Q: Do I need surgery to fix my abdominal wall hernia? 

A: There are several factors that can influence the treatment decision for an abdominal wall hernia. This includes the size, location, symptoms and health of a patient.

A small, asymptomatic hernia may be monitored closely with “watchful waiting”. However, if there is a progression of pain or discomfort, increasing size, or a limiting of activities or quality of life, then surgery is recommended to prevent complications.

These complications may include: incarceration, where the tissue gets stuck in the hernia, or strangulation, where the blood supply to the tissue is cut off). Both of these can be emergencies. Very often surgery to fix a hernia is a same-day procedure, and can be performed with a minimally invasive or robotic approach.

If you think that you have a hernia, it is recommended that you schedule a visit with your health care provider for further evaluation and to discuss treatment options.

To learn more about our General Surgery practice, please click here.

AMSTERDAM, N.Y., June 25, 2025—St. Mary’s Healthcare has awarded $11,000 in Carondelet Community Fund grants to 15 area nonprofit organizations that share St. Mary’s values and mission of caring for the community, especially those who are most vulnerable.

The grants support critical local services, including emergency food assistance, shelter for those who are homeless, STEM education, summer youth programs, vision and hearing screenings, and transportation and meals for seniors.

Grant recipients include:

• Broadalbin Perth Lions Foundation
• Catholic Charities Fulton-Montgomery Counties
• Christ Child Society
• Comfort Zone-Trinity Lutheran Church
• Danielle’s House
• Foundation for the Amsterdam Free Library
• Grow Amsterdam
• Haven of Hope Farm & Residence Inc.
• HFM Prevention Council – Creative Connections Clubhouse
• Mayfield Presbyterian Church
• Montgomery County – Office for Aging
• Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Volunteer Program
• New Dimensions
• Royal Pantry
• Sarah Jane Sanford Home

“With these grants, St. Mary’s supports and shines a spotlight on 15 community partners and their contributions to the long-term health and well-being of the region we all call home,” said Margaret Brodie, vice president, mission advancement and patient experience, at St. Mary’s Healthcare. “Like St. Mary’s, these organizations enhance the quality of life in our community by serving others with dignity and compassion.”

The Carondelet Community Fund was established in 1996 to honor and continue the spirit of St. Mary’s founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Grants are awarded annually by the St. Mary’s board of trustees to provide modest support to local programs and agencies that further the sisters’ tradition of outreach to the “dear neighbor.”

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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., June 16, 2025—Dr. Garth Garramone, a leading gastroenterologist, has joined St. Mary’s Healthcare as medical director of gastroenterology.

Dr. Garramone has over 20 years of experience in private practice and in overseeing hospital gastroenterology programs in Central New York and eastern North Carolina. He is the latest of more than 30 providers to join St. Mary’s in the past 18 months as part of the local independent hospital’s strategic investments in much-needed services.

“Dr. Garramone will be instrumental in re-energizing and expanding our gastroenterology services at a time of increasing demand for GI care and fierce competition for GI specialists,” said Jeff Methven, St. Mary’s President and CEO.

Methven attributes St. Mary’s recruiting success, in part, to the fulfillment that often comes with working at a smaller, community hospital—and to St. Mary’s emphasis on a positive, supportive work culture. The hospital recently became the first acute care provider in the Capital Region to be named a Top Workplace.

For Dr. Garramone, St. Mary’s location in Upstate New York—a region that he and his family love—also played a role. He attended college at what was then the Utica campus of Syracuse University. After completing his medical education, Dr. Garramone returned to the area as a partner with Digestive Disease Medicine of Central New York and the medical director of Mohawk Valley Endoscopy. More recently, he served as medical director of gastroenterology at CarolinaEast Health System in North Carolina.

Dr. Garramone earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine. He went on to complete a residency in internal medicine at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Nassau University Medical Center, which is affiliated with Stony Brook Medical School on Long Island.

Dr. Garramone is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and American Gastroenterology Association.

