CEO Update: July 10, 2026

Rural Community Health Integration Planning Grant Update

We're entering the final stretch of completing our application for the New York State Department of Health Rural Community Health Integration Planning Grant. While the timeline has been incredibly compressed, it has also been an exciting opportunity to work alongside our partners to help shape the future of rural health care in Cattaraugus County.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the Cattaraugus County assessment process. Your insights, feedback, and willingness to share your perspectives helped identify the priorities and opportunities reflected throughout this application.

I also want to extend a special thank you to my staff for the countless hours spent helping pull this application together. From coordinating information and tracking details to proofreading, reviewing drafts, and ensuring everything was submission-ready, your dedication, flexibility, and commitment have been invaluable. This truly has been a team effort, and I couldn't have accomplished it without your support.

We're not quite at the finish line, but we're close. I sincerely appreciate everyone's collaboration, encouragement, and support throughout this process. I look forward to submitting a strong application on behalf of Cattaraugus County and continuing to build the partnerships that will help improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

EMT-B Academy Begins with 12 Future EMS Professionals

This week, we officially kicked off our 2026 EMT-B Academy, with 12 students beginning their journey toward becoming New York State Emergency Medical Technicians.

It has been a great first week, with students already building the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills that will prepare them to serve our communities. As part of their training, the class had the opportunity to visit the City of Olean Fire Department, where they gained valuable insight into emergency response operations and the critical role teamwork plays in delivering high-quality patient care.

We are grateful to the City of Olean Fire Department for welcoming our students and providing such a meaningful hands-on learning experience. Partnerships like these are essential to preparing the next generation of EMS professionals and strengthening the future of emergency medical services across our region.

We look forward to watching this outstanding group grow throughout the program and ultimately join the EMS workforce, where they will make a lasting difference in the communities they serve.

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