St. Mary’s Healthcare receives $3.2 million grant
St. Mary’s Healthcare receives $3.2 million from Mother Cabrini Health Foundation
Under $51 million “Nursing Initiative” program for safety-net hospitals
AMSTERDAM, N.Y., May 14, 2025—St. Mary’s Healthcare will receive a $3.2 million “Nursing Initiative” grant under a new Mother Cabrini Health Foundation program that will invest $51 million to support nursing excellence and innovation, improve work culture, and enhance patient care in New York hospitals that serve high-need patients.
The St. Mary’s grant is one of 13 announced today by the Foundation, New York’s largest grantmaking organization focused on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable communities. A first-of-its-kind investment, the new Nursing Initiative is designed to empower nursing professionals, reduce burnout, address workforce shortages and improve patient care in safety-net hospitals.
“The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is an extraordinary, visionary philanthropic partner,” said Jeff Methven, president and CEO, St. Mary’s Healthcare. “The Foundation’s Nursing Initiative takes a strategic, innovative approach to one of the most pressing challenges faced by rural community hospitals like St. Mary’s: how to attract, support and retain exceptional nurses.”
“By emphasizing quality, education and investments in our nursing workforce,” he added, “the Foundation is helping St. Mary’s fulfill our mission to provide the best possible care, close to home, for generations to come.”
The Nursing Initiative program stems from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s ongoing commitment to bolster the health care workforce across New York State. The grant program will help hospitals achieve industry-leading frameworks in nursing excellence, establish innovative programs to support front-line nurses, and help recent nurse graduates transition into the profession.
Each hospital will receive $1 million to $5 million over five years to pursue American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition or Pathway to Excellence status, driving nursing excellence and health care transformation. The grant will also assist hospitals to establish or expand virtual nursing and nurse residency programs.
Ultimately, the $51 million initiative will support more than 6,500 nurses statewide and positively impact care for more than 7 million outpatient visits annually.
“From Binghamton to the Bronx, New York nurses are the backbone of patient care, demonstrating dedication and resilience. They deserve work environments where they can thrive and lead in their field in delivering excellent patient care,” said Monsignor Gregory Mustaciuolo, chief executive officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “By empowering nurses, we are investing in better patient care and outcomes.”
The 13 Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Nursing Initiative grant recipients are:
- Auburn Community Hospital – Auburn
- Calvary Hospital – Bronx
- Mercy Hospital, Catholic Health System of Long Island – Rockville Centre
- Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center – Plattsburgh
- Columbia Memorial Health – Hudson
- Montefiore Medical Center – Bronx
- Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital – Binghamton
- Rome Memorial Hospital – Rome
- Samaritan Hospital and the Eddy Foundation – Albany
- St Mary’s Healthcare – Amsterdam
- Barnabas Hospital – Bronx
- John’s Riverside Hospital – Yonkers
- United Health Services Hospitals – Binghamton
“This grant will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our commitment to our nurses and our community,” said Raquel Parisi, vice president and chief nursing officer, St. Mary’s Healthcare. “Years from now, our nurses and patients will continue to benefit from the foresight of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and this investment.”
Grantees were selected from among a group of more than 50 hospitals that applied through a competitive request for proposals. The extensive selection process, which included visits with hospital leadership, was aimed at developing a portfolio of grantees representing a diversity of hospital sizes and geographies across New York State.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation developed the Nursing Initiative following the findings of its healthcare workforce report with the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany. The report found major factors that contribute to persistent RN shortages including challenges with new RN preparedness, unsupportive work environments, workplace violence, burnout, the experience gap created by retirement of older nurses, and generational differences in career expectations that impact nurse tenure at hospitals. In addition, according to data referenced in the report, 15% of hospital patient care RNs between the ages of 20 and 39 reported plans to leave their current position within the next 12 months, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges.
To address these challenges holistically, the new Mother Cabrini Nursing Initiative will help hospitals pursue Pathway to Excellence or Magnet accreditations—industry-recognized frameworks that set leading standards of nursing excellence. In addition, funding supports virtual nursing and nurse residency programs. More details below:
- Pathway to Excellence– administered by the ANCC, this program recognizes health care organizations that foster a supportive and empowering workplace for nurses. The program emphasizes shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development. Achieving this status is a mark of distinction recognized worldwide.
- Magnet Recognition– awarded by the ANCC, is a prestigious designation for health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Magnet-recognized organizations are known for providing high-quality patient care, resulting in better patient outcomes, lower error rates and fewer health care-acquired infections.
- Nurse Residency Program– designed to help new nursing graduates transition smoothly into professional practice. These programs provide structured learning experiences, combining classroom instruction with clinical practice. They offer mentorship and support from experienced nurses, which helps new nurses build confidence and reduce stress. They also increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates by fostering a supportive work environment.
- Virtual Nursing– a flexible and innovative approach to health care delivery, especially in times of workforce challenges. Front-line nurses benefit from virtual nursing models through increased support, reduced administrative workload, and enhanced mentorship from experienced virtual nurses. Virtual nurses can assist with tasks like admissions, discharges and patient education, while allowing front-line nurses to dedicate more time to direct patient care.
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About St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam: St. Mary’s Healthcare has been providing high-quality, compassionate healthcare to the people of Montgomery and Fulton counties since 1903. At St. Mary’s Hospital, the Rao Outpatient Pavilion and other locations, the local, independent healthcare system offers the comprehensive, critical services its community needs and deserves. For more information: (518) 842-1900, www.smha.org or www.facebook.com/smha.org
About the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization established in 2019 to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that provide direct health care services and address social determinants under five grant program areas: Access to Care, Basic Needs, Healthcare Workforce, Mental & Behavioral Health, and the General Fund. In 2024, the Foundation marked $1 billion in grantmaking to support communities across the State. For more information, visit https://www.cabrinihealth.org/.
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Kristin Mosher, Director cabrinihealth@berlinrosen.com
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