His office is located in the St. Mary’s Medical Office Building on the Guy Park Avenue Campus, and he is accepting new patients. For an appointment, call 518-843-1240.

***

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

“Growing Up” and Flourishing at St. Mary’s Healthcare

Melanie Tatlock, LPN, likes to say she’s “literally grown up at St. Mary’s.” Perhaps even more important, she’s still growing. With St. Mary’s support, Melanie is well on her way to realizing her dream of earning her nursing degree and RN license.

The Amsterdam native was born in this hospital and began working here as a part-time dietary aide when she was still a teenager. Then, an Emergency Department experience unconnected to her role at St. Mary’s prompted Melanie to pursue a different calling.

At the time, she had a second job with a human services organization and was accompanying a client to the St. Mary’s Emergency Department. “He couldn’t verbalize and advocate for himself,” Melanie says. “My heart just broke for him.”

It turns out, she needn’t have worried. “The nurses cared for him with such skill, kindness, empathy, and compassion. They all knew what to do, and they did it flawlessly,” Melanie says. “It was amazing to me. I knew I had to learn more.”

She enrolled in a certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, earned her CNA credential, and soon had a new job at St. Mary’s in a patient care unit. Since then, Melanie has worked in the hospital’s Emergency Department, Children’s Behavioral Health Clinic, OB/GYN Health Center, Outpatient Addiction Clinic, and Amsterdam Family Health Center.

The Hospital has been unwavering in its support—encouraging Melanie to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN), celebrating her Clinical Ladder achievements, and helping advance her career through “Work Earn Learn.” Under this program, St. Mary’s associates receive their salary and benefits while continuing their education. Eligible employees, like Melanie, receive funds for tuition, fees, and books, plus paid time off to attend school during the workday.

St. Mary’s support also includes a culture that embraces work-life balance and colleagues who are an unending source of inspiration. “We have so many exceptional nurses and nurse managers here. I have so much respect for them, and I learn from them every day,” Melanie says.

She also is quick to sing their praises, and those of St. Mary’s, to fellow nursing students at Fulton-Montgomery Community College. “I always recommend St. Mary’s to my classmates,” she says. “We are growing, and there are so many opportunities here.”

Melanie is on track to earn her associate degree and RN license next year and has no doubt about where she’ll be working after graduation—and for years to come.

“I’ve done clinical time at other hospitals, and they’re just not the same as St. Mary’s. For me, St. Mary’s feels like family,” she says. “I know I can count on my St. Mary’s family to get through anything.”

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

Q: HELP!!! Why is heel hurting for so long?

A: Heel pain can be caused by many conditions that affect the feet and your general health. Here is a short list of the
most common conditions responsible for heel pain in both children and adults:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Achilles Tendinitis
• Haglund Deformity (“pump bump”)
• Sever’s Apophysitis (in children only)
• Baxter’s Neuritis
• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

At St. Mary’s Podiatry Health Center, we take a systematic approach in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating each of the above conditions. We strongly caution the public to be very careful with implementing treatment recommendations to address heel pain that are obtained from quick online searches. Our office is always accepting new patients seeking expert advice for heel pain.

Learn more about our Podiatry practice here.

Will Valentine Came to Visit and Decided to Make a Home at St. Mary’s.

Beginning as an agency nurse and then quickly rising to the position of nurse manager in our Med/Surg units, Will Valentine, BSN, RN has had a surprising and impressive journey here at St. Mary’s Healthcare.

But really, Will’s whole career has been a bit like this.

Originally from Long Island, Will attended SUNY Oneonta, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, with no thought at all of becoming a nurse. But after working at Stony Brook University in the pathology lab, getting this insider’s view, he decided to enter the accelerated nursing program at Adelphi University. This would eventually lead to a position at Northwell Health.

Because his wife was from this region, Will found himself living in Galway and working in travel nurse positions at Saratoga Hospital, Albany Med, and then St. Mary’s. That’s when everything changed. After two years here, he got approached about the manager’s position. The hospital’s leadership had seen that this agency nurse was someone they wanted to keep. And Will had found by then that St. Mary’s was a place he wanted to call home.

