AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Dec. 9, 2025—Two more providers—Dr. Dhaval Swaminarayan and women’s health nurse practitioner Sara Gorham—have joined the OB/GYN Health Center at St. Mary’s Healthcare. Both were recruited as part of the hospital’s commitment to ensure convenient, local access to key healthcare services.

Dr. Swaminarayan has 23 years of experience in academic and clinical settings, most recently as a physician with Capital Region OB/GYN in Latham. Gorham has been providing women’s healthcare for more than two decades, including nine years with Saratoga OB/GYN and Midwifery Services.

“With Dr. Swaminarayan and Sara, we add two experienced providers who share St. Mary’s dedication to excellence and compassion,” said Dr. James Charland, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Mary’s. “As members of our OB/GYN team, they will be instrumental in expanding access and enhancing care for women in our community at every stage of their life.”

Dr. Swaminarayan earned his medical degree from NHL Medical College, Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, India and completed OB/GYN residencies at BJ Medical College in India and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Medical Association.

St. Mary’s Expands Access to Sexual Assault Care

Technology connects St. Mary’s providers to New York’s most experienced forensic examiners, ensuring 24/7 expert, trauma-informed care

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Nov. _, 2025—Patients who experience sexual assault now have 24/7 access to trauma-informed care within their own community, at St. Mary’s Healthcare.

The local independent hospital has taken significant steps to ensure that those who are sexually assaulted receive immediate, expert, compassionate care:

• Partnered with TeleSAFE. The statewide program of St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services provides remote support at the St. Mary’s bedside so patients can receive clinical forensic exams without having to transfer to a larger hospital.
• Trained 13 St. Mary’s providers to conduct these highly detailed exams and collect evidence with the utmost sensitivity.
• Continued to nurture relationships with local social services, patient advocacy and other organizations that provide additional, essential patient support.

“Patients deserve access to expert, trauma-informed care regardless of where they live,” said Kristina Thomas, MS, RN, NE-BC, director of emergency and urgent care services at St. Mary’s. “They’re coming to us for a difficult exam after a devastating ordeal. They should not have to endure the additional distress of being transferred to an unfamiliar facility, far from their community.”

Thomas has high praise for TeleSAFE and its network of expert Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners. TeleSAFE’s team comprises some of the most seasoned and recognized forensic examiners in the state and across the nation. “These cases are extremely complex, and no two are the same,” Thomas said. “The SAFE-certified providers have extensive experience and are available around the clock to answer questions, guide us through the exams and provide care and support to patients of any age.”

St. Mary’s officially launched its program Nov. 17 but has been working with TeleSAFE for several months, collaborating on documentation, policies and procedures. During that time, St. Mary’s has conducted numerous exams for adult and pediatric patients. Thomas expects that number to increase once people and organizations realize that this care is available locally.

Sexual assault occurs every 68 seconds in the U.S. In addition to physical, legal and emotional burdens, many survivors have difficulty obtaining follow-up care.

“With TeleSAFE, we can make sure survivors receive the care they need, no matter when they arrive at St. Mary’s,” Thomas said, “and we can connect them to critical support services close to home.”

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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 organization 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 TeleSAFE: TeleSAFE is a free, hospital-based clinical service established in 2018 through funding from the New York Office of Victim Services, the New York Department of Health, and in conjunction with St. Peter’s Health Partners. TeleSAFE provides a remote solution to hospitals to ensure that survivors of sexual assault receive the comprehensive, compassionate care they need. TeleSAFE’s clinicians are all certified SAFEs who can provide support ranging from basic questions to guiding a full exam and evidence collection process remotely and are available 24 hours a day. For more information on TeleSAFE, visit: https://telesafe.org/.

Contact:

Kristin Mosher
Director, Marketing and Communications
St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam
(518) 770-7505
kristin.mosher@nysmha.org

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Nov. 18, 2025—St. Mary’s Healthcare has added two more providers—Dr. Michael Coles and physician assistant Paige Desjardin—at its Gastroenterology Health Center. They join Dr. Garth Garramone, medical director of gastroenterology, and nurse practitioner Diane Gagliardi.

Dr. Coles comes to St. Mary’s after completing fellowships in gastroenterology and hepatology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and in neurogastroenterology and motility at Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at Medical College of Georgia.

Desjardin previously was a physician assistant with St. Peter’s Family Medicine in Clifton Park. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, she earned a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College.

Both chose St. Mary’s for the opportunity to be part of a small, independent hospital with deep ties to its community and a mission to serve all with compassion and excellence.

