a highly effective virtual strategy with an exclusive vendor, Tytocare, allowing us to deliver effective, convenient care to our patients in the comfort of their homes while ensuring our clinicians have the clinical information needed to deliver quality care. RRH also launched a comprehensive employee wellness program to provide our team members the personal and professional support needed to care for themselves and their families. Our ambulatory nursing group, inclusive of the system-wide care management team, was the second organization in the world to achieve the prestigious Magnet designation, symbolizing the criticality of teamwork in the future of high-quality care delivery.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Health care is a noble, gratifying field and it is on the precipice of difficult but exciting transformation. Health care of the future will look different. The challenges ahead will require sophisticated, humble and collaborative leadership to navigate successfully. Health systems will need to partner outside of their comfort zones to address social determinants of health, to create new relationships with employers and payers to achieve value, leverage technology and build sustainable workforce. For someone starting, I would tell them to listen and learn first, to not be afraid to tackle hard problems with fresh ideas or bring the smartest people to the table and never stray from the true north of putting patients first no matter what it means for you personally or professionally.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

My goal for the coming year is to continue my journey to lead in the transformation of health care in America. I believe health care must be easily accessible to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic status. As a profession we must understand and tackle medical bias. As systems we must take on the responsibility of creating simplicity and accountability to our patients and communities. As administrative leaders we must partner with our physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses to design sustainable healthcare of the future which takes advantage of automated intelligence, scientific medical advancements and the power of integration in a way that achieves better, safer outcomes.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

The deep-rooted desire by leaders from all sectors to work together around tough problems to ensure Rochester continues to be an economically thriving, healthy and vibrant community. Through my years here I have witnessed unprecedented collaboration and innovation across industries and across organizations to achieve tough goals, build capital, and create tables that move the community forward. I am always proud to say I’m from Rochester.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

DAVID WESTGATE

CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, CARESTREAM HEALTH, INC.

Years in current role: 4

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

We delivered solutions to health care facilities that help them reduce the radiation dose required for X-ray imaging without sacrificing image quality. It takes a very high level of experience and scientific knowledge to achieve this critical balance of lowering dose while still producing an image that has enough detail for a physician to make an accurate diagnosis. These advances directly support our goal of improving patient care. Several of the solutions leverage Artificial Intelligence — an area we are investing in aggressively. In fact, Hewlett Packard Enterprise highlighted our use of AI at their recent conference attended by thousands of users.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

We will continue to explore the use of AI on three fronts. I already mentioned improving patient care. Second is to make our systems easier to use. We are applying automation and intelligence to the image capture process to help staff get the best possible image the first time, so that patients don’t need to undergo unnecessary exposure for retakes. Automation also reduces some of the heavy workload on staff. The third area is to help health care facilities lower their costs of providing imaging exams. Increasing costs is a top concern for health care facilities and for everyone who needs health care.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

Over the next year, I would like to reconnect with our teams all over the world. These last two years have been limiting in the ability to visit our locations, especially internationally. And while technology has done a great job of keeping work flowing, the interactions through a screen just aren’t the same. I look forward to traveling around the U.S. and the world to see our teams in action.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

JERRY WARNER

PRESIDENT, COOPERVISION

Years in current role: 1

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

Globally, continuing a bounce back from the COVID lockdowns in 2020, we’ve been able achieve strong results and grab share in all regions. We continue to do this while focusing on the safety and health of our teams. While we are moving to a world where we live with COVID, it still is very present in our markets.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

Continued strength across our business, while managing the challenges of COVID, minor supply issues, and making sure we continually monitor and make the appropriate adjustments to our workplace environment to attract and retain talent.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Immerse yourself in the customer/patient journey. There are two distinct parts to this. First the customer, the eye care practitioner who fits contact lenses, and the organizations they work for or with. Second the patient themselves, for whom contact lens wearing can start as early as 8, or as late as their 50s/60s. To be successful in our business, understanding these key stakeholders is critical. An additional note, that immersion is not a one-time event, it’s continuous.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

Our family continues to grow, with four grandchildren now gracing our life. Making sure we have and create the time to be together is important, and a lot of fun!! We are trying to put together a family destination trip for ’23, so fingers crossed!

