CANANDAIGUA – The chairman of the UR Medicine Thompson Health Board of Directors was recently chosen as the winner of the 2019 Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award.
James H. Barr of Canandaigua will receive the award at HTNYS’ Annual Trustee Conference on Sept. 14 at the Saratoga Hilton.
A co-founder of Mengel Metzger Barr & Co., LLP, Barr joined Thompson’s Board of Directors in 2004. In addition to being its chairman – since 2017 – he is chair of the board’s Executive Committee. He is also a member of the board’s Finance Committee and its Quality & Safety Committee, as well as past chair of its Audit Committee.
Thompson Health President/CEO Michael F. Stapleton, Jr. credits Barr with shepherding Thompson through transformational changes, including a $14 million upgrade of its electronic health record system in 2019 and the acquisition of the Canandaigua Medical Group in 2018. In addition, Stapleton said, Barr was a strong advocate for Thompson as the health system convinced the state of the need to expand its intensive care unit from seven beds to 12 with a project currently under way and slated for completion in 2020.
“Jim is an approachable leader who shows up and leads by example. He is a consummate professional and dedicated champion for Thompson, and we were thrilled to hear he is this year’s recipient of the Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award,” Stapleton said. “Thompson is fortunate to have Jim in our corner, and seeing him recognized for all his hard work is incredibly gratifying for all of us.”
HTNYS created the award in 1985 to recognize healthcare trustees who “bring extraordinary leadership and dedication to their governance role” with skills, commitment and effective decision-making that have an impact in their boardrooms.