“St. Mary’s is an extraordinary place to practice medicine and to receive care,” Dr. Garramone said. “As word spreads about the quality of this hospital and the supportive work environment, we’re seeing more and more patients and hearing from more providers who want to be part of this growing program.”

St. Mary’s Gastroenterology Health Center diagnoses and treats diseases of the digestive tract and liver, offers advanced medical imaging, and performs colonoscopies and other minimally invasive procedures.

The new providers are among 58 in 14 specialties who have joined St. Mary’s in the past two years as part of the hospital’s strategic investment in services that can have a powerful positive impact on community health.

Gastroenterology is a prime example. St. Mary’s serves a region where rates of colorectal cancer are higher than both the state and national averages. Ensuring access to colonoscopies can help reduce those rates and save lives.The Gastroenterology Health Center is located in St. Mary’s Medical Office Building on the Guy Park Avenue Campus. New patients are welcome. For an appointment, call 518-843-1240.

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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 organization 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.

Contact:

Kristin Mosher
Director, Marketing and Communications
St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam
(518) 770-7505
kristin.mosher@nysmha.org

Q: What Can I Do To Reduce My Chances of Urinary Tract Infection in Later Life?

A: Urinary tract infections are a relatively common occurrence among women as they age, but there are many things that we can do to reduce the frequency and improve quality of life for women who suffer urinary tract infections in later life.

• Be sure to drink adequate fluids and stay well hydrated! Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages are dehydrating, and can irritate the lining of the bladder significantly. Reducing intake or even eliminating caffeinated beverages completely can help tremendously.
• Reduce or eliminate the use of artificial sweeteners, as many can also irritate and inflame the bladder. Common artificial sweeteners include saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, neotame, and advantame, all of which are FDA approved for use.
• Be mindful of any constipation issues, and address concerns promptly. Did you know that having significant amounts of retained stool within the colon can put pressure on the bladder outlet, and not allow the bladder to empty properly, promoting a breeding ground for bacteria to grow and cause a UTI? A healthy diet, adding fiber, and a stool softener can help immensely, particularly in light of good fluid intake.
• Maintain good hygiene and daily skin care, which reduces bacterial growth locally.
  Avoid the use of heavily perfumed washes, body washes and body care products, all of which can irritate fragile tissue, particularly in personal areas of the body.
• Avoid heavily scented laundry soaps and softeners on underclothing, which can also irritate the skin.
  Be sure to empty the bladder after sexual activity
• Consider adding cranberry tablets once or twice a day to help make urine more acidic, making it more difficult for bacteria to grow. Lemon water is a great way to hydrate and promote urine acidity!
• Probiotics can be a great addition to the daily care routine to help promote a good balance of bacteria
• Empty the bladder routinely, at least every 2 hours, and be sure not to hold urine for prolonged periods of time.
  Consider an estrogen supplement, to be applied locally to the tissue, which helps to promote better resilience of the tissues, and reduce bacterial overgrowth.
• See you gynecologist for a thorough gynecological exam! Common conditions, such as uterine prolapse, can put pressure on the bladder neck, and not allow the bladder to empty completely, posing an increased risk of infection!
• See a urologically provider for a thorough exam! We can help to rule out other causes of frequent urinary tract infections such as urethral narrowing, kidney stones, cystocele, and other abnormalities that may put you at increased risk of developing infection.

Most importantly, there is no need to suffer in silence, or to accept that recurrent urinary tract infections are ‘just a part of life’! You, along with your urological provider, can work together to determine a course of treatment that is right for you, and fits your needs!

Learn more about our Urology practice here.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2025—Three more primary care providers—Dr. Elaine Blackman, pediatrician; Dr. Preshanthini Shanmugathasan, family medicine physician; and Kylie George, physician assistant—have joined Amsterdam Family Health Center of St. Mary’s Healthcare.

All three are accepting new patients. All three share St. Mary’s commitment to making high-quality healthcare easily accessible in Fulton and Montgomery counties, especially to those who are underserved.

“Primary care is the foundation of good health, and our team takes pride in providing exceptional access so patients can be seen quickly, when they need care most,” said Erika Iler, director of physician practice outpatient services at St. Mary’s Healthcare.

While other healthcare organizations are struggling to attract primary care providers, the independent community hospital has added 12 primary care practitioners in 12 months.

“Our mission resonates with providers who care deeply about community health and prefer a more personal, patient-focused environment,” said Jeff Methven, St. Mary’s president and CEO. “As word spreads about our culture of compassion and excellence, more patients, providers and associates are choosing St. Mary’s.”

The new primary care providers join a team of 49 family physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in eight St. Mary’s primary care locations.

Dr. Blackman earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Florida and completed a pediatric internship and residency at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. Dr. Shanmugathasan has more than a decade of experience as a family physician. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University

School of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine at Ellis Medicine. Kylie George earned a Master of Science in Physician Studies from Clarkson University and completed clinical rotations in five New York hospitals, including St. Mary’s.

Amsterdam Family Health Center is located at St. Mary’s Rao Outpatient Pavilion at 4950 State Highway 30 in Amsterdam. The center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For appointments, call (518) 841-3770.

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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 organization 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.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., Nov. 3, 2025—St. Mary’s Healthcare Auxiliary will hold its 19th annual “Christmas in November” fundraiser on Nov. 22. A highlight of the holiday season, the event includes tours of beautifully decorated homes, city hall and the Sanford Stud Farm, plus a holiday sale and raffle at the St. Mary’s Carondelet Pavilion Auditorium. 

Self-guided tours, Saturday Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

• Four beautifully decorated Amsterdam tour locations: the Clough Home at 43 Crescent Ave., the Jablonski Home at 409 McKay Road, the Winsman Home at 44 Broadway Extension, and Amsterdam City Hall at 61 Church St. 

• Plus, the historic Sanford Stud Farm on Route 30 in Amsterdam: Come see Santa, enjoy some refreshments, and enter your name in a free raffle. 

Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 the day of the tour and $8 for children under 12.  

Advance tickets can be purchased at: 

• St. Mary’s Healthcare Gift Shop and Volunteer Office, 427 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam  
• St. Mary’s Memorial Campus, front desk, 4988 Route 30, Amsterdam 
• Chad Majewski Real Estate, 59 Lyon St., Amsterdam 
• Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, 30 North Main St., Gloversville 
• Second Wind Coffee, 132 West Main St., Johnstown  
• Studio Herbage Florist, 16 North Perry St., Johnstown 
• Vintage Café, 21 West Main St., Johnstown  

Same-day tickets are available at the Carondelet Pavilion, 380 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, and at the tour locations. 

Holiday sale, Nov. 20, 21, and 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Carondelet Pavilion Auditorium, 380 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam 

• Featuring gift basket raffles, Christmas items from the auxiliary’s “You”nique Boutique and Thanksgiving baked goods/sweets. 

• All are welcome; no tickets required. 

Special thanks to those who are generously opening their homes to the public for this fundraiser. Proceeds support the mission of St. Mary’s Healthcare. 

For more information, or if you’re interested in joining St. Mary’s Healthcare Auxiliary, call 518-841-7234 or 518-841-7136. 

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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 organization 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. 

Contact: 

Kristin Mosher
Director, Marketing and Communications
St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam
(518) 770-7505
kristin.mosher@nysmha.org 

Q: Painful big toe bump? Painful small toes? Painful calluses to the ball of foot?

A: All these foot problems have been heavily studied with reliable solutions that can improve your quality of life. Bunions are progressive bumps near the big toe that require specific shoe modifications, pain relievers, and sometimes surgical correction. Hammertoes are a progressive curling of smaller toes sometimes with painful calluses and shoe irritation during activity. Solutions may require paddings, shoes modifications, pain relievers, and sometime surgical correction. Capsulitis/pre-dislocation syndrome
creates pain in the bottom of the foot near the ball or knuckle causing
frequent callusing. Solutions often require calf stretching, paddings, PT,
pain relievers, and sometime surgical correction.

The musculoskeletal clinic at St. Mary’s Podiatry Health Center takes a systematic approach in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating conditions with the expectations and goals that reflects your general health and
overall lifestyle.

Learn more about our Podiatry practice here.

Nursing As It Can and Should Be, At St. Mary’s Healthcare

For Ashley Duross, becoming a nurse was more than a career choice. It was a calling. And, when she graduated from Russell Sage College and joined St. Mary’s Healthcare as a new graduate RN, she found more than a job.

“I found a community that values compassion and teamwork,” she says. “Fifteen years later, I still feel that way. I work with incredible individuals. They’re empathetic and compassionate. They serve with their hearts. Together,

we’re making a real difference in people’s lives, every single day.”

Today, Ashley is the hospital’s Associate Director for Medical Oncology, Infusion Center, and Headache Center. And, while serving in this management role, she’s also staying active at the bedside.