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

Two things. The beauty of the area is both breathtaking and underrated. By that I mean, when I meet folks who only know of the Rochester area because of our winters, I spend time sharing all the detail regarding our wonderful outdoor activities, facilities, and options year around. The second is I find our community to be very involved, caring and giving. Personally, my continued goal is to make sure I am part of this.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

LORI VANAUKEN

PRESIDENT & CEO, CATHOLIC CHARITIES FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

Years in current role: 8 months (9 years as former CEO of Community Services)

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

Catholic Charities Family and Community Services is in its eighth month as a newly merged agency of Catholic Family Center and Catholic Charities Community Services. Amidst many operational changes, I am really proud of the board of directors’ and staff’s tenacity and dedication in building our combined culture while continuing to serve many different populations of people in our region who need support to achieve their goals. We have served 20,000 people throughout 12 counties in 2021 with a tremendous portfolio of services and continue to leverage our expertise in new ways. For example, we now can now meet the behavioral health needs of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in our integrated behavioral health clinic, because the two agencies have combined.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Working in the health and human services field is tough but gratifying work. I have two thoughts to share with those who are entering the field to make a difference. First, remember to take care of yourself so that you can be your best to support others in their journeys toward recovery, independence and living a healthy life. Second, remember that access to social determinants of health — housing, food security, employment, education, and other factors — affect the physical and emotional health of all of us. You are uniquely positioned in the human services field to help bridge those gaps in access.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

I’ll need to adjust to being an empty-nester.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

I love the parks, the lakes, festivals in the summertime (so happy they are back after COVID), the sense of community that exists throughout our region and the fact that Rochester is one of the most philanthropic cities in the U.S.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

DAN TORRENS

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EHEALTH TECHNOLOGIES

Years in current role: 1

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

We have had a lot of successes over the past year but the one that I am most proud of is the cultural change. eHealth Technologies has built a diverse, equitable, inclusive, high-performing culture and shifted from being reactive to proactive to better serve our customers and team members. We have built a dynamic team that is forward-thinking and is now anticipating future challenges and putting plans in place to mitigate those challenges. The team is also imagining the ideal patient experience and developing innovative solutions to deliver better patient outcomes!

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

For the rest of 2022, my expectation for eHealth Technologies is to continue to advance the delivery of life-altering care for our patients and to look for innovative ways to improve the overall patient experience. eHealth Technologies has already helped over two million people to get the care they need and continues to help hundreds of thousands of people every year. We are in the process of developing a number of innovative solutions to improve the patient experience. My hope is to be in a position to unveil one of these new solutions by the end of the year.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

The advice that I would give to somebody just starting out in the health care industry would be to stay focused on what matters most — the patients! There are a lot of drivers that can pull you in different directions, but if you simply stay focused on the patient and your quest to improve the patient experience, you will succeed.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

My personal goal is to make work more enjoyable for all eHealth Technologies team members. I’m lucky to work with the most compassionate people I have ever encountered. I want them to not only feel recognized and rewarded but also to enjoy the work that they do every day and feel supported. We are providing them flexibility in their work locations and schedules and investing in our records retrieval platform to streamline their work. Our team has such an impact on the patients they serve, and we want them to know that they are both appreciated and supported.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

My favorite thing about Rochester is the smart, kind and hardworking people. In our line of work, we hire for compassion, and we have found Rochester to be a great place to find compassionate team members who are willing to go above and beyond for patients.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

MARK TAUBMAN

SVP FOR HEALTH SCIENCES; CEO, URMC; DEAN, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER

Years in current role: 9

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

Continuing to provide high-quality health care for community and the region, despite the challenges of severe staff shortages and the inability to transfer patients to skilled nursing facilities in a timely fashion due to their staff shortages. Continuing to move forward in our research and educational missions as one of the nation’s leading academic health centers. Making substantial progress in our equity and anti-racism action plan, including the establishment of a robust structure to address health disparities. Moving forward on the construction of our new Orthopedics Center and our new Emergency Department and Patient Tower.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

We will continue to have challenges with staffing, which will limit our ability to accept patient referrals from the region and will challenge our finances. We will continue to explore ways to transform our health delivery system, with a focus on digital technology and artificial intelligence, to accommodate issues in staffing and post-acute health care.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

Rochester is a wonderful place to live. Everything is accessible and one does not need to plan way in advance to go to concerts, plays, restaurants, etc., which suits my crazy schedule. The Finger Lakes area is beautiful, and also easily accessible. The people of Rochester are wonderful and are quick to volunteer. And the health care systems are extraordinary in quality and depth for the size of the city and the region.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

