Future of Health Care 2020

THE FUTURE OF
HEALTH CARE
WORD FROM THE SPONSORS
Ready to meet the demand
for health-care careers
Rising to meet the
challenge of Covid-19
Awell-rounded, personalized
education is needed for the
next wave of health science
professionals.
Throughout history, world events
and major developments have
caused trends to emerge in higher
education.
When Sputnik, the world’s first
artificial satellite, was first launched
by the Soviet Union in 1957, it
stimulated an incredible interest in
space travel.
This effect translated to a great
increase in students pursuing
the sciences, engineering and
mathematics through higher
education.
When the home computer first
became an option to society, many
colleges and universities began to
offer computer science programs to
meet the high demand of interested
students.
Based on these past watershed
moments for higher education,
there is reason to believe the
COVID-19 pandemic will ignite
another wave of interest, this time
in health science related programs.
This virus has an impact not only
on the U.S., but the entire world.
While health leaders strive to
develop advanced testing methods,
antibodies, vaccines and improved
forms of treatment, our youth are
viewing devastating effects on
society through news media and
their own personal experience.
This will likely instill a desire in
them to join the frontlines and work
to make a difference by becoming
successful nurses, physicians,
chemists and other types of health
professionals.
Daemen College is wellpositioned
to meet the needs of this
next generation.
As an institution, Daemen
offers an entire pallet of medical
science programs with a history
of excellence and success, while
providing a well-rounded and
personalized education – both
essential in teaching our students
to become caring, compassionate
healthcare leaders.
We offer programs in physician
assistant studies, physical therapy,
nursing, athletic training, public
health, natural sciences and many
Michael S.
Brogan, DPT,
Ph.D. is Senior
Vice President
for Academic
Affairs, Dean of
Daemen College
other healthrelated
fields,
and deliver
them in a way
that integrates
the intellectual
qualities of the
liberal arts and
humanities with
the professional
knowledge,
proficiency
and skills that
are required in
these various
medical
professions.
Essentially,
in addition to technical skills, it
is imperative that our students
understand the emotional and
sociological needs of patients to
provide them with the best possible
care.
We offer a curriculum that is
heavily focused on experiential
learning, internships and service
learning requirements, which
provide pertinent hands-on
experience working with those in
need.
For instance, our Students
Without Borders non-profit
organization allows physician
assistant and physical therapy
students, along with faculty and
local practitioners, to help provide
medical assistance both locally and
in the Dominican Republic.
In addition to exposing our
students to humanitarian values,
we also teach our students in small,
inclusive classroom settings. As a
result they receive personalized
attention from professors who are
not only instructors and experts in
their field, but serve as role models
as well.
This relationship opens doors
to networking opportunities,
placements and research
experience, again exposing our
students to the essential hand-on
experience they need for a valuable
education.
Overall, teaching with a
personalized approach and a wellbalanced
curriculum will help the
next wave of health professionals
provide superior care to our
community and beyond.
It was Tuesday, March 3, 2020, the
day Evergreen Health formed its
COVID-19 Response Team. We
were a few weeks away from one
of our favorite events – our annual
all employee meeting. Instead of
finalizing plans to celebrate our
success and get motivated for the
exciting year ahead, we quickly
changed gears to focus on these
three priorities: keep our employees
safe, keep our patients healthy and
keep our organization open for
business. A daunting task in this
unprecedented time, but I knew
deep down that if anyone could get
through this it was Evergreen.
COVID-19 is a challenge that
none of us have ever faced, however
Evergreen Health was created
in response to a crisis; the AIDS
epidemic of the 1980s. And while
we do not want to compare the
two situations from a medical
standpoint, we do know that we
can rely on the same values to get
through this together: collaboration,
compassion and a commitment
to providing exceptional care. The
COVID-19 situation is changing
every single day. And so are we. To
adapt and continue caring for our
patients.
I’m proud to say that many of
our services have remained open
during this time – primary and
specialty care, STI testing, syringe
exchange and drug user health
programs, harm reduction services,
counseling services and our
pharmacy. By working together, we
Ray Ganoe
is President
and CEO of
Evergreen Health
have found ways
to continue vital
patient services,
even if they
look and feel
different than a
mere few weeks
ago.
In the
midst of these
challenges,
what’s been
most inspiring
is watching how
our employees
have cared for each other, our
patients and the community.
Some have made masks to donate
to other organizations who need
them. Birthday celebrations are
taking place via video conferencing
technology. And, we’ve even had
a few impromptu socially distant
dance parties in our lobby. Our
commitment to our patients and
each other has been our north star
guiding us to what we know are
better days to come.
We are all in this together.
Not just as Team Evergreen, but
as service providers, caregivers,
business leaders, parents,
employees and the list goes on.
The quick-thinking, camaraderie,
thoughtfulness and humanity we
have witnessed not only in the local
healthcare community, but the
community at large, has been a true
inspiration. On behalf of everyone
at Evergreen, we are proud to be a
part of this community and we will
see through it.
4 THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST