NAHEC, through collaborative efforts, improves access to quality health care by promoting improvements in the supply, training, development and distribution of health professionals in a 5-county area.
Why do our staff love working here? Check out this fun video that showcases staff from Northern Area Health Education Center, Central New York Area Health Education Center, and Health WorkForce New York and why they love what they do!
Established in July 2001, NAHEC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization working to improve health care access, delivery, and outcomes in a 5-county region of Northern New York.
The NAHEC service area is home to hospitals and health care providers located in predominantly rural areas. There are numerous geographic pockets of federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) within the NAHEC region, specifically in the areas of primary health care, mental health care, and dental health care. Our Pipeline to Practice approach connects students to careers, professionals to communities, and communities to better health.
The NAHEC’s mission was adopted in June 2002 and reads as follows: NAHEC, through collaborative efforts, improves access to quality health care by promoting improvements in the supply, training, development and distribution of health professionals in a 5-county area.
Strategic planning is guided by the mission and allows NAHEC to focus its efforts in four priority areas:
As part of the larger New York State AHEC System, NAHEC is one of nine centers in the State of New York offering statewide capacity for addressing healthcare workforce needs. NAHEC serves Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties.
Richard Merchant
CEO
[email protected]
Rachael Schafer
Administrative Operations Manager
[email protected]
Emily Ehrensperger
NAHEC Center Director
[email protected]
Jamey Merkel
NAHEC Program Manager
[email protected]
Vanessa Green Falzon
ICAM Program Manager, NC Region
[email protected]
Christina DeLorenzo
Chief Finance and Administration Officer
[email protected] / 315.379.7701
Kayla Gugin
Fiscal Operations Manager
[email protected]
Ashleigh McGowan
Chief Innovation & Design Officer
[email protected] / 607.423.9199
Ben Aldrich
HWNY Director of Technology and Data Security
[email protected] / 315.244.7260
Tasnim Islam
HWNY Program Manager
[email protected] / 929.375.1454
Grace Natale-Riley
ICAM Engagement and Growth Manager
[email protected]
Chair
Gerald R. Cayer, MPH
Chief Executive Officer
Lewis County Health System
Vice Chair
Joe Keegan
President
North Country Community College
Treasurer
Rodney Boula, MHA, MHQI
Chief Executive Officer (Retired)
Self Regional Healthcare
Secretary
Paul Dingman, MS, BS, SAS
Administrator (Retired)
Plattsburgh City School District
Members
David Bender
CEO
United Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country
Community Health Center of the North Country
Kassandra Beauregard
Business Operations Director
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
Katherine L. Beissner, P.T., Ph.D.
Dean, College of Health Professions
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Lennart D. Johns, Ph.D., ATC
Dean, Lewis School of Health Sciences
Clarkson University
Amy Nugent
Vice President of Nursing – Massena Hospital
System Director, Nursing Education – St. Lawrence Region
Ex-Officio Member: Lauren L. Meyer, PhD, CAS
Director of Rural Medical Scholars Program
Upstate Medical University
Rural communities face unique healthcare access challenges. The Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) is dedicated to addressing these challenges with innovative, effective programming that strengthens health workforce capacity across the North Country.
NAHEC programming spans health career exploration activities, continuing education opportunities, community partnership development, and scholarships and student support. We target high-need health career paths including primary care, allied health, behavioral health, emergency services, and dental care.
NAHEC maintains a Continuing Education platform where providers can earn free CEUs on-demand in select disciplines. Trainings span a series of topics ranging from trauma-informed care to team-based approaches to diabetes management. NAHEC also partners with Health WorkForce New York on the Institute for Career Advancement in Medicine (ICAM), an innovative platform that centralizes local health career exploration, training, and support resources. Register for free today!
Above all, NAHEC values collaboration. If your organization would like to partner on a health career exploration program, continuing education opportunity, or other project, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Emily Ehrensperger, Center Director
As part of the larger New York State AHEC System, NAHEC is one of nine centers in the State of New York offering statewide capacity for addressing healthcare workforce needs. NAHEC serves Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton counties. The NYSAHEC System is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Award titled Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program (U77). The content and information is solely the responsibility of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
