Author: Kelsey Carpe
St. Mary’s Healthcare Announces New CNO and COO Promotions
Amsterdam, NY (January 4, 2023) – St. Mary’s Healthcare is pleased to announce that Raquel “Rocky” Parisi has been promoted to Vice-President of Nursing and St. Mary’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). St. Mary’s is also happy to announce that as Rocky takes on her new role as CNO, St. Mary’s current CNO, Patricia “Trish” Sanders, has been promoted to Vice-President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Rocky has been with St. Mary’s for 41 years in various roles of increasing responsibility, especially within the Nursing Division. Most recently, Rocky has been in the Senior Director of Clinical Practice position and worked closely with Trish throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic. She has done a terrific job in that role, and St. Mary’s Healthcare is excited to promote her to the CNO role.
“Rocky is a trusted and respected leader with the passion, clinical competencies, and extensive nursing leadership experience to support a dedicated workforce and foster continuous quality improvement. She is an exceptional nurse and committed to being a servant leader,” said Trish Sanders, St. Mary’s Vice-President of Operations and COO. “Rocky will provide clinical and administrative leadership for organizing, directing, monitoring, and evaluating safe, high-quality patient care in this new role. She has a gift for recognizing the holistic needs of the community we serve and our associates. These skills have been especially invaluable during the pandemic. In addition, Rocky is committed to our mission of promoting wellness and providing the highest quality of care to all we serve.”
As mentioned, Trish Sanders will be moving out of her current role as Vice-President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer and has accepted a more expansive role as the Vice-President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this COO role, Trish will continue to provide Senior Leadership over the Laboratory, Medical Imaging, and Cardiopulmonary services. In addition, she will also take on areas of increasing responsibility, including Behavioral Health, Facilities, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Services, and Emergency Management. Trish has been with St. Mary’s for 16 years, and the St. Mary’s board and leadership team are excited as she begins this new opportunity.
“We are fortunate to have Trish continue in a senior leadership position by guiding the operations team as the Vice-President and COO,” said Scott Bruce, President, and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare. “Trish is an inspirational leader with proven talents for identifying best practices and creating areas of improvement in support and clinical practice throughout the communities we serve. We are pleased to continue to have her as part of our executive management team.”
Please join St. Mary’s Healthcare in congratulating Trish and Rocky on their new roles.
St. Mary’s Healthcare Announces New CEO – Jeffrey Methven, MBA
Amsterdam, NY (December 27, 2022) – St. Mary’s Healthcare is pleased to announce Jeffrey Methven, MBA, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will succeed retiring CEO, Scott Bruce, who has served St. Mary’s for over 25 years, with his role as CEO that began in the Spring of 2020.
The St. Mary’s Healthcare Board of Trustees conducted a nationwide search for a new CEO beginning earlier this year. Through an exhaustive and in-depth process, the Board and an internal committee interviewed numerous candidates with various backgrounds. Ultimately, Jefferey stood out as the ideal candidate based on his extensive experience as an executive healthcare leader, passion for quality care, and local and regional knowledge to make a significant impact at St. Mary’s and the greater community.
“St. Mary’s Healthcare is dedicated to providing an exceptional patient experience and a model community for its associates and medical staff,” stated Michael J. Pepe, chairman of St. Mary’s Healthcare board of trustees, “and as a board, we were focused on finding a leader who shared our commitment to this vision. In Jeffrey, we are making a strong addition to our team, and we look forward to working with him to continue to advance our reputation of excellence and our long-term vision for the organization.”
In ever-evolving roles, Jeffrey brings more than 25 years of diverse hospital leadership experience to his new role. He joins the St. Mary’s Healthcare family from Saratoga Hospital/Albany Med Health System, where he served for nearly 20 years and most recently as Executive Vice President beginning in 2020. As executive vice president, Jeffrey was responsible for the operations of the medical group and many hospital outpatient sites. Additionally, and in collaboration with other hospital leadership team members, he oversaw much of the organization’s daily operations. Before that, Jeffrey was Saratoga Hospital’s Vice President of Ambulatory Services and Chief Human Resources Officer from 2009-2020 and Chief Human Resources Officer from 2006-2009.
