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new medical director for Behavioral Health, Dr. Michael Godzala, serves as the clinical and administrative lead for the Harm Reduction Center as well as the Substance Use and Mental Health departments. In his new role, Dr. Godzala oversees the development of policies and procedures related to the Center for Behavioral Health (CBH). He collaborates with the medical directors of Primary & Specialty Care and Population Health to ensure that effective systems are in place for all aspects of behavioral health operations. He also provides direct clinical care to patients and supervisory and administrative oversight to the medical providers in the CBH. In short, he's got a lot on his plate.
"I look at my role in the behavioral health field as both a great privilege and great responsibility," said Dr. Godzala. "We encounter people at some of the most vulnerable times of their lives, and they're trusting us with some of their greatest secrets, regrets, and heartaches. Some of these things can be extremely difficult or even traumatic to talk about. One thing that has brought me the most success in this field is an ability to create an environment of mutual respect and caring with those whom I come in contact with — both patients and colleagues alike — an essential step to help foster a safe, trusting, and productive working relationship."
Dr. Godzala acknowledges the challenges of working in the field of behavioral health. "It can be tough to realize that even if you give it your best sometimes patients don't get better. If you don't have ways to keep yourself grounded it can take a toll on your emotional and physical well-being. It reminds me of a joke that I once heard and have
now come more to appreciate: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?
Punchline: Just one, but the lightbulb has to want to change!”
Dr. Godzala came to Evergreen five years ago. "I was referred through a colleague that worked at Evergreen. I didn't know much about Evergreen before I started working here and I must say what a rewarding experience and breath of fresh air it has been. Compared to other places I've worked it has fostered the most welcoming and caring atmosphere and I love the diversity and inclusivity it offers in both our patient population and staff."
Dr. Godzala notes that our core values help inform the work he does at Evergreen in a meaningful way. "I often think about our recent television campaign when performing my duties: 'At Evergreen Health, we are unconditional'. This aligns with my values to treat people as human beings without any preconceived conditions and to give my unconditional best to help them in any way I can."
"Dr. Godzala exemplifies the core values of our organization," said Amanda Honan, vice president of Behavioral Health. "He has an unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centered care."
The Behavioral Health Center is growing, and Dr. Godzala has goals for the Center as it grows. "I have two main goals. The first is to continue to foster and expand the working relationship between Behavioral Health and Primary & Specialty Care. The second is to expand the scope and reach of our services. Remember our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) of eliminating all health inequity through unconditional care throughout the world… I want to be a part of it and look forward to working with all of you to do so."
Dr. Godzala is a local Buffalonian. "I grew up in West Seneca and went to the University
I LOOK AT MY ROLE IN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD AS BOTH A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
- DR. MICHAEL GODZALA .
at Buffalo for all my post-secondary education, including my bachelor’s in biochemistry and master's in biotechnology, my medical degree in allopathic medicine and lastly my residency in general psychiatry. I've worked at quite a few behavioral health places before this: Veterans Affairs, Kaleida, ECMC, BestSelf, Suburban Psychiatric Services, DENT Neurological Institute, Spectrum Human Services, and Horizon Health Services. All experiences I've learned from and hope to use to make me a better physician and leader here at Evergreen."
Outside of work? "My life outside of work is spent mainly with my family, friends and fiancé. I play a wide variety of sports including some local leagues year-round (volleyball, pickleball) but perhaps my most unique year-round activity is ballroom, swing and latin dancing (that is how my fiancé and I met)."
One last thought from Dr. Godzala: "I strive to make people feel heard and to make the world a better place one conversation, one smile, one hello, one act of kindness, and one act of respecting nature at a time."
Thank you, Dr. Godzala, for all you do for our patients. We can't wait to see what the future has in store for you and the CBH!
Evergreen's winter children's book drive was a success! We collected over 400 books that our pediatric patients and families are already enjoying in our waiting and exam rooms. Thanks to everyone who donated! Shown here: Rosalind Sulaiman, MD, one of our pediatric providers, and Andrea Keogh, IDD and pediatric program manager. Also shown here: lots of books, and some of the winter gear we collected for our patients.
