Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of elected officers, section chairs, committee chairs, appointed positions, and ACHA representatives. The Board meets four times a year to discuss policies, budget, and other issues affecting the organization and to plan the annual conference.
NYSCHA Executive Board (pdf, updated Jan 21, 2010)
Welcome from Stephen Smith, NYSCHA President
Dear Members of NYSCHA,
On behalf of the Executive Board, I would like to welcome you to the New York State College Health Association (NYSCHA) web site. It is here you will find NYSCHA’s mission statement, contact information, and funding opportunities. Through this site, you will also have access to information linking you to our current pursuits, as well as endeavors that are intended to support your efforts to serve our students, our colleagues, and our institutions.
As an organization working on your behalf, we are committed to providing you with access to the vast personnel and organizational resources within NYSCHA. We recognize the commitment you have made to provide our students with the highest level of care while at the same time dedicating yourself to exceptional standards of professional conduct. The NYSCHA board and its members would like to extend to you the same level of loyalty, collaboration, and support you are providing to our students.
Please take a moment to review the News from NYSCHA that has been posted on this site. In particular, I would invite you to consider attending our Annual Meeting in Syracuse, October 20-22, 2010. Year after year, we do our best to select the most relevant, current, and on-point topics for presentation during the annual meeting, assuring that all disciplines within college health are well- represented. The annual meeting will provide you with a chance to make valuable connections with others from across the state while also taking advantage the beautiful Finger Lakes region and the broad range of entertainment possibilities in Syracuse.
If you are able to attend the conference, please consider sharing your area of interest and/or expertise with your colleagues by responding to the Call for Proposals. The first deadline for submission of proposals is fast approaching!
Also, you may be interested in knowing that, as a member of NYSCHA, you are eligible to apply for a registration scholarship to the ACHA Annual Meeting in June. Information regarding this opportunity can be found on this site.
Finally, I wish you well as we move closer to the conclusion of the semester. We know that the demands and responsibilities upon you to serve our students continue to increase. Rest assured that NYSCHA is prepared to be a resource for you in any way possible.
Warm regards,
Stephen J. Smith
President, NYSCHA
Welcome from NYSCHA Section Chairs
NYSCHA section chairs are elected by members of their section. They represent their section at Executive Board meetings and on the NYSCHA Annual Meeting planning committee. We encourage you to check out your section by clicking on the letters linked below.
NYSCHA SECTIONS:
- Administration – Jo Ann Molnar-Kieffer, Cornell University
- Clinical Medicine – Alexandra Hall, MD, Cornell University
- Health Promotion– Rebecca Harrington, MA, SUNY Oneonta
- Mental Health – Anne Kearney, LCSW-R, Le Moyne College
- Nursing– Maureen Pavone, RN, BSN, Stony Brook University
- Students – Brian Cobb, Candidate for Masters in Social Work, Binghamton University
- Community College Representative– Paula Snyder, RN, BSN, Jamestown Community College
NYSCHA Administrative Section
JoAnn Molnar-Kieffer
Chair, NYSCHA Administrative Section
Dear Members,
I am pleased to offer my continued representation as Chair of the NYSCHA Administrative Section. The Administrative Section represents members in administrative focused positions at health centers, as well as those who wear several hats ….colleagues who do it all!
I have always felt that one of the greatest benefits of our organization is the networking that ‘just happens ‘at meetings - we just can’t help it. We are problem solvers who are compassionate and nurturing by nature. College health colleagues are quick to share a success story and offer solutions to challenges we all share. Sometimes it is just a sympathetic ear for those challenges we all struggle with, that defy a solution, not to undermine or minimize the value of the programs that are offered at the annual meetings. The whole experience, networking and continuing education, is the culmination of a great effort by our board and meeting planners.
As your Administrative representation in the organization and the Board, I continue to invite and welcome your ideas for programs at our annual meetings. I welcome your feedback: The Good, Bad and Ugly, too. Letting us know why you attend our annual meeting, or why you do not, can help in our planning and ultimately make NYSCHA work better for you.
Please feel free to email or give me a call!
JoAnn Molnar-Kieffer
Administrator, Cornell University Office of Student Health Insurance
Cornell University
409 College Ave, Suite 211, Ithaca NY 14850
607.255.6363
607.254.5221 (fax)
Jb58@cornell.edu
(web site): www.studentinsurance.cornell.edu
NYSCHA Clinical Medicine Section
Alexandra Hall, MD
Chair, NYSCHA Clinical Medicine Section
I was elected the Section Chair for Clinical Medicine at the 2008 NYSCHA Annual Meeting. After a brief stint as a high school teacher, I became a family doc, graduating from Mount Sinai SOM in 1999 and University of Vermont Family Practice Residency in 2002. After a couple of years of full-scope practice in Wisconsin, I moved to Ithaca, NY to be closer to family, initially working in the urgent care center there before coming to work for Gannett Health Center at Cornell in 2005.
I am really excited to be working in student health, as I have a huge interest in patient education. I also have keen interests in evidence-based care and advocacy and see NYSCHA and ACHA as potential avenues for support, networking, and investigating and sharing best practices. I am also currently heading the LGBT Coalition’s Subcommittee for Transgender Health.
NYSCHA is currently looking for ways to enhance the benefits of membership, and I would greatly appreciate your suggestions. Some possibilities might include a clearinghouse for topic information (perhaps current guidelines and important, sentinel studies) and presentations (i.e. sharing PowerPoint presentations that we think are useful as well as administrative and protocol information). Should we use the listserv to debate clinical topics and share info that way as well? (e.g., just how many CFU do YOU consider to indicate a UTI?!)
The NYSCHA Planning Committee has begun their work for the 2010 Annual Meeting. I would like to encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present. The Call for Proposals is now on the web site. The deadline is March 5, 2010. If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers you would like to recommend we consider, please let me know and I will share your ideas at the next meeting of the planning committee.
I look forward to hearing from you. Please share your ideas with me, and we can work together to support each other and our students. Thanks!
Alexandra Hall, MD
Cornell University
amh89@cornell.edu
607-255-5155
NYSCHA Health Promotion Section
Rebecca Harrington, MA
Chair, NYSCHA Health Promotion Section
Welcome to all NYSCHA members. We recognize that while many of you do not officially carry the title of “health promotion,” many of you are actively engaged in providing health promotion initiatives on your campus. Whether you are a full time health promotion specialist with CHES certification or the person on staff being told to “do something about that,” you are welcome to join in all section activities.
Spring Health Promotion Section Meeting. These annual meeting/get-togethers (let’s face it health promotion people are social butterflies) provide an opportunity to share ideas, gain some new knowledge on a topic yet to be decided upon and to share the camaraderie of our fellow health promotion professionals. New for 2010, we will be test driving an online spring meeting utilizing gotomeetings.com. Stay tuned for more details.
The Health Promotion List-Serv is for anyone who does any kind of health promotion, whether it be full time or part time, in your job description or not. To join you will need to create a google account by going to www.google.com. In the upper right hand corner of the webpage, choose “sign in.” From here you can create a new account. After doing so, email Rebecca Harrington, the group moderator, at HARRINRL@oneonta.edu and provide your regular email address. An invite will be sent to you to join the group.
The NYSCHA 2010 Annual Meeting will be held October 20-22, 2010 in Syracuse. The planning committee has begun their work for the annual meeting. I would like to encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present. The Call for Proposals is now on the web site. The deadline is March 5, 2010. If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers you would like to recommend we consider, please let me know and I will share your ideas at the next meeting of the planning committee.
Rebecca Harrington, MA
SUNY Oneonta
harrinrl@oneonta.edu
607-436-3540
You can also contact me via Instant Messenger at “OneontaHealth” or on Facebook.
NYSCHA Mental Health Section
Anne E. Kearney, LCSW-R
Chair, NYSCHA Mental Health Section
I am enjoying my participation on the NYSCHA Executive Board. I became the Mental Health Section Chair in October 2008. I am Director of the Wellness Center for Health and Counseling at Le Moyne College, a private Jesuit liberal arts college in Syracuse, NY. Our health and counseling services have recently integrated, and I have served as the director for almost 4 years. I have 30 years experience as a mental health therapist, and previously held a faculty position at Syracuse University. I am a member of AUCCCD, the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors. I embrace a holistic approach in my work with students, recognizing the integration of mind-body-spirit.
As a fairly new member to ACHA and NYSCHA, I am eager to serve the needs of the membership, recognizing the significant impact that mental health issues have on all of our practices.
The NYSCHA 2010 Annual Meeting will be held October 20-22, 2010 in Syracuse. The planning committee has begun their work for the annual meeting. I would like to encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present. The Call for Proposals is now on the web site. The deadline is March 5, 2010. If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers you would like to recommend we consider, please let me know and I will share your ideas at the next meeting of the planning committee.
Feel free to contact me at any time I can be of assistance.
Anne E. Kearney, LCSW-R
Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY
kearneae@lemoyne.edu
315-445-4195
NYSCHA Nursing Section
Maureen Pavone, RN, MSN
Chair, NYSCHA Nursing Section
I was elected the NYSCHA Nursing Section Chair at the 2008 NYSCHA Annual Meeting. I would like to introduce myself. I am a staff nurse at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook New York. I have been at my present position for eleven years, and I have been a member of NYSCHA and ACHA for approximately seven years. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you at the NYSCHA meetings, both locally and nationally. I have been impressed with the dedication and professionalism of all of the nurses I have met through NYSCHA and ACHA. I would love to hear from you about your concerns relating to college health.
I am looking forward to seeing some of you in Philadelphia at the 2010 ACHA annual meeting in May. For those of you not attending the ACHA meeting, you can look forward to our 2010 NYSCHA Annual Meeting in Syracuse in October. The planning committee is presently working on bringing a significant learning opportunity to all members of NYSCHA, including you. This is your opportunity to let us know what topics are important for you to have available at this meeting.