To better ensure St. Mary’s Healthcare continues to deliver sustainable medical care for the people of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, Jeffrey brings his experience as a transformational leader with a track record of collaboration and community engagement. He’s an operational expert with an extensive hospital, ambulatory, and medical group experience and a dynamic strategist who brings a broad knowledge of care delivery models and financial stewardship to the table. In addition, he has a proven history of building and fostering strong relationships with physicians, staff, and the community.
Regarding his new appointment, Jeffrey stated, “It is both an honor and privilege to be joining St. Mary’s Healthcare as its next Chief Executive Officer. While hospitals across this country are facing many challenges, St. Mary’s Healthcare has a long and rich history steeped in service as a strong Catholic healthcare ministry. I look forward to partnering with our talented team of professionals, medical staff, and Board of volunteers to progress the organization forward and ensure that the City of Amsterdam and surrounding communities have access to affordable and quality healthcare for years to come.”
Jeffrey has an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Science in industrial relations from Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
Tesiero Cancer Center Receives Donation From Gloversville Fire Department
Amsterdam’s St. Mary’s Healthcare Tesiero Cancer Center located in Amsterdam NY announces a generous donation that was recently received from the Gloversville Fire Department (GFD).
The (GFD) has chosen our center for this year’s donation as well as the previous year for 2021. They were able to collect $2,160.00 to donate! Mr. Nealon shared four members in the department have been affected by cancer, so the decision came easy when choosing the recipient to donate to for 2021 and 2022. We have seen an unfortunate increase in the number of patients that are struggling and could use our help. The generous donation is going to the Patient Care Fund, which will help to provide support to our cancer patients in various ways such as transportation, copays, medical bills, groceries or any needs that may arise.
Mr Nealon, from (GFD) presented the check to The Tesiero Cancer Center care team on Thursday, December 1st, 2022. A huge THANK YOU to (GFD) for this tremendous gift and supporting St. Mary’s and our patients!
St. Mary’s Healthcare Radiology Department – New State-Of-The-Art CT Scanner
St. Mary’s Healthcare Radiology Department is pleased to announce their newly upgraded CT Scanner. With the constant changes we see with technology the same goes for the advancement in medical technology. The new CT scanner is a Canon Aquilion Prime SP which is a CT system of choice for all imaging needs and will provide complete clinical capability. This upgraded machine allows for fast patient throughput to robust cardiac scanning and new diagnostic capabilities. This improvement leads to advancement not only with scanning capabilities but also patient experience. Capable of handling all patients from pediatric to bariatric, even the most challenging cases, while providing all staff with a fast and efficient solution regarding image quality. This CT scanner provides intelligent technology focused on patient safety. It also offers a wide open and low to the ground stance, to put patients at ease and allow improved access to the patient from the front and rear of the gantry to better position patients safely and comfortably by the push of a button.
Michael Young RT (R. CT), St. Mary’s CT Supervisor also mentioned “We have a CT Fluoroscopy that enables real time images of the body as we are doing a biopsy. Years ago, standard practice would be to take an image, walk outside the room, look at it, come back, take another image and walk outside the room. Now we can stay in the room, and it cuts down the time drastically. For example, most biopsy’s now take half the amount of time as they did before.”
Michael also noted another advancement with this new technology is the need for less radiation exposure to the patient. This system at St. Mary’s Healthcare uses less x-rays than the system it replaced. The new CT also has a component that incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) to make the most diagnostic images that the radiologist reviews in their reading. 
St. Mary’s is excited to be able to provide the utmost care to our patients with this newly enhanced CT Scanner offering a multitude of advancements for both patient experience and diagnostic capability. The newly designed ceiling featuring an image of blue sky and clouds in the diagnostic area also provides a sense of calmness for a more positive patient experience.
