The Team Who We Are See our Board of Directors Donna Kahm, SPHR President & CEO Lacey Arnold Program Support Specialist Sarah Burt Program Assistant Toni Cottone Program Assistant Lindsey Green Program Support Specialist Mark Leckband Program Assistant Kathleen Monroe Administrative Assistant Rob Pritchard Director of Program Development Colleen Ross Bookkeeper Bethany Schoonover-Kruse Program Assistant Ellie Strade Program Assistant Micheyla Williams Program Assistant Jordan Yaros Director of Grant Operations

IMPROVING THE HEALTH & WELLNESS OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES Our Key Services At Southern Tier Health Care System, we are dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by our rural communities. Our programs are designed to improve access, provide education, and deliver life-saving resources to underserved populations. Here’s how we make a difference: Community Support EMS Education & Training Step Into Healthcare Telehealth Safe Kids Pathways to Care About us For 30 years, Southern Tier Health Care System (STHCS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Olean, NY, has served 250,000 residents in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties—rural areas facing severe healthcare shortages and high poverty rates. STHCS partners with healthcare providers, educators, law enforcement, and other leaders to deliver holistic care, leveraging technology to improve access. Programs include EMS training, Narcan education, suicide prevention, and initiatives to eliminate barriers to healthcare. Collaborating with 12 partners, STHCS aligns with health department priorities to enhance healthcare capacity and support underserved communities. See Programs Our Mission Our Mission Our Mission It is the mission of Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. to improve the health and wellness of the rural communities we serve. Belief Statement Agencies and organizations affiliated with STHCS believe that our collective knowledge and experience is an effective resource to address health care issues in our region. We further believe that STHCS is an appropriate mechanism to facilitate the project and programs which may be needed to accomplish this. Vision Statement The vision of STHCS is that comprehensive health needs of all people will be met through its facilitation of an accessible, seamless, quality system of providers and services. This will be accomplished by maximizing resources and cost-effective approaches to improve the quality of life. SEE UPDATES VIEW DONNA'S WEEKLY PROGRAM UPDATES! Donna Kahm has served as President and CEO at Southern Tier Health Care System since January 2007. To view her weekly updates, click below! View Updates Our Programs

Obstetrician/ Gynecologist (OBGYN) OB/GYN is inherently dedicated to women's reproductive health and well-being. These healthcare professionals navigate the diverse realms of obstetrics and gynecology, addressing the unique medical needs of women across different life stages. In the realm of obstetrics, they guide expectant mothers through the transformative journey of pregnancy, ensuring safe deliveries and postpartum care. In gynecology, their focus extends to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions affecting the female reproductive system. The nature of this profession involves a delicate balance of clinical expertise, surgical skills, and compassionate care. OB/GYNs conduct routine screenings, provide family planning services, and offer support in navigating various reproductive health issues. The profession is characterized by a commitment to empowering women, fostering healthy pregnancies, and promoting overall reproductive wellness Career Fact Sheet Download Career Fact Sheet: ObstetricianGynecologist (OBGYN) .pdf Download PDF • 719KB

Dr. Kevin Watkins Elected NYSAC President Congratulations to Dr. Kevin Watkins, Cattaraugus County Public Health Director and member of the Southern Tier Health Care System Board of Directors, who was elected President of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). Dr. Watkins was sworn in as President this week. NYSAC represents county governments across New York State and provides a statewide voice on issues affecting counties and their communities. Dr. Watkins has been a strong leader in Cattaraugus County for many years, particularly in advancing public health and strengthening partnerships across health care and community organizations. His election to this statewide leadership role is a great recognition of the work and leadership he has provided here in Cattaraugus County. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Watkins’ leadership and expertise represented on the STHCS Board. Building a regional Response to Hepatitis C Last week, I met with Park Bogan from the Albany Damien Center, who shared information about their work to develop regional coalitions across New York State focused on the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C. This is especially important for our area. Western New York continues to see higher rates of hepatitis C, with Chautauqua County having the highest rate in the Western New York region and Cattaraugus and Allegany counties also experiencing rates above the New York State average. The goal of the coalition is to bring together healthcare providers, community organizations, and local leaders to identify needs, improve access to testing and treatment, and support New York State’s efforts to eliminate hepatitis C. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, you can contact Park at pbogan@albanydamiencenter.org or (716) 389-8825.

Gathering Local Insight for Our Cattaraugus County Planning Grant As part of our Cattaraugus County Rural Community Health Integration Planning Grant, Jordan attended a Public Forum on Rural Health and Healthcare in Cattaraugus County, sponsored by the Health Care Access Coalition and the DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure University. The discussion brought together local health care leaders to talk about the current state of health care in our county, including needs, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Jordan attended on behalf of STHCS to gather information and community perspectives that will help inform our planning process and the work ahead under the grant. Events like this are a great opportunity to make sure the planning work we are doing reflects what is actually happening across Cattaraugus County and builds on work already underway in our community. Rural Health Matters I joined Thursday’s New York State Rural Health Council meeting virtually. With our REMSCO meeting at the STHCS office Wednesday evening, I wasn’t able to travel to Syracuse, so I appreciated being able to participate remotely. During the meeting, we heard about Upstate Medical University’s Rural Medical Scholars Program, maternal health, and New York State’s Rural Health Transformation Program. We also received an update from the Council’s codes, regulations, and legislation workgroup. These are conversations that matter to STHCS and the communities we serve. Recruiting and keeping healthcare professionals, improving access to maternal care, and making sure rural communities have a voice in statewide planning are challenges we work on alongside our partners. Thank you to Council Chair Claire Parde for leading another great meeting, and to Karen Madden and her staff for bringing it all together. I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent our region on the Council and share what I learn with our community partners.

New York State EMS Council Meeting Rob and I, along with other council members, attended the New York State EMS Council meeting this week. We covered a lot, including county EMS planning, community paramedicine, education and certification changes, provider safety and wellness, and statewide EMS data. One resource discussed was the new EMS Mental Health & Wellness Toolkit developed by the Mental Health Association in New York State in partnership with the NYS Department of Health Division of State EMS. It includes practical information on peer support, difficult calls, confidentiality, mental health resources, and ways providers can better support one another. Our EMS providers spend so much time taking care of others, and it is important that they have resources to help take care of themselves as well. View the EMS Mental Health & Wellness Toolkit Planning for the Year Ahead This week, I worked with Colleen and Kathy to complete the Year 2 budget and work plan for our Rural Health Network Development Program. The plan builds on the work we are already doing while adding new priorities related to the Social Care Network and rural health transformation. We truly appreciate the continued support from our funders, which allows us to keep strengthening rural health care and serving our communities. A big thank-you to Colleen and Kathy for all their work to make sure this was completed and submitted.