Oswego Health adds Oswego Mayor Barlow to senior leadership team

OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow, Jr. will join the senior-leadership team at Oswego Health as VP of public affairs & system development on Sept. 19.

Barlow is part of the group assembled by Michael Backus, Oswego Health COO who will become president and CEO of Oswego Health in 2023.

Backus identified those within the organization that he feels will “take the organization to the next level,” per its Wednesday announcement.

Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Backus has promoted both Eric Campbell and Dr. Duane Tull to roles as executive VP. Tull will serve as EVP of medicine & chief medical officer, while Campbell will serve as EVP of finance & CFO.

Backus has also promoted Kathryn Pagliaroli, a registered nurse (RN), and Jamie Leszczynski to senior VP roles.

In addition, Barry Ryle, Kim Dec, Theresa Fitzgibbons, RN, and David Ruel will become VPs of Oswego Health. Marq Brown, the current VP of human resources will add the role of chief people officer to his title.

The group also includes Valerie Favata, RN, who will become VP & administrator of Oswego Health Home Care.

“To me, a strong leadership team needs to be representative not only of the patients we see but the community we serve,” Backus said. “I believe wholeheartedly that this team will be the strongest the organization has ever had and I look forward to continued growth and improved access to local high-quality health care.”

Backus will replace current president and CEO Michael Harlovic, who is retiring at the end of the year.

About Barlow

Barlow’s term as mayor of Oswego will conclude in December 2023, a position he holds part-time. Oswego Health believes the experience Barlow brings in public service to the newly created position of VP of public affairs & system development will be “advantageous” from a legislative-advocacy standpoint for the nonprofit health-care system.

Additionally, Barlow will play a “vital role” in the health system’s progression and will provide oversight with strategic planning. He’ll also have input on matters pertaining to construction and facilities management, renovations, and “expansion of opportunities and services.”

In his spare time, Barlow co-owns and operates Barlow’s Concessions, a family-run, food-concession business open at fairs, festivals, and sporting events throughout New York and Arizona.

He graduated from Oswego High School in 2008 and attended college at Arizona State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in environmental-technology management in 2012.