VIEWPOINT: Building One Upstate

The keys to a healthier, more connected CNY

​In the 18 months since joining the team at SUNY Upstate Medical University, I continue to be impressed by our community’s sense of connection and shared responsibility. I have observed that Central New Yorkers are committed to looking out for one another. At SUNY Upstate, we take this responsibility seriously. Our core mission is to improve the health of our community by training health-care professionals and providing exceptional care. And, as the region’s largest employer with nearly 12,000 employees, we take pride in setting the example for how neighbors should care for one another. The roots of SUNY Upstate run deep with a service region spanning from the Canadian border to the New York–Pennsylvania line. Our employees represent 30 upstate New York counties — translating to more than $700,000 in payroll that gets pumped back into our region. Factoring in research and clinical operations, it’s estimated that SUNY Upstate provides $2.3 billion in economic impact to Central New York. We have a history of stepping up to meet the needs of our community. Though our expertise is in health care, research, and education, the strategies we have implemented can be applied to any industry or field. A cornerstone of our approach is meeting people where they are — whether it’s students, employees, or patients. As Central New York’s only public academic medical center, we offer flexible pathways to success knowing that every student’s academic journey is different. Our 3+3 partnerships with local institutions including Le Moyne College and Syracuse University, and fellow SUNYs including SUNY ESF, SUNY Oswego, and SUNY Brockport — plus a new partnership with SUNY Oneonta — help make careers in health care more accessible and affordable by allowing students to complete three years at one of these schools before earning their doctorates in physical therapy in our College of Health Professions. In the fall, we secured a 4 + 3 partnership with SUNY Potsdam to help make graduate degrees more accessible to neighbors living in the North Country. Our commitment also includes supporting veterans as they advance their education and careers. In November, our Norton College of Medicine became a partner with the Special Operations Forces to School of Medicine (SOFtoSOM), an organization that assists U.S. Special Operations Forces veterans and active-duty service members applying to medical school. While admission is not guaranteed, this partnership provides applicants with an interview and valuable coaching and research opportunities. Veterans bring exceptional skills like teamwork, reliability, dependability, critical thinking, and service orientation, which are especially valuable in health care. We look forward to welcoming our SOFtoSOM scholars in 2025. Building partnerships — whether academic or the newly-established relationship with SOFtoSOM — also helps us strengthen the pipeline of health-care professionals committed to our community. SUNY Upstate graduates overwhelmingly continue to work in our area after graduation. Answering the call to power Central New York’s workforce is a task we do not take lightly. In this post-pandemic world, the current challenges that providers face in terms of recruiting and retaining staff are burdens felt nationwide among medical centers — particularly hospitals. In Syracuse, the challenges are compounded with demands to keep up with new infrastructure, as our community is charged with ramping up resources ahead of the anticipated Micron groundbreaking. To help fill the significant shortage in health-care staff, it’s critical that we look within our organizations to understand what we can be doing differently to take care of our people. According to the Center for Health Workforce Studies, Central New York experienced a 28 percent decline in new RNs from 2019-2023, during the height of the pandemic and immediately following. Then, there’s the ‘BSN in 10’ law in New York State requiring full-time registered nurses to obtain bachelor’s degrees within 10 years of initial licensure. While researchers are cautiously optimistic that RN numbers are stabilizing, it’s critical that academic centers maintain a strong pipeline to train our future care providers. In SUNY Upstate’s quest to ensure our region is at an advantage, we are proud to introduce the Upstate Edge — a program designed specifically for our full-time nursing staff.. The program is a flexible way for our nurses to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. All costs associated with the program — including tuition, fees, books, and access to academic resources — are covered, a value of about $20,000. The Upstate Edge reflects SUNY Upstate’s deep commitment to serve our community and prioritize exceptional care. Investing in our students and staff is an investment in our community’s future from people-centered and economic perspectives. The program was designed with nurses’ busy schedules in mind and eligibility begins on day one of full-time employment with an efficient enrollment process. The program includes tracks ranging from 16 to 22 months, and offers a range of supportive resources, including a dedicated student-success specialist, access to a writing center, and all Upstate College of Nursing resources. Following the success of an inaugural cohort in fall 2024, we will soon be accepting applications for an upcoming 8-week introductory course beginning in early March, with program enrollment starting this summer. The introductory course is designed to allow nurses to learn more about the Upstate Edge before formally enrolling in the program. Our goal is to empower everyone: our nurses, patients, and the broader Central New York health-care system. Nurses benefit because B.S. degrees open more opportunities for leadership positions, specialized roles, and increased future earnings. Patients benefit when they experience optimal outcomes from receiving high quality, evidence-based care provided by highly educated and trained nurses. Ultimately, this is good for everyone because a thriving health-care environment gives neighbors the best chance to improve their health. By investing in our students, staff, and our patients, we are demonstrating our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in ensuring your loved ones receive the best possible care. I’ve come to think of this as building “One Upstate.” This philosophy reflects our belief that taking care of each other is the key to a healthier, more connected Central New York.        

---

Robert Ruiz is the interim VP for educational services and dean of student affairs at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse.