About us
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!
Who We Are
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:
- Health careers exploration
- Continuing education programs and services
- Clinical training opportunities
- Community partnership development
Our Region
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.

Our Staff
Richard Merchant
CEO
rkm@nahecnet.org / 315.379.7701
Christina DeLorenzo
CFO
cdelorenzo@nahecnet.org / 315.379.7701
Whitney Callaghan
NAHEC Center Director
whitney@nahecnet.org / 518.813.7468
Bryn Donovan
NAHEC Program Coordinator
bryn@nahecnet.org / 603.412.2690
Steven G. Frederick
VP of Business Development
sfrederick@hwny.org
Christen Aldrich
Administration and Communications Manager
christen@hwapps.org / 530.680.5501
Kris Merchant
HWNY Director of Projects
kris@hwapps.org / 315.212.7517
Ben Aldrich
HWNY Director of Technology and Data Security
ben@hwapps.org / 315.244.7260
Ashleigh McGowan
HWNY VP of Strategy & Operations
amcgowan@cnyahec.org / 607.423.9199
Board of Directors
Chair
Anne Richey
Chief Executive Officer
Cerebral Palsy Association of the North Country & Community Health Center of the North Country
Vice Chair
Gerald R. Cayer
Chief Executive Officer
Lewis County General Hospital
Treasurer
Joe Keegan
President
North Country Community College
Saranac Lake Campus
Secretary
Paul Dingman
Administrator (Retired)
Plattsburgh City School District
Members
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
Rodney Boula, MHA, MHCQI
Chief Executive Officer
Abbeville Area Medical Center
Kassandra Beauregard
Director of Learning and Development
The University of Vermont Health Network
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
Rich Duvall
Chief Executive Officer
Carthage Area Hospital Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center
Joe Keegan
President
North Country Community College
Saranac Lake Campus