January 4, 2023
Reporter: Loralyn Light
Wednesday’s meeting:John-Paul Mead, Hospital Medicine Specialists of CMA
“The Spectrum of Substance Abuse Treatment, from the Street through Inpatient”
St. Catherine of Siena and on Zoom
WELCOME & TRADITIONS
NOTE: you can watch previous meetings by going to our YouTube
channel!
President Mary Kane welcomed everyone! “We’re going to start the New Year the way we start every meeting; that is, to pause for a moment and think about the Four-Way Test, which allows us to think about the interactions we each have with other people in our family, in our circle of friends, in our club, and in our communities. It allows us to put our best efforts and our best selves in front of others so that we can meet people more than halfway—give people the benefit of the doubt—and allow us to have the conversations we need to have.” Please recite with me: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Mary introduced guests, including:
- Melissa Tourtellotte, VP of Marketing and Communications for Cayuga Health, guest of Steve Savage
- Ami Stallone, wife of our speaker
- Greg Kops, a guest of Richard Kops (hopefully a new member soon)
- Anna Boese from the Czech Republic and a former exchange student, guest of Linda Brisson
- Maria Eduarda Formoso, an Ithaca College student and President of the Rotoract of Copacabana in Rio, also a guest of Linda Brisson
- Ambra Munlyn from the TC Health Department
- And visiting Rotarian Dewey Neild, from the Ithaca Sunrise Club—here to sell his beautiful Waterfall Calendars. He donates a significant portion of the proceeds to his club for their projects.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Mary Berens first delivered a quote from Max Roser, a 39-year-old economist and philosopher based at Oxford University: “The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better. All three statements are true at the same time.”
Mary then brought us thoughts from American journalist and political commentator Nicholas Kristof. His article, “The Optimist’s View of 2022,” was published in the January 1st edition of the New York Times.
Human beings have a cognitive bias toward bad news because it keeps us alert and alive. The constant gush of despairing news can be paralyzing. Here’s Nick Kristof’s effort to remedy our cognitive biases:
“. . . broadly speaking, much is going right and this may still be the best time ever to be alive.”
He also said that the area where 2022 excelled particularly was in technical strides: 1) MIT researchers are developing a way to produce thin and flexible solar panels that can turn almost any outdoor surface into a power source, and 2) solar power capacity around the world is on track to overtake coal as the leading source of power globally in five years.
Kristof’s punch line: “All the bad news is real. It’s important to acknowledge the gains . . . if only to remind ourselves that progress is possible when we put our shoulder to it. Onward!” And Mary added, “That’s exactly what Rotary International is doing as well as our club, so that’s our call to action!”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Richard Kops extended thanks to every person in the room who volunteered for Share the Warmth. Michaela Cortright from Catholic Charities reported that we serviced 633 people (adults and children) with coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens, etc. A hearty thank you from Loralyn Light, Melissa Coville, and myself.
President Mary reported on our Ukraine project, helping to refit a bomb shelter in the basement of a high school in Lviv. The $25,000 district grant has been received, and our $3,500 is on its way. We’ll continue with other projects in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!
Geoff Dunn came up to the podium to read off the January anniversaries and noted that the Rotarians celebrating the anniversary of their joining (in January) totaled 219 years! This was followed by those celebrating January birthdays, and Loralyn Light led Rotarians in the Happy Birthday song.
LAST WEEK’S PRESENTATION
Frank Towner introduced our speaker, Dr. Marty Stallone, President of Cayuga Health System. A board-certified practicing physician leader with diverse experience across different sectors of the healthcare industry, he was named President of CMC on January 1, 2019 and CEO of CHS on September 1, 2019. His experience includes leadership and operation of the 220-physician Cayuga area preferred clinically integrated network with direct oversight over clinical quality program design and implementation.
Dr. Stallone holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies with specialization in enterprise strategic planning. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a graduate of their senior executive program.
Marty and his wife Ami live in Lansing with their SIX boys.
“Cayuga Health System: modern, accountable, integrated care for a stronger community”
CHS is rapidly evolving from a hospital (CMC) to an integrated health system.
CHS believes connecting to a wide and diverse team of healthcare and human service organizations as essential for achieving the most ambitious health outcomes.
CHS focuses on quality of care, but also on other features of our services:
- Our broad responsibilities to those we serve (not just our specific roles)
- Broad view of which services benefit our patients and clients (and how)
- We think about what we don’t do (but could do) for our stakeholders
- The impact we have on improving people’s lives
- Our efficiency, from a total cost perspective; our economic impact
- The local control and autonomy our community enjoys (localism)
CHS’s center of attention and concern is “right here.”
CHS looks at our population as patients, but also health plan members.
Mission: Cayuga Health System will remain the region’s leading healthcare system and most trusted driver of integrated health services, together with valued partners. We empower our people and employ our capabilities to equitably improve the well-being of the communities we serve.
Vision: To be an essential organization that inclusively and cooperatively drives superior health outcomes and demonstrable community benefit.
CHS is a 348-bed health system location in the Finger Lakes Region. It consists of two member hospitals, Cayuga Medical Center (212 beds) and Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls (16 beds plus a 120-bed skilled nursing facility). Its provider network is through Cayuga Health Partners as well as outpatient and clinic services, substance abuse rehab, home nursing, EMS, DME, and others. The counties served include Tompkins, Schuyler, Cortland, Steuben, Seneca and Cayuga.
Questions?
Bob Gravani asked about long waiting times at the Emergency Room. They see about 1,000 patients that present with many surprises—so they work with a triage system, meaning some do wait longer. The patient ratio is very good—one nurse to just a few patients.
Greg Kops asked what lessons were learned during COVID. We have a spirit of risk taking because of our community (2 colleges, well read, etc.). Go fast with experimentation and adjust multiple iterations.
Jeff True asked if Marty could comment on the demise of private practice. CMC is more of a witness to it and has helped in that private practices are being pulled in to Cayuga Medical Associates so they can stay afloat.
Steve Johnson asked about relationships with urban centers. University of Rochester is our neurosciences orthopedic partner; we have been affiliated with Roswell Park for cancer but are looking for a new one; SUNY for trauma and ICU-related care, some general surgery; Rochester Regional for cardiology (with a connection to Cleveland Clinic); and Mayo Clinic for lab and diagnostics.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Donations designated for Community Grants:
Mary Kane: $23 for 2023- Linda Pasto: $20, back from a wonderful cruise, but when at sea off the coast of Cuba, their cruise ship rescued 16 refugees who were in a small plywood and tarp boat! They watched the whole operation.
- Warren Allmon: $90 + $20, PRI celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2022, and now the Museum of the Earth will turn 20 years old in 2023!
- Brian Wilbur: $20, in October he was a patient entering through the ER, which made him excited that we have CMC here in Ithaca; he’s a staunch advocate!
- Dewey Neild: $20, for twenty years of his waterfalls calendars!
- Nate Lyman: so happy that we have Marty and Ami Stallone with us today
- Bob Sprole: $20, his granddaughter will be 25 years old on January 7th
- Todd Nau: $15, for surviving the holiday season at 15 Steps
- Brad Carruth: $20, for the mission of Rotary
THANK YOU ROTARIANS
Newsletter Reporter: Loralyn Light
Photographer: Mike Brown
Greeter: Shine Gonzalez
Newsletter Editor: Loralyn Light
Set-up/Tear-down: Brad Carruth, Harlin McEwen, Steve Johnson, Dave Martin, Gary Reinbolt
Set-up Zoom: Mike Brown
Recording Archive: Paul Martin; click
hereClub Service Facilitator: June Losurdo