St. Mary’s Healthcare Recognizes Nurse – Mikala Foster – as Newest DAISY Awardee
St. Mary’s Healthcare Amsterdam Urgent Care congratulates Mikala Foster, LPN as the Newest DAISY Awardee! Mikala’s nomination was submitted by a patient’s spouse who was forever grateful for Mikala’s compassion and positive approach. Mikala’s nomination read, “My husband was suffering from extreme pain in his shoulders and neck, he was anxious that it might be something serious. Mikala with her sunny disposition and funny quips was able to ease my husband’s anxiety and put him at ease. Mikala spreads sunshine wherever she goes. She is a huge asset to the unit and her profession.” Thanks to Mikala’s guidance and dedication to the Mission of St. Mary’s, she provided a positive experience to her patient when they were enduring pain and distress.
Pictured (left): Mikala Foster, LPN, holding her daisy award certificate, sculpture and flowers at the St. Mary’s Amsterdam Urgent Care
How to nominate a Nurse: Have you recently had an extraordinary experience with a nurse at St. Mary’s Healthcare? Please submit a DAISY Award nomination at the following link: www.smha.org/daisy
About the DAISY Foundation:
The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.
Tesiero Cancer Center Receives Donation From First Choice Federal Credit Union
Amsterdam’s St. Mary’s Healthcare Tesiero Cancer Center located in Amsterdam NY announces a generous donation that was recently received from First Choice Federal Credit Union (FCFCU).
The First Choice Federal Credit Union has chosen St. Mary’s Tesiero Cancer Center for this year’s donation. They were able to collect $2,000.00 to donate! The Tesiero Cancer Center have seen an unfortunate increase in the number of patients that are struggling and could use our help. The generous donation is going to the Patient Care Fund, which will help to provide support to our cancer patients in various ways such as transportation, copays, medical bills, groceries or any needs that may arise.
The First Choice Federal Credit Union team presented the check to The Tesiero Cancer Center care team on Tuesday, November 15th. A huge THANK YOU to FCFCU for this tremendous gift and supporting St. Mary’s and our patients!
St. Mary’s Healthcare Donation Supports Over 5,000 Thanksgiving Meals
The Medical Executive Committee of St Mary’s Healthcare, composed of the physician leaders, met and discussed the community need around Thanksgiving time. More specifically, they discussed the hardship those in our community face in providing food and meals for their family. Impressed with the work of the Community Foundation of the Adirondack Foothills which serves 5000 Thanksgiving meals on Thanksgiving Day to residents in need in Montgomery and Fulton Counties, the Committee generously voted to donate $5,000 towards providing those Thanksgiving meals.
“We are very blessed as a medical staff at St Mary’s Healthcare and wanted to share a portion of that blessing with our community,” stated Dr. Kevin Cope, provider at St. Mary’s Broadalbin Perth Family Health Center.
The care and community support travels far beyond the walls of St. Mary’s Healthcare, and through supporting community organizations like the Community Foundation of the Adirondack Foothills, St. Mary’s better ensures its Mission of serving all with compassion and excellence.
If you too would like to donate towards this great cause, please visit www.foh2022.com
Pictured: (L to R) Brad Teetz and Tanya Lynnette Grimes from the Community Foundation of the Adirondack Foothills, Charles Schwartz, DO, Chair of the Medical Executive Committee, Dr. Craig van Roekens, Chief Medical Officer
St. Mary’s Healthcare Welcomes New Chief Information Officer
St. Mary’s Healthcare is pleased to announce that Peter Gilhooly has joined the St. Mary’s team as Executive Director of Information Services (IS) and Chief Information Officer. Peter has more than 20 years of senior level leadership including Chief Information Officer experience through multiple technical, business, and health care positions, which have allowed him to become a seasoned, tech savvy IS leader with a focus in the medical field.