ALYSSA TALLO

EXECUTIVE HEALTH DIRECTOR, MONROE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL

Years in current role: 2

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

Monroe Community Hospital (MCH) has several impactful projects in the works this year that will enhance quality of life for the residents who call MCH home. Our projects include creating a secured, enclosed courtyard space for residents to enjoy and initiating renovations on one of the residential units at MCH dedicated to serving those living with dementia. However, as an industry, long-term care continues to be faced with short and long-term challenges that will continue beyond 2022 and have created significant uncertainty for providers. Advocacy, reform, and community support for long-term care services are necessary to allow facilities to continue to provide essential services to the members of our community.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Be prepared for a rewarding but unprecedently tough adventure. Find ways to celebrate the “wins,” recognize achievements no matter how small they may seem, and focus on the changes you plan to make. Remember that what you do, even though some days you may feel defeated, can positively impact someone’s life.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

The attractions, amenities and seasons. There are so many opportunities for those who reside in Rochester and the neighboring communities. Taking the family to the zoo or Seabreeze, the beauty of the county parks in the fall as the leaves change, the endless cuisine options, and many more!

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

DOUGLAS STEWART

PRESIDENT, UNITY HOSPITAL – ROCHESTER REGIONAL HEALTH

Years in current role: 9

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

While Unity received multiple recognitions related to clinical care, including being ranked by Healthgrades as the No. 1 hospital in New York for Joint Replacement, our biggest success remains the outstanding team members who come to work each day and selflessly do their absolute best for our patients and their partners in care.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

I expect that the challenges facing health care will continue and that the amazing Unity team will continue to rise to the occasion and provide the best possible care to our community.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Be curious, flexible and resilient.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

MICHAEL F. STAPLETON

PRESIDENT/CEO, UR MEDICINE THOMPSON HEALTH

Years in current role: 10

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

We are very proud of the fact we were able to open additional hospital beds and kept all of our long-term care beds open when numerous other facilities had to close beds. We were also able to open a community vaccine clinic and we vaccinated over 25,000 residents. Keeping our patients, residents and associates safe was our number one priority as we served our community.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

Our number one strategic focus is recruitment and retention. Health system staffing has been severely impacted the last two and a half years. This year has been very challenging financially, so our focus is on mitigating the impact and continuing to execute our strategic plan.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Keep following your passion. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Surround yourself with positive people who talk highly about their profession and their employer. Always be willing to mentor others and help people reach their potential.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

Keep exercising and managing stress.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

That my kids are all still here. Love the Finger Lakes, all the golf courses and the abundance of live music.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

SANKAR SEWNAUTH

CEO, CDS LIFE TRANSITIONS

Years in current role: 24

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

There have been many successes throughout CDS Life Transitions’ organizations this past year. A notable success is the grand opening of our pharmacy, CDS Rx, earlier this spring. Our expansion into pharmacy services allows us to offer more personalized care and support to the individuals we serve, as well as convenient and cost-efficient services to our staff and community.

In the housing arena, CDS Housing has been awarded three 9% tax credits from New York State for our affordable housing projects. We currently have five affordable housing locations, and with one development being completed this summer and three more in construction, we continue to make affordable and supportive housing accessible around New York State and beyond.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

We are poised for continued success, and I look forward to our CDS team bringing our goals to fruition throughout this year. We plan to work on projects that will continue to diversify our revenue streams, giving us a broad and solid foundation to expand our advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

One thing I tend to say often is that hope is not a strategy. You will indubitably face challenges and obstacles in this industry, but being armed with a strong and well-thought-out strategy enables you to take risks with confident hope for a positive outcome. And with a supportive team around you, that lifts each other up, you can face any difficulty that comes your way.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

The main personal landmark coming up in the next year is my retirement in February 2023. I look forward to increased opportunities to travel and spend time with family, notably my grandchildren. I am confident in passing leadership responsibilities on to Andrew Sewnauth, who will assume the role of CEO at CDS Life Transitions upon my retirement.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

I love the entrepreneurial community that continues to bring new and creative businesses and services to our area. I am thankful for the support from the city that encourages and facilitates continued growth and development.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

