Event Prompts Unprecedented Turn-out; GNYHA President Pledges to Repeat Event Next Year
On October 21, 2007, more than 200 physician residents from teaching hospitals around metropolitan New York visited the first-ever Upstate "Where to Practice" Open House, an event designed to give hospital recruiters from upstate New York a forum to network with physician residents looking for practice opportunities. Through the event, New York's health care community proactively addressed the tremendous physician shortage in upstate areas by attracting candidates from the downstate teaching hospitals' residency programs.
Sponsored by GNYHA in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health (DOH), Iroquois Healthcare Alliance, and the Healthcare Association of New York State, the event brought together more than 30 exhibitors from across the State, who discussed practice options, local details like schools and real estate, and the natural beauty and attractions in upstate communities.
In addition to the exhibitors, residents were greeted by special taped messages from U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, NYS Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, NYS Senator Kemp Hannon, and NYS Assemblyman Richard Gottfried, who all emphasized the importance of ensuring that New Yorkers everywhere have access to health care. New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines, M.D. visited exhibitors and talked to residents, while Caleb Wistar, Assistant Chief Health Planner in the Workforce Development Unit at DOH, gave presentations on physician loan forgiveness programs and J-1 visa waivers, programs that many of the exhibitors believe are the key to the future of health care in upstate communities. According to Mr. Wistar, nearly half of the residents attending the Open House participated in one of his information sessions.
GNYHA President Kenneth Raske called the event "an unquestionable success," noting that bringing upstate recruiters to the physician training capital of the world "just makes sense." He also noted that teaching hospitals in New York State host 16,000 physician residents annually, training more doctors in more specialties than hospitals in any other part of the nation.
"We know how skilled, talented, and dedicated our residents are," Mr. Raske added, "which is why we want them to stay in New York—that's what the Open House is all about. Given the tremendous need and the success of today's event, I pledge to repeat this open house next year and hope to draw even more residents."
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GNYHA President Kenneth E. Raske with a physician resident at the Open House.
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Caleb Wistar, from the NYS Department of Health, giving a presentation on J-1 visa waivers
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L. to r.: Tim Johnson, Vice President, Finance and Graduate Medical Education, GNYHA; Thomas F. Burke, Executive Director, NYS Council on Graduate Medical Education; and NYS Health Commissioner Richard Daines, M.D
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Stacy Connors (right), of
Iroquois Healthcare Alliance-one of the event's sponsors-talking with physician residents.
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Open House Participants
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A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital • Adirondack Medical Center • Albany Medical Center • Alice Hyde Medical Center • ArnotHealth • Auburn Memorial Center • Bassett Healthcare • Catholic Health System of Buffalo • Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center • Columbia memorial Hospital • Community Health Care Association of New York State • Ellis Hospital • Erie County Medical Ceter Corporation • Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare • Glens Falls Hospital • Mount St. Mary's Hospital • Niagrara Falls Memorial Medical Center • Northeast Health • Northern Dutchess Hospital • Orange Regional Medical Center • Putnam Hospital Center • Rome Memorial Hospital • Roswell Park Cancer Institute • Saratoga Hospital • St. Joseph's Hospital • St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital • St. Peter's Health Care Services • Strong Health, University of Rochester Medical Center • United Memorial Medical Center • Upstate New York In-House Physician Recruiters • VA Western NY • Vassar Brothers Medical Center and the NYS SENATE
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Connecting at the "Where to Practice" Open House
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"The job fair was definitely well attended and I made some good contacts. I hope GNYHA will sponsor the event again next year."
-Lisa VanNatten, CMSR, Director of Physician Search, CVPH Medical Center, Plattsburgh, NY
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"We were very pleased with the number of residents who attended, and the interest expressed in our hospital and community. . . a wonderful way to share information. . ."
-Judi Stokes, Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital
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"I met several physicians who were interested in our openings in various specialties."
-Mark Gallucci, Physician Recruiter, St. Peter's Health Care Services, Albany, NY
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"Your exhibit opportunity was first class and rivals my experience in exhibiting . . . in the past."
-Victor Ramirez, Director of Physician Recruitment, Catholic Health System of Buffalo
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"We appreciated the chance to share our employment opportunities with so many residents. We were pleasantly surprised at the number of individuals in attendance, and it was a great opportunity for all of us to promote our hospitals and services. Well done!"
-Joanne Johnson, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Adirondack Medical Center, Saranac Lake, NY
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"An excellent venue for Upstate hospitals to represent their opportunities directly to Downstate residents. . . The energy in the room was great . . . This resident fair is well worth repeating."
-Nadene Bradburn, Upstate NY In-House Physician Network
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"Thank you for your efforts in this very worthwhile event. It was very well organized and staffed."
-Eleanor Callanan, PT, MBA, Provider Recruitment and Retention Manager, Elmira, NY
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The Oct. 21 Open House, which attracted more than 200 physician residents, gave health care job seekers from downstate and employers from upstate New York a unique opportunity to meet and talk..
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