Jeremiah Sweet Named CFO, Interim President & CEO at Oneida Health

Oneida Health recently announced that Chief Financial Officer Jeremiah Sweet will also serve as interim president and chief executive officer effective June 1. He succeeds Jonathan Schiller, who left the organization at the end of May.

Oneida Health’s board of directors began a nationwide search for Oneida Health’s next president and CEO in February following Schiller’s announcement. The board anticipated filling the role with a candidate sometime in the fall.

“During this process, we have been able to attract a number of very qualified candidates already for the president and CEO position,” said Michael Kallet, board chairman. “Between our reputation for quality care, breadth of services and our independence as a not-for-profit healthcare organization, we are a very desirable destination. We will be able to take our pick from some of the nation’s top talent.”

Sweet joined Oneida Health as CFO in 2017 after working many years at the Bassett Healthcare Network.

“Since his entry into the organization Jeremiah has contributed greatly to the continued success of Oneida Health as a regional healthcare provider,” said Kallet. “His competence, collegiality and willingness to go above and beyond have earned him the respect of all of us here at Oneida Health during his tenure. We can all take comfort in knowing that the organization will be in very capable hands as this process concludes.” and Plattsburgh.

Sweet will retain his authority as chief financial officer during the transition.

Jim Reed

has awarded Excellus BlueCross BlueShield national silver level recognition for its commitments to employee health and well-being as measured in the association’s 2022 Workforce Well-being Scorecard.

The scorecard evaluates factors such as mental health policies, organizational well-being strategies to address burnout, health equity measures, employee financial resources and more to provide a comprehensive assessment of an organization’s culture of health. A total of 381 organizations completed the scorecard in 2022, and all organizations were recognized with an achievement level of platinum (9%), gold (45%), silver (32%), bronze (9%) or completer (5%).

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, headquartered in Rochester, is part of a $6 billion family of companies that finances and delivers health care services across Upstate New York and long-term care insurance nationwide. Collectively, the enterprise provides health insurance to nearly 1.5 million members and employs about 4,000 New Yorkers.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield maintains a strong local presence through four regional headquarters in Rochester, Syracuse, Elmira and Utica, with additional field offices in Binghamton, Watertown

Excellus BCBS’s employee wellbeing program, be WELL for LIFE, focuses on five areas: emotional support, mindfulness, nourishment, movement, and connection. To meet personal health goals, employees are offered challenges, weekly and monthly classes, webinars, the well-being incentive program, and a variety of resources. The program is run by two full-time employees and facilitated through an employee wellness committee.

For more information and a full list of recognized organizations, visit heart.org/workforce.

Lifetime Benefit Solutions recognized as ‘Best in Class’

For the third year in a row, Life

Lifetime Benefit Solutions offers a full suite of ancillary benefits and specialty programs to help round out employer’s traditional benefits. Each is built with scalability and flexibility in mind, providing added security to help both businesses and employees grow.

“The achievements and accomplishments of our Circle of Excellence members inspire us all to reach higher and do more,” says Robert Deshaies, chief operating officer of the Americas, WEX. “These organizations repeatedly rise to challenges and serve as catalysts for innovation. We are honored and humbled to celebrate their successes.”

Local nurses certified as breast health clinical navigators

ence, Pietryka initially joined Rome Health in 2006 and the Women’s Breast Center at Rome Health in 2022 with an extensive nursing

Trish Mooney

time Benefit Solutions (LBS) has been inducted into the Circle of Excellence by WEX, the global commerce platform. Syracuse-based LBS, with offices in Rochester and Buffalo, is an industry leader in designing, developing, and deploying reimbursement accounts, COBRA, retirement accounts and other employee wellness-related plans that promote employee health while safeguarding a company’s financial health.

“This honor places LBS among the top echelon of third-party administrators,” says LBS President Trish Mooney. “We are so proud of our team.”

Two nurses in Rome Health’s

Breast Imaging Center of Excellence have earned the designation as certified breast health clinical navigators for their skill and competency to navigate patients through the breast patient’s cancer continuum of care.

As certified breast health clinical navigators, registered nurses Kelly Pietryka and Jennifer Shepherd assist patients in accessing care and navigating health care systems. They support patients through advocacy, education, coordination of care and continued assessment of barriers and needs.

With 28 years of nursing experi-

Jennifer Shepherd background in radiation oncology, medical oncology, plastic surgery and health coaching. She is also a board-certified nurse health coach which helps to enhance our patient’s health and wellness. Shepherd joined the hospital in 2004 and has 22 years of nursing experience. She has extensive experience in all aspects of nursing in Medical Imaging from coordinating and assisting patients in all type of minimally invasive biopsies, and navigating radiology patients. This experience has helped guide the path for many of our imaging patients.

“Because of their experience, Kelly and Jennifer understand the healthcare system to help patients better understand each step of the process as they begin their journey to wellness,” said Medical Imaging Director Sharon M. Carson. “The ability to communicate to patients exactly what to expect when undergoing a procedure helps reduce anxiety, allowing them to become an informed and active participant in their treatment plan.”

Rome Health’s Breast Center is accredited by the American College of Radiology as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and participates in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers program, as evidence of its commitment to provide each patient with the highest quality of care.