Staff at the Watkins Drop-In Center provided a bit of holiday cheer to patients with delicious, home-made hot chocolate, complete with whipped cream and candy canes.
This story first appeared on the Evergreen Blog
Being diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming. Although diabetes is a manageable chronic condition, and people with diabetes can live full, healthy lives, people who are newly diagnosed with diabetes often have to make a lot of nutrition and lifestyle changes that can be hard to navigate without help.
Evergreen provides comprehensive care for patients with diabetes and patients who are at risk for diabetes, including primary and specialty care, Hemoglobin A1c testing, care coordination, food pantry, and diabetes management support from our on-site registered dietician and certified diabetes educator, Sarah Stimpson.
During American Diabetes Month in November, we encouraged patients to learn more about diabetes and its risk factors, attend annual primary care appointments to get preventative screenings, and to take full advantage of Evergreen’s certified diabetes education services and THRIVE Wellness programs.
Sarah works with patients of all ages who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes or are having trouble managing their diabetes to help them meet their individual health needs and goals. Patients are referred to Sarah by their primary care provider, and she offers both in-person and telehealth appointments.
When she first meets with a patient, Sarah works with them to explore their lab history, weight and diet history, and gets to know their current diet by asking what foods they have in their house. They set a few small goals at a time — Sarah says, “I try to meet patients in a place where the goals we set are doable for them.”
Depending on each individual’s needs, diabetes education patients meet with Sarah every three months or so until they’ve met their goals. Sarah says her favorite part of her job is working with patients – “it’s rewarding to see the changes they make.”
Sarah also offers one-on-one counseling to patients who are at risk of developing diabetes, and
for patients without diabetes who have goals around obesity, nutrition or weight loss. Sarah and her patients explore topics like balancing meals, increasing fiber, reducing sugar intake, reading nutrition labels, smart snacking, and shopping on a budget.
Sarah volunteers monthly at the Evergreen food pantry, and can educate patients who use the food pantry on how to use the food they receive there to make nutritious meals at home.
Sarah says that managing diabetes can be stressful – “a lot of patients have high stress levels with everything going on in their life, and they often have barriers to meeting their health goals.”
Patients with diabetes are eligible for free programs at Evergreen’s THRIVE Wellness Center that help them manage their stress, like guided imagery, meditation, acupuncture and art therapy.
THRIVE also offers weekly cooking classes that teach patients the skills they need to cook food that meets their dietary needs at home. Patients that attend cooking classes can receive a medically tailored meal that’s low carb, low salt, and high protein.
Evergreen’s Primary Care team evaluates our patients’ comprehensive risk factors, like family history, smoking, and heart disease, and recommends a plan that is catered to the patient’s needs, including culturally competent care.
Evergreen’s patient partnership and whole-person approach to diabetes management was recognized with a Gold Award by the American Diabetes Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes care improvement program. Director of health & wellness, James Thompson, says, “we achieved this through our innovative approach to reducing patient’s A1c and glucose levels by treating the whole patient, using food as medicine, and empowering patients to make better lifestyle choices around food.”
Evergreen offers podiatry (foot and ankle care), which is important for patients with diabetes, who are more likely to face complications with the health of their feet and ankles.
- Jean Conway, copy and content specialist
Average participant A1C, before and after program 104 patients participated in the THRIVE Wellness Diabetes Education Program from October 2021 through September 2024
Average participant weight, before and after program 104 patients participated in the THRIVE Wellness Diabetes Education Program from October 2021 through September 2024
Evergreen staff gathered to celebrate the holiday season. Additional photos courtesy of Leslie Fineberg.
Evergreen Commons recently got new awnings at both of the side entrances. The new awnings are part of our larger effort to bring the Unconditional branding to all our buildings. Stay tuned for more signage updates throughout the interior of the Commons and 206 S. Elmwood. Far left: Maggie Carrig, public relations specialist, and Moira Fragnoli, event and volunteer specialist, welcome visitors to the Commons. Below: the Pride Center held an event in conjuction with the Buffalo Niagara LGBTQ History Project.
