FINGER LAKES HEALTH
ELIZABETH SMITH has joined Finger Lakes Health as a family nurse practitioner. She will be joining the team of Dr. Agata Olszowska; Dr. Edward Zgleszewski; Christina Gray, adult nurse practitioner; and Roberta Korich, family nurse practitioner, caring for patients at Clyde Family Health Center at 4 West Genesee St., Clyde and Seneca Family Health Center, 367A East Main St. in Waterloo. Smith received her master’s degree nursing from St. John Fisher College, near Rochester. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Brockport and is a graduate of Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing. Smith has more than nine years of nursing experience at Geneva General Hospital, most recently as a registered nurse in the Olaf and Elaine Leiberg Intensive Care Unit.
MOHAWK VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM
KENT HALL, M.D., has been named chief physician executive at Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). He is responsible for overseeing the medical staffs of the St. Elizabeth Campus and the St. Luke’s Campus, credentialing, the MVHS medical staff office, family medicine residency program, dental residency program, Palliative Care, Medical Libraries, and the MVHS Medical Group. Hall is involved in the quality of medical care delivered as well as responsible for driving quality and safety initiatives throughout MVHS. He also works directly with the department chairs, directors of contracted medical groups, and hospital-based physicians to coordinate patient care and safety efficiently. Most recently, Hall was chief medical officer (CMO) at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, as well as Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone. There, he worked to improve patient outcomes and delivery through improved clinical quality processes, as well as improve operational efficiencies within and between hospital-based clinical services. Prior to that, Hall also served as Emergency Department medical director at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Cincinnati Hospital in Ohio. Hall received his medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, and his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Union College in Schenectady. His office is located at the St. Luke’s Campus.
ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH
RUSSELL FIRMAN, M.D. joined St. Joseph’s Health as medical director of utilization review and physician advisor. In this role, Dr. Firman will consult physicians, clinical staff, and leadership on necessary medical treatments to ensure all services are in compliance with applicable regulations. He joined in December. Firman has over 30 years of experience in clinical and supervisory positions. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Health, he served as a staff physician at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center in Cortland, and Samaritan Hospital in Albany. Firman will continue to serve at both sites alongside his recent appointment at St. Joseph’s Health. He was also the chief medical officer and physician advisor at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. Prior to that, Firman was the medical director of the department of emergency medicine also at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center. In addition to practicing medicine, Firman teaches at SUNY Upstate Medical University as an assistant professor of emergency medicine. He began his medical career in New York state. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology and his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Firman completed his medical training with a residency in emergency medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center in Ohio.
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LISA GAFFNEY, M.D., has joined St. Joseph’s Health at its St. Joseph’s Primary Care Center West in Syracuse. Gaffney most recently served as a staff pediatrician at Wee Care Pediatrics in Cicero, and as director of pediatrics at the volunteer clinic at Amaus Medical Services at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse. Prior to that, Gaffney spent five years at St. Joseph’s Health’s Maternal Child Health Center. Before returning to New York state, Gaffney practiced at Cornerstone Pediatrics in Cary, North Carolina. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Hofstra University and her doctor-of-medicine degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University, and completed her medical training there.
