PLATTSBURGH — Local health care leaders have a new opportunity to expand their skillsets thanks to a professional development program created by the SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business and Economics and the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.
The Executive Management Program, the product of an innovative partnership between the university and hospital provides leaders at both the University of Vermont Health Network — Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH the opportunity to grow and learn to better support the teams that care for the community.
And for leaders like Todd Harrington and Irene Lomeli, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
“As a leader, I continually search for programs to help me grow my skills,” Harrington, Alice Hyde Medical Center laboratory operations manager, said.
“I really enjoyed each week and have many ideas and tools to use in my everyday practice.”
Lomeli, a Medical Group practice manager, believes the program will help in her current role and with her future career goals at CVPH. “The instructors and professors that were teaching the courses made it interesting and user friendly,” she said.
“We know that to attract and retain motivated employees, we need to support their desire to grow and learn,” AHMC and CVPH President Michelle LeBeau said.
“This program was designed specifically to address our leadership team’s call for professional development so they can continue to support their teams while fulfilling the need to grow their careers. Working with SUNY and the School of Business and Economics has been rewarding for all and the success of this program is the result of the tremendous effort by their faculty and staff.”
Harrington and Lomeli along with 22 other leaders from AHMC and CVPH were celebrated at a graduation ceremony held at CVPH on April 12. The first graduates have completed a six-week series of classes held on the CVPH campus and taught by SBE faculty and alumni. Courses covered topics such as managing organizations, evidence-based decisions, regulations, accounting and finance, leadership, and strategy.
At the ceremony, Samy Garas, PhD, accounting professor, congratulated the graduates.
“That you are here today is evidence of your perseverance,” Garas said.
“You have clearly demonstrated your exceptional commitment as managers to grow as leaders. You have set the bar high.” Garas was part of the team of university and CVPH representatives that developed the Executive Management Program – a process that took nearly a year to complete.
SUNY Plattsburgh President Alexander Enyedi, PhD applauded the leaders for their commitment to continuous learning and thanked the School of Business and Economics for their work on the program.
“They worked proactively to assure this program closely aligned to everyone’s needs,” Enyedi said.
“The result is a program that empowers employees to succeed by equipping them with the tools they need. It has demonstrated the immense value in developing strategic partnerships like the one we have with CVPH.”
Brian Neurether, PhD, Dean, School of Business and Economics added that there was a lot of behind-the-scenes work by both organizations. “It is clear that there was a determination and desire to make this program a success by all involved,” he said.
“It is a testament to what shared respect and teamwork can accomplish.” Neureuther said the planning and development has benefitted both of organizations.
In thanking the university, CVPH Associate Vice President of Transformation Shawn Rogers called the effort a great example of the importance of collaborating and the impact it can have.
“Those who go into health care do so with a purpose in mind – to make a difference,” Rogers said.
“The people in this room have truly made a difference in our community, now and in the future.”
Rogers credited Garas and Kaitlyn Tentis, CVPH business operations director for assuring that the program ran smoothly.
The members of the first graduating class of the Executive Management Program are: From AHMC: Erin Tassie, Jessica Laundry, Sherri Dabiew, Todd Harrington, Codie Brown, Kari Suave and Tracy Scott. From CVPH: Adam Senecal, Daniel Lee, Kassandra Beauregard, Kristin Bond, Kristy Rocha, Tara Ebere, Alissa Rabideau, Crystal Bissette-LeClair, Irene Lomeli, Katie Morrow, Krista Bull, Michael Wells, Nicholas Pain, Samantha Pecotte, Shey Schnell, Theresa Baldwin and Thomas Saul from CVPH.
The next six-week session will begin in May.