No shortage of team spirit at Evergreen, that's for sure!
Publisher/Layout
John Carocci
Copy Editors
Jean Conway
Emily McGorry
Kristy Mangel
Maggie Carrig
Contributors
Eric Poniatowski
Christopher Cline
Leslie Fineberg
Nancy J. Parisi
Connections is the official monthly newsletter for employees and board members of Evergreen Health and its affilliates, the Pride Center of Western New York and Community Access Services. You can submit photos, comments or a "hello" via Outlook at Evergreen Connections.
Team Evergreen celebrated the retirement of Thomas Foels, MD, our medical director of population health. President & CEO Ray Ganoe unveiled a plaque commemorating the work Dr. Foels helped us achieve, and his passion and commitment to our organization. "It has been a true pleasure to work alongside Dr. Foels for so many years," said Ray. "Please join me in congratulating him on his retirement. We're unconditionally grateful for all he's done to improve the health of our patients."
THECoC and FunC are working together on a donation drive for Academy School 131, an alternative high school in the Buffalo Public School District with nearly 200 students in enrollment who are unhoused or living at or below the poverty line. In the fall we collected three carloads of donations and will continue to collect donations for the remainder of the school year. Items to donate include:
• Bath towels
• Gently used hoodies, sneakers, t shirts, jeans
• Boxer briefs
• Teenage girl underwear
• Hygiene and school supplies
• Boxing gloves and hand wraps
We are accepting donations at two Evergreen/CAS locations:
The Victorian, 200 South Elmwood
You may drop off items with Michael Blasdell.
3297 Bailey Avenue
You may drop off items with Tierra Redding
Thank you Leslie Fineberg for championing this initiative!
Elina Nishimwe
January 1
Mustafa Abucar January 1
Kimberly Ebling
January 1
Arlene Torres January 2
Arine Tuyisenge ............................................ January 2
Ventenese Palmer
Regina Anglada
January 3
January 4
Kevin Christy January 4
James Thompson
January 5
Josh Matecki January 6
Amy Waild...................................................... January 6
Connor Pace January 6
Justin Haag
January 8
Tracy Eichelberger January 8
Guimary Medina
Danny Brown-Nelson
January 9
January 10
Natalie Gerdy ................................................ January 11
Megan Fagyas
Glendalisse Lopez
Rickie Metcalf
Christian Bryant
Joshua Blair
January 11
January 12
January 14
January 14
January 15
Emily Ryan ..................................................... January 15
Richard Smiley
January 17
Alexandria Matyas January 18
Danielle Baldwin January 19
Murray Wire January 20
Ricardo Quiros January 21
Samantha Gaerte ......................................... January 21
Kirsten Smith January 22
Jillian Ortwein January 22
Sarah Stimpson January 23
Annette Pabon January 24
Isaac Resto Reyes January 25
Angel Cordero ............................................... January 27
Michael Nemeti January 27
Leyla Gentil
January 28
Douglas Augustine January 29
Emily Tyler January 30
Parker Leounis January 30
Lindsey Kelly ................................................. January 31
James DeGarmo January 31
Lisa Mooney January 31
Cybersecurity Training
The annual Cybersecurity Training, available in your Evergreen University account, is due on January 31. This training is required for all Evergreen, Community Access Services, and Pride Center staff.
Raising Jess: A Story of Hope
An inspirational presentation on raising a child with a disability from Vickie Rubin, an award-winning Western New York author. This virtual training is hosted by the Embrace, Empower, and Include Employee Resource Group. It will be held on Friday, January 10 from 11am - 12pm. Contact Evergreen Training and Development with any questions or to register. To learn about Vickie, visit vickierubin.com.
Disability Etiquette Training
This training is hosted by the Embrace, Empower, and Include Employee Resource Group.
Option 1: Thursday, February 27 from 9am - 10am
Evergreen Commons Sanctuary
Option 2 : Friday, February 28 from 2pm - 3pm Virtual via Zoom
As our patient population continues to grow, we're serving more patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This training will give an overview of intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as disability etiquette best practices.
Admin's team holiday painting outing was a success!