The number of patients visiting the Bassett Cancer Institute hit an all-time high in 2023 with more than 20,456 visits. "The region's growing cancer burden demands our attention and action," say Bassett Cancer Institute Chief and Medical Director Alfred Tinger, MD. "We have experienced a 25% growth in the number of patients seeking care at our Oneonta Cancer Center alone." Responding to this need, raising funds to expand cancer services in Oneonta has become a top 2024 priority for the Friends of Bassett. If you would like to learn more about the Bassett Cancer Institute Initiative please click here.

Bassett's K-9 Security team, a unique program in Central New York, is possible due to the generous support of donors like you. Our newest addition to the team is Dankievitch (Dank) who joined the program thanks to a generous gift from David and Susan Theobald. To learn more about this amazing program visit our website here.

Bringing all talent acquisition efforts in-house has brought a new season of growth to our organization. As we track and measure caregiver recruitment, we see very positive trends, including in nurse and medical staff recruitment. Our current goal is to sign a minimum of 100 new practitioners each year in order to accommodate openings, retirements, and expected turnover. Last year, we secured 93 new practitioners, which was a significant improvement from the 60± figure we have maintained the past few years. Meanwhile our Nursing Recruitment Team’s efforts are also trending upwards.

When you or a loved one needs care, you need it now and we hear you. That is why our commitment to provide access to high-quality care is one of our top priorities. Bassett Healthcare Network is here for you. To view current career opportunities at Bassett Healthcare Network click here.

We are so proud to announce that this past May, O'Connor Hospital was chosen to receive a Women's Choice Award as one of the best hospitals for emergency timeliness. This is a national award that recognizes O'Connor Hospital for having some of the shortest ER wait times and highest patient recommendations putting them among the top 13% of more than 4,600 U.S. hospitals. Congratulations to our team in Delhi for this amazing work!

The Friends of Bassett held their annual golf invitational on Tuesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 30, at The Otesaga Hotel’s challenging par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course. The event was a great success, raising over $125,000 for the Bassett Healthcare Network. Proceeds from the event will support the Friends' Annual Fund, which bolsters regional initiatives across Bassett Healthcare Network's eight-county service area.

We extend a special thank you to Steven Kroll, Chair of the Cobleskill Regional Hospital Board and Friends of Bassett Board, and Curtis Pearsall, Friends of Bassett and Valley Health Services Board member, for sponsoring two teams of employees from across the network. We hope these teams, along with all players, enjoyed a beautiful day of golf while supporting the Bassett Healthcare Network.

On Friday, May 24 many caregivers and medical professionals, alumni, residents, interns, and community members gathered in the Clark Auditorium of the Bassett Medical Center (with zoom option available) for the inaugural David S. Svahn Humanities in Medicine Endowed Memorial Lecture.

The late Dr. Svahn devoted his life to caring for patients and inspiring others in the medical field to do so in a manner that placed emphasis on the whole patient. This lecture series came to be through a generous memorial gift from Dr. Svahn’s daughter and son in-law, Dr. Jennifer Svahn and Dr. Jeffrey Nicastro.

The guest speaker was author and cardiologist, Dr. Michael LaCombe. The lecture topic was centered on Dr. Svahn’s legacy as a physician and teacher. Thank you to Dr. Jennifer Svahn and her husband, Dr. Jeffery Nicastro, for this thoughtful gift.