“St. Mary’s Healthcare continues to make advancements which include the expansion of locations and services throughout our care communities. As these initiatives are being developed and implemented, technology solutions are an integral piece to the success of each project,” stated Scott Bruce, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare. “We’re excited to have Peter join St. Mary’s Healthcare, with his vast knowledge and experience, his leadership will better position St. Mary’s for the future.”
Previously, Peter served in executive level healthcare technology positions at MVP Healthcare, Albany Medical Center, Champlain Valley Medical Center, and most recently Glens Falls Hospital. A graduate of Fordham University in NYC, Peter built on his education with experience and excels in building high-performance teams, strategic planning, project management, and implementing best practice methodologies and improvement programs.
“The St. Mary’s organization and specifically this position, allows the opportunity to make change and be a part of a collaborative team that cares, both from a leadership perspective as well as a staff perspective. I’ve always heard great things about St. Mary’s Healthcare including the associates who work here, and my experience meeting everyone already has only reinforced that,” stated Peter Gilhooly. “Everyone has been tremendously welcoming, professional, and outgoing in terms of assisting me in getting up to speed with St. Mary’s priorities, history, and challenges. I look forward to continuing to align technology with the strategic business needs of the organization.”
Laboratory service expanding to 5 days per week at all draw sites
The St. Mary’s Healthcare and our Laboratory Service is pleased to announce that it will be expanding laboratory service at our draw sites to 5 days per week effective the week of September 18. Holland Circle Laboratory Services will also resume 5 days per week, but the hours will remain 8am – 12Noon through September. Additionally, the Lab Service at RAO/OPP resumed operation until 4:30 pm effective September 6.
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 18
- Canajoharie Lab Services will be open 7:30am to 3pm Monday through Friday.
- Gloversville Lab and Johnstown Lab Services will both now open at 7am to 3pm Monday through Friday.
- Holland Circle Lab Services will be open 8:00 am – 12Noon Monday – Friday.
- Rao Outpatient Pavilion Lab Services remains open 6:30am-4:30pm Monday – Friday and Saturdays by appointment.
On behalf of the laboratory service, we appreciate everyone’s patience and support through this process. This change is designed to enhance the experience for all St. Mary’s associates and the entire patient community we serve.
St. Mary’s Healthcare President and CEO Announces Retirement
Amsterdam, NY – St. Mary’s Healthcare President and CEO, Scott Bruce, has announced his retirement effective later this year. Scott has a long and successful association with St. Mary’s Healthcare having worked at the organization for over 25 years where he has served in a variety of roles, his most recent being CEO. He is a servant leader and has dedicated himself to strengthening the Mission of St. Mary’s Healthcare and to improving access to health care services for our community.
Serving as the CEO throughout much of the COVID-19 pandemic, Scott has made significant contributions in guiding St. Mary’s Healthcare during one of the most challenging times in healthcare.
Scott has also managed a number of important service expansion and construction projects including the award-winning Rao Pavilion which recently saw the expansion of Primary Care and a retail pharmacy, the establishment of several new Urgent Care, Specialty and other Primary Care Centers and the expansion of diagnostic and treatment services in Medical Imaging, Laboratory and the Surgical Suite. His role in the transitioning of Amsterdam Memorial Health Care into St. Mary’s Healthcare was integral to the success of that unification in 2009. Most recently during Scott’s leadership, St. Mary’s also expanded Behavioral Health services with a new addiction’s unit and walk-in access for any behavioral health need.
The next steps for St. Mary’s Healthcare and its Board of Directors will be to begin a national search for the next President and CEO. During this time, Scott will continue to work closely with his senior leadership team, Board of Directors and fellow St. Mary’s associates to address important priorities to ensure a successful future and transition for his successor.
The entire St. Mary’s Board of Director’s is extremely supportive of Scott’s decision and grateful for his many years of friendship, and leadership.