Sister Gail Waring, St. Peter's Vice President of Mission Services ...

PRESS RELEASESister Gail Waring, St. Peter's Vice President of Mission Services, Selected for 2009NYSPHA Community Leadership AwardThursday April 02, 2009ALBANY, NY — April 2, 2009 — For her work in expanding charity care and other health programs for thepoor, the New York State Public Health Association is presenting its 2009 Community Leadership Award toSister Gail Waring, RSM, vice president for Mission Services at St. Peter's Health Care Services.With the annual Community Leadership Award, the New York State Public Health Association (NYSPHA)recognizes an outstanding New Yorker who has demonstrated proven excellence in mobilizing theircommunity toward the prevention of disease and promotion of public health."The NYSPHA is especially pleased this year to recognize Sr. Gail Waring, RSM, of St. Peter’s Health CareServices for her visionary leadership as a developer of health services founded on collaborative communityhealth planning that is a model now embraced by New York State," said Martha Pofit, executive director of theNYSPHA. “Sr. Gail is a shining example of how one person makes a difference in a whole community’s publichealth system."This year's award will be presented during the noon luncheon program of the NYSPHA's annual meeting,Friday April 3, at the Holiday Inn Turf, 205 Wolf Road, Colonie. The award will be presented by last year’swinner Dr. William Cromie, former CEO of Capital District Physicians Health Plan, and Dr. Richard Daines,commissioner of the New York State Department of Health.Sister Gail is being honored for her support of community-health planning at St. Peter’s Health Services,along with the Neighborhood Based Alliance, the Healthy Capital District Initiative (HCDI) and otherorganizations. Her work has resulted in the creation of numerous new or expanded health services includingschool-based dental programs, enrollment programs for public health insurance applicants, neighborhoodbasedaddiction recovery services, pediatric care and dental services.With the support of the leadership of St. Peter's Health Care Services, Sr. Gail has also protected vulnerablepopulations by developing St. Peter's Charity Care program which enables more than one thousand St.Peter’s patients to receive free or subsidized health services each year.The winner of the Community Leadership Award is selected by the Board of Directors of the NYSPHA. Theboard selects an individual in New York State who has demonstrated the value and commitment to go aboveand beyond their normal work duties to make a dramatic difference in improving the health of NY’s residents.Kevin Jobin-Davis, executive director the HCDI, said “Sr. Gail’s commitment to understanding and addressingthe health needs of the most vulnerable populations in our community has improved thousands of lives andhonors the legacy of Sr. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy.”Dr. James Crucetti, Commissioner of the Albany County Health Department said, “Sister Gail has had anunwavering commitment to community service and public health for as long as I have known her. She is oneof our most valued community partners and this recognition and award are very well-deserved”.Dr. Cromie said, “I’ve known Sr. Gail all of my life as a fellow resident of the town of Corinth and I can think ofno more deserving recipient of the prestigious NYSPHA Community Leadership Award. I congratulate myfriend and colleague and look forward to presenting her this year’s award.”

---------------------------------St. Peter’s Health Care Services (SPHCS) of Albany, New York, was established by the Religious Sisters ofMercy in 1985 with components that date back to 1869. Led by St. Peter’s Hospital, a 442-bed acute carefacility, the SPHCS system also includes: St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation; St. Peter’s Addiction RecoveryCenter (SPARC,) a 40-bed addiction services center; Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, a 160-bed residentialcare facility; St. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, a 160-bed skilled nursing facility; Mercy Cares forKids, a child day care center; The Community Hospice, serving patients in residential facilities, hospitals andat home in six counties; and St. Peter’s Auxiliary, Inc.With 4,500 employees throughout the system and a budget of more than $450 million, St. Peter’s Health CareServices is the region’s fourth-largest employer. In recent years, the St. Peter’s Hospital has earned severaltop national and state honors for its overall care, cardiovascular care, patient safety and nursing services.