“I want that active nursing role,” she says. “It makes me a better leader. Working with the team, we learn from each other. We encourage one another. We empower one another. And I get to work alongside people who care as deeply as I do.”

Ashley believes working in a community hospital makes it easier to have this kind of positive work environment. “We’re able to have a greater impact on patient outcomes,” she finds. “And as an employee you also feel more valued.”

For Ashley, being at St. Mary’s has meant feeling supported. “I’m pursuing my Master’s because of that support,” she says. “Both financial support and support for my work/life balance. I’ve got a family, with two young daughters. I’m allowed — even better, I’m encouraged — to not miss the special moments, to be fully there with my family.”

She says it all comes down to one simple concept: “I work for an organization that understands what nursing can and should be. Nursing is special. We have the opportunity to make someone’s life better. St. Mary’s has made me successful in doing this.”

To learn more about nursing at St. Mary’s Healthcare, visit our Nursing Careers page.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., August 4, 2025—Retired bank executive Benjamin Ziskin has been elected chairperson of the St. Mary’s Healthcare board of trustees. Since joining the board in 2021, Ziskin has served as treasurer and, most recently, as vice chairperson. His two-year term as chairperson runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

The board also elected the following officers: David Santos, vice president of D.A. Collins Construction, board vice chairperson; Thomas Cichy, retired CPA, board treasurer; and Dr. Mohammad R. Ghazi, urologist, St. Mary’s Healthcare, board secretary. Michael Pepe, Montgomery County legislator and retired bank executive, is immediate past board chairperson.

New to the board is William T. Winsman, senior vice president of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors. Winsman has been named an Amsterdam Rotary Citizen of the Year, a Distinguished Alumni of Fulton-Montgomery Community College, and a recipient of the Father Joseph F. Girzone Crystal Pillar of the Community Award. In May, he and his wife, Roberta, were honored with the Office for the Aging Foundation’s Rao Family Philanthropic Award.

“Our board members are remarkable for their professional and personal contributions to our region and for their unwavering support of St. Mary’s,” said Jeff Methven, president and CEO, St. Mary’s Healthcare. “They recognize St. Mary’s essential role as a rural community hospital and are committed to helping us continue to grow, thrive and fulfill our promise to those who rely on us for care.”

Other St. Mary’s trustees are Nancy Baghaei-Rad, principal, Greater Amsterdam School District; Joel Bien-Aime, owner, New Process Cleaners; Rev. O. Robert DeMartinis, Albany Catholic Diocese; Dr. Emily Etzkorn, Amsterdam Internal Medicine & Pediatrics; Andrew Heck, president, Alpin Haus; Sr. Mary Anne Heenan, province director, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet; Dr.

Ronald Marsh, general surgeon, St. Mary’s Healthcare; Methven; Richard Vertucci, owner, Rick’s Robo Car Wash and Gabriel Sealcoating; and emeritus member Susan L. Davis, managing partner, Healthcare Strategic Solutions.

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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.

Contact:

Kristin Mosher

Director, Marketing and Communications

St. Mary’s Healthcare, Amsterdam

(518) 770-7505 kristin.mosher@nysmha.org

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., July 29, 2025—Dr. Brian McDermott, an infectious disease expert and physician leader, has joined St. Mary’s Healthcare as vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer.

Dr. McDermott was chosen for his clinical expertise, emphasis on safety and quality, and leadership in helping physicians and organizations adapt to an ever-changing healthcare environment. During his 16 years in the Capital Region, Dr. McDermott has earned a reputation for building consensus and improving coordination of care and patient outcomes. He also played an essential role in shaping regional hospitals’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr. McDermott has led some of the region’s most effective infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives and, as a result, has had a powerful, positive impact on patient care,” said Jeff Methven, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare. “His deep understanding of patient, provider and organizational perspectives and needs, coupled with his collaborative leadership approach, will prove invaluable as St. Mary’s continues to evolve to best serve our community.”

Dr. McDermott comes to St. Mary’s from Saratoga Hospital, where he was the division chief for infectious disease and medical director for infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. Previously, he was on the medical team at Glens Falls Hospital, where he rose from physician advisor to associate chief medical officer to senior vice president for clinical integration. He also served as an infectious disease physician and medical director at Hudson Headwaters Health Network in Queensbury.

A graduate of Columbia University in New York City, Dr. McDermott earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine on Long Island. He completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in infectious disease, both at Winthrop of University Hospital, also on Long Island. In addition, he has a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

Dr. McDermott is board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease. He is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, American College of Physicians and American College of Healthcare Executives.