The Oswego Health board of directors in June unanimously voted on changes to leadership as well as the addition of two new members.
• Atom Avery will serve as board president. A business manager, developer and entrepreneur, Avery oversees the day-to-day operations and management of Avery Rental Properties, LLC, Beacon Hotel, 5 Points Wine & Liquor, The Gardens by Morning Star, The Maples Assisted Living Facility, and his newest project, the Litatro Building. In addition to serving as the new board chairman for Oswego Health, Avery is on the board of directors for Oswego County Federal Credit Union. He has invested millions of dollars into the community in which he lives. He resides in Oswego with his wife, Falecia, and their three children. He will serve two-year terms through June 30, 2022.
• Ed Alberts will be the new vice-chairman. As an entrepreneur with over 20 years of health and wellness business expertise, Alberts excels in management consulting and business strategy. He currently owns five businesses with several locations spread throughout Central New York and the greater New York City area, including Rehab Resources, Little Lukes, WIRED Telecom, RELAX The Spa – Rochester, and F45 Training. In addition to serving as vice-chairman of the Oswego Health board of directors, Alberts also serves on the Oswego Health Foundation board as vice-chairman and has continually financially supported the growth and development of the healthcare system. He will serve two-year terms through June 30, 2022
• Sarah Berry, Ph.D., has been selected as a new member of the board. A specialist in medical humanities and a visiting assistant professor of English at SUNY Oswego, Berry is also the author of essays on medicine, health disparities and cultural history. In addition, Berry is a contributor-in-residence to Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal (Columbia University), where she strives to address a general public with timely research on such issues as Medicare for all and COVID-19. She serves on the Health Humanities Consortium steering committee, heading its curriculum and assessment subgroup. A Central New York native, Berry has a passion for healthcare management, patient access, and community needs. She will serve for a three-year term concluding on June 30, 2023.
• Katie Toomey has been selected as a new member of the board. She has over 15 years of experience in client relations, marketing communications, community relations and advocacy. She currently serves as the executive director of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, where she maintains key relationships and strategic partnerships within the community. In addition to serving on the Oswego Health board of directors, Toomey also serves on the Oswego Health Foundation board as the annual giving committee co-chairman. She is also active with the City of Fulton DRI, Oswego County Economic Advancement Plan, Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Museum, Friends of Fort Ontario, Oswego County Workforce Development Board, Oswego County Airport Master Plan, and volunteers at the Oswego YMCA. She will serve for a three-year term concluding on June 30, 2023.
In addition to Avery, Alberts, Berry and Toomey, other members are Michael Backus; Timothy R. Barnhart; William Clark; Peter Cullinan; Dan E. Dorsey, Jr.; Lynne Eggert; Victoria Furlong, secretary; Adam Gagas; Michael Harlovic, Oswego Health CEO and president; Ellen Holst, past chairwoman; physician Raj Mahajan, Oswego Hospital medical staff president; Mark Slayton, treasurer; Ron Tascarella; and physicians Duane Tull and Scott Van Gorder.
Photo: Avery