BOLTON LANDING, N.Y. – Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) presented its two signature honors, recognizing Louis Heimbach of Orange Regional Medical Center (ORMC), with the 2008 Trustee Leadership Award, and Ellie Fralick of Thompson Health with the 2008 Trustee Advocacy Award. The awards were presented at the HTNYS Annual Conference in Bolton Landing.
Trustee Advocacy Award
Ellie Fralick joined Thompson Health in 2000 as a member of its Senior Living Services Board after a career that included positions with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, United Hospital Fund, the Health Policy and Management Program at New York University, and the East London/City Health Authority in the United Kingdom. She addressed Ontario County’s fragmented long-term care system and its readiness to serve the growing senior population by convening a countywide Summit on Aging in 2001 and was instrumental in gaining the participation of three area health systems to participate, along with county agencies, not-for-profits, the sheriff, mayor, school superintendent, and clergy.
Ms. Fralick brought the same passion and commitment to the Thompson Health Board of Trustees in 2005. After a young man in the community disclosed a suicide attempt to his peers, Ms. Fralick urged hospital leaders to gather information about the prevalence of local teen self-harm. After learning that incidents were higher than in comparable locales, she helped expand the existing partnership between Thompson and the school district to develop a comprehensive community approach.
In organizing to assure access to services for individuals affected by human immunodeficiency virus, Ms. Fralick recognized the power of flooding Albany with advocates to educate legislators about a cause. Ms. Fralick’s advocacy efforts illustrate her commitment to strengthening community health care and her belief that all members of a community deserve access to the best care possible.
Since 1985, HTNYS Trustee Leadership Award has honored one trustee, who has had a profound impact in the board room in terms of trustee skills, time commitment, and knowledge required for effective decision making. HTNYS Trustee Advocacy Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions in advocacy initiatives on behalf of their hospital or health system.
HTNYS, an affiliate of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), assists voluntary health care trustees through education, communications, and advocacy to promote the delivery of quality health care to all communities in a cost-effective manner