“I never would have imagined as a kid being a nurse,” Will says. “But it’s given me back more than I ever could have imagined. At St. Mary’s, the place felt small but mighty. Everybody knew each other’s names, across all disciplines. I felt genuinely part of team, even though I was an agency nurse. And they saw something in me. When I was approached about the leadership position, I embraced that.”

Will feels like this position has provided him the best of both worlds: “I manage the team, but I still jump in at the bedside at times. And I really do enjoy being at the bedside and helping out.”

His own experience, he believes, says a lot about how St. Mary’s views its employees. “There’s room to grow here,” he says. “Hard work is noticed. And they allow for an excellent work-life balance, aware that everyone is human. When things come up in life that you wouldn’t expect, they’re willing to work with you.”

“I’ve never been in another hospital where I would have taken a management job,” Will adds. “At St. Mary’s there’s a support system. Here, it’s not the machine. It’s tailored to the individual and the needs that we have.”

In other words, he’s right where he wants to be.

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

Q: How do seasonal and environmental changes like pollen and wildfire smoke affect people with chronic lung disease, and what precautions should they take?

A:  As a pulmonologist practicing in upstate New York, I’ve seen firsthand how seasonal and environmental changes can significantly impact lung health. This time of year, we’re facing a double challenge: rising pollen counts and smoke drifting from Canadian wildfires. For individuals with lung disease, these airborne irritants can trigger coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and flare-ups that sometimes require emergency care.

Pollen—especially tree and grass pollen—is at its peak in late spring and early summer, and it can penetrate deep into the lungs. Meanwhile, wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter which can worsen inflammation in already sensitive airways. Together, these factors can make it particularly difficult for people with chronic lung diseases to breathe.

It’s important to monitor local air quality reports and take precautions, such as staying indoors on high-risk days, using air purifiers, and making sure medications are up to date. If you or a loved one has lung disease, speak with your healthcare provider about creating an action plan during this time of heightened exposure.

Learn more about our Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine practice here.

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.

# # #

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/.

Media contacts:

St. Mary’s Healthcare                                           Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

Kristin Mosher, Director                                       cabrinihealth@berlinrosen.com

Marketing and Communications

(518) 770-7505

kristin.mosher@nysmha.org

St. Mary’s Healthcare opens Charlton Family Health and Specialty Center

New, convenient location for comprehensive health care

CHARLTON, N.Y., May 12, 2025—With the opening of Charlton Family Health and Specialty Center, St. Mary’s Healthcare brings primary care, laboratory and other specialty services to a new, convenient location.

The center, at the intersection of Routes 67 and 147, offers primary care for patients of all ages and walk-in lab services five days a week. Specialists in general surgery, pulmonology and gastroenterology will also have a presence at this location, where St. Mary’s previously operated an urgent care center.

“We saw an opportunity to rethink our strategy for Charlton and put an existing asset to better use for that community—to increase access to services that have not been readily available here,” said Matt Guzielek, senior director of medical group operations at St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s closed the urgent care center during the COVID-19 pandemic due in part to staffing and other pandemic-related challenges. The building has remained “dark” ever since.

“Given our prior investments at this site, we were committed to bringing the building back online, with the right mix of services,” said Jeff Methven, St. Mary’s president and CEO. “We believe this new business model is sustainable and fills a care gap in this part of our region.”

The new Charlton center is the latest example of St. Mary’s emphasis on investments in services that drive growth, enhance patient satisfaction, and better serve the region. In the past two years, St. Mary’s has added programs, providers and associates, and has invested in services facilities, technology and people.

“We are extremely familiar with the challenges facing today’s community hospitals, but we also are confident in our ability to grow past these challenges over the long term,” Methven said. “Already, we’re seeing progress. Volumes are up almost across the board as more and more patients choose St. Mary’s for their care.”

Charlton Family Health and Specialty Center is located at 2370 State Highway 67 in Charlton and is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The center is accepting new primary care patients. For an appointment, call (518) 839-0606.

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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