People news: Loretto names new medical director

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Loretto Health & Rehabilitation announced it has appointed Dr. Christopher Black as its new medical director.

He has worked for Loretto since 2020. In his new role, Dr. Black ensures quality of care and outcomes for residents, helps to enhance efficiencies of health-care delivery, provides training and education of medical professionals, and promotes overall social health and wellbeing.

Dr. Black is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians with an extensive medical background, including the emergency departments at Oneida Healthcare and Lewis County General Hospital, and has served as chief of ancillary services for USAMEDDAC at Fort Drum. He was a battalion surgeon in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and received several commendations while serving, including the Bronze Star Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Combat Medic badge, among other honors, Loretto said.

Black received his medical degree from the F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland, and his bachelor’s degree in biology from Syracuse University. He is an adjunct clinical assistant professor for The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Loretto says it is the fourth-largest health-care provider and sixth-largest employer in the Central New York region with 2,500 employees working from 19 locations to deliver care to nearly 10,000 people in Onondaga and Cayuga counties each year.