CHARLIE RUNYON

PRESIDENT/CEO, ST. JOHN’S

Years in current role: 22

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

I am proud of our dedicated team at St. John’s. Despite the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on our industry, we have remained focused on the importance of maintaining residents’ safety and well-being as top priorities in all decisions we have had to make during a very challenging year.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

As part of our ongoing development of services for seniors with dementia and their caregivers, St. John’s is working to identify new opportunities to partner with individuals and other community organizations to fill the unmet needs of dementia caregivers being supported at home.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

To set an example to our staff team of the importance of personal health and wellness.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

Rochester has all of the advantages of a big city, but still the “feel” of a small town.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

JAMES R. REED

CEO, EXCELLUS BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD

Years in current role: Appointed CEO in May 2021; had been President/CEO-elect since July 2020.

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

Culture is a critical component of our success and is a central focus of our organization. Employee culture enables us to achieve our mission: helping those in our communities live healthier, more secure lives through access to high quality, affordable health care. I’ve been part of our culture journey since its inception and witnessed how our business results have improved as our culture has improved. As we continue to evolve, we recently refreshed our values and behaviors to emphasize empowerment, accountability and innovation, fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and access. I’m a true believer that culture drives business success.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

We’re looking forward to helping those who may be shopping for a new health insurance plan this fall. The pandemic brought many challenges, including disruption to health coverage. We were proud to help customers find products to suit their changing needs at that time and continue to do so, offering products for every stage of life. We’re also excited to offer more integrated initiatives that will allow us to better serve our customers. Working collaboratively with local providers and health systems, these initiatives are designed to improve overall quality of care and help control the rising cost of health care.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Relationships matter. I learned very early in my career that people want to do business with people they know and like. It doesn’t matter if you have a role that is exclusively focused inside the organization or one that interacts with customers, take the time to establish a relationship with the people you work with. Get to know them on both a personal and professional level. That relationship establishes a foundation from which you can build and grow.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.

LOREN RANALETTA

PRESIDENT/CEO, EPISCOPAL SENIORLIFE COMMUNITIES

Years in current role: 38

What has been your organization’s biggest success over the past year?

It has been a challenging year as we continue to work through the lasting impacts of the pandemic. ESLC has opened a new senior living campus (our eighth) in Penfield, which offers assisted living and memory care, Ashley Woods. We have also launched two new supportive housing initiatives at Penfield Gardens and 270 on East.

As we expand programs and services, a professional and dedicated workforce continues to be one of the main contributors to our success. Our efforts remain committed to cultivating an environment and providing programs that support our staff members’ well-being and professional development. We are also building a strong succession management team to ensure ESLC’s bright future.

What are your expectations for the rest of this year?

Workforce development and creating solutions to meet the evolving needs of seniors are our two primary priorities this year. ESLC’s Foundation has established a scholarship program that supports career advancement, and we look forward to making more scholarships available while continuously recruiting new talent.

In addition, as the population of older adults continues to rise, we will expand community programs and enhance resident experiences. For example, ESLC has developed a prototype for middle-income senior housing, and we expect to begin construction on our ninth neighborhood location this fall in Irondequoit.

What advice would you give somebody just starting out in your industry?

Working in senior care and services is a rewarding, challenging and constantly evolving industry. Understanding what other people truly need is essential, not providing what you think they need. Use your talents and unique gifts to benefit others while constantly seeking opportunities to learn and grow.

What is one personal goal you have for the next year?

After 38 years as President and CEO of Episcopal SeniorLife Communities, I am taking on a new role as President of The Episcopal Church Home Foundation in September. In this position, I will grow ESLC’s Foundation, foster new relationships and help shape public policy as we reimagine and create new programs and services — in a post-pandemic era.

I am honored to announce Lisa Marcello, current EVP/CFO, as the incoming President and CEO appointed by our Board of Directors. Over the last 22 years, Lisa and I have worked together to lead ESLC through great successes, growth and challenges. I aim to ensure a seamless transition in leadership as ESLC heads into the future.

What are your favorite things about Rochester?

Rochester is my home. Having been born and raised here, the life-long relationships I have built in this community, both personally and professionally, are advantageous and life-sustaining. Rochester is an exceptional blend of size, character, culture, innovation and arts with unparalleled educational and health care institutions. I appreciate the partnerships and programs ESLC has initiated over the years, which have helped to make this a better community.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 30 Health Care list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.