The NYSCHA 2010 Annual Meeting will be held October 20-22, 2010 in Syracuse, NY. The planning committee has begun their work for the annual meeting. I would like to encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present. The Call for Proposals is now on the web site. The deadline is March 5, 2010. If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers you would like to recommend we consider, please let m know, and I will share your ideas at the next meeting of the planning committee.
I look forward to hearing from you. I can be reached at (631) 632-6960 or at my e-mail address Maureen.pavone@sunysb.edu.
Maureen Pavone, RN, MSN
Stony Brook University
Maureen.pavone@sunysb.edu
631-632-6960
NYSCHA Student Section
Brian Cobb
Chair, NYSCHA Student Section
Greetings everyone from your new Chair of the NYSCHA Student Section. My name is Brian Cobb, and I am currently completing my Master of Social Work at Binghamton University. As part of my training, I am working with Steve Smith, President of NYSCHA, through SUNY Cortland's Counseling Center. Steve invited me to join NYSCHA as the Chair of the Student Section. I look forward to my role of representing students on the NYSCHA Executive Board.
One of the areas in which students can be involved in NYSCHA is attending the 2010 Annual Meeting in Syracuse in October. With the annual meeting centrally located, we are hoping more students can come for part or all of the annual meeting. Registration for students attending for a day or two half days is free, with meals included at no extra cost. Students who register for the full three day conference are charged $25. This fee includes meals, except for Wednesday evening when dinner is on our own.
Students are welcome to submit proposals to present at the annual meeting. The Call for Proposals is available on the NYSCHA web site. The deadline for submissions is March 5, 2010. If you are thinking about submitting a proposal, you might want to connect with someone from your health service department about co-presenting. Programs geared especially for students will be scheduled on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning to fit better with our school schedules.
If you have ideas or suggestions for me, please send me an e-mail.
Brian Cobb
Master of Social Work Student
Binghamton University
cobbbw64@yahoo.com
NYSCHA Community College Representative
Paula Snyder, RN, BSN
NYSCHA Community College Representative
I am delighted to be a new Executive Board member of NYSCHA and even more excited to have the opportunity to begin a dialogue about the uniqueness of the role of the community college health services that are as different as our geography and our student populations across New York State.
After spending almost 13 years as an ICCU nurse to home care and hospice nursing I chose college health and have been here learning from an amazing population of students for soon to be 17 years. In meeting others in the community college health arenas, from the Long Island sound, to the shores of Lake Champlain, to the Finger Lakes and furthest west where you find Lake Erie and Lake Chautauqua, our college campuses are nestled among hills and mountains and in the middle of bustling downtowns and quiet bucolic communities.
College Health in poor rural communities at best can be challenging, as many people are unfamiliar with the varying demographics that make up our student populations in these areas. Some community college students come to higher education with many variables that may differ from the traditional 4 year university students and often are commuter students as well. Their lives consist of a constant balancing act of managing full time family responsibilities, part time and in some cases full time work responsibilities and full time academic loads. Or, they are often veterans returning from serving for years away from the US and find the community college the best place to begin to live a civilian life again, at a pace that can allow them to re-adapt to home in surroundings as they continue a private battle of readjustment to everyday life.
The result of all these life issues can be the lowering of their personal health and wellness to a record low priority and with many students having no health insurance at all, the college health and wellness centers are on the front lines in intervention. These centers may often be the only health care students have access to. And we do some amazing things in two short years for these students.
I would like to connect with sister community colleges in our NYSCHA network to share ideas, and successes on the practices that serve this very amazing group of students who come from very different backgrounds and who often face many adversities to obtain their degrees, and careers. We are a very “different lot” on so many fronts, and our resources and lack thereof, can also be very different. From nurse directed health centers to centers that do have providers on site, to commuter campuses only to campuses that have multiple sites in multiple counties and regions, we encounter a diverse set of health care challenges, and many of our staff members wear multiple hats in serving our students.
I look forward to sharing the wealth of information that I know exists within the community college networks and I am delighted to be part of this strong NYSCHA organization.
The NYSCHA 2010 Annual Meeting will be held October 20-22, 2010 in Syracuse. The planning committee has begun their work for the annual meeting. I would like to encourage you to consider submitting a proposal to present. The Call for Proposals is now on the web site. The deadline is March 5, 2010. If you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers you would like to recommend we consider, please let me know and I will share your ideas at the next meeting of the planning committee. This is an excellent opportunity for those of us in community college settings to work together to suggest topics that will address our needs and our students’ needs.
I would love to hear from colleagues. Feel free to e-mail me at PaulaSnyder@mail.sunyjcc.edu, so we can begin to formulate some ways to address our unique opportunities in the future together.
Paula Snyder, RN, BSN
Jamestown Community College
PaulaSnyder@mail.sunyjcc.edu
716-376-7569