Team Members in the News: March and April Highlights!
Spring is in full swing, longer days are back—and VNS Health team members are shining bright in news stories locally and nationally! From exciting news of launches and Health Plans growth to inspiring articles about how we help keep the community healthy, it’s clear our amazing team members are “springing into action” left and right.
Team members featured in March and April news stories include
- Jessica Fear, SVP, Behavioral Health
- Annie John, VP, Clinical Integrated Programs, Behavioral Health
- Dan Savitt, President, and CEO
- Pat Deferio, VP, Upstate Health Plans
- Margaret McDonald, AVP, Center for Home Care Policy & Research
- Rosa Marcus, Director of Support Services, Personal Care
- Grace McGhee, Care Management Director, Health Plans
- Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care
- David Robinson, VP, Sales and Partnership Development
- Dolly Garcia-Willix, Social Worker, Home Care
- Winnie Province, RN, Home Care
- Constance Evans, RN and Preceptor, Home Care
- Debra Corbett, VP, Care Management Solutions
- Dan Carpenedo, Operations Support Director
- Qianwen Xu, Occupational Therapist, Home Care
- Carla Renders, Director, Upstate Network Management
Local, National Outlets Report on Launch of VNS Health’s Integrated Clinic
Local online and broadcast news as well as national outlets like The Associated Press and Open Minds reported on the exciting launch of VNS Health’s Integrated Mental Health and Substance Use Clinic in the South Bronx. Local coverage included a write-up in influential business outlet Crain’s, a feature story in The Bronx Times with takeaways from Jessica Fear, SVP, Behavioral Health and Annie John, VP, Clinical Integrated Programs, and a video story that aired almost a dozen times on News12, spotlighting the event and how the clinic will help address critical care gaps in the community.
Watch the News12 story below.
Dan Savitt Speaks to the Importance of Innovation in The Wall Street Journal
A story in The Wall Street Journal Pro examined the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on health startups. CEO Dan Savitt was quoted in the piece, emphasizing the importance of innovation and the need to prioritize patient care despite administrative challenges. Read more here.
A Hometown Happy Birthday for Lillian Wald!
A Rochester News 8 story in March tied to Women’s History Monthspotlighted Rochester-raised Lillian Wald’s impact on public health and nursing for Women’s History Month. In the video report, Elderwood IPA Nursing Director Virginia Desens also discussed how our Health Plans are now available in western New York, continuing Wald’s legacy of compassionate caring for New Yorkers.
Multiple Outlets Feature Expansion of Health Plans into Erie and Monroe Counties
National and local outlets, including The Associated Press, The Rochester Business Journal, WPIX11 NYC, CBS 8 (Rochester), WFXV Fox (Utica) and WTEM NBC (Elmira) shared VNS Health’s announcement that the organization has been approved by the NYS Department of Health to expand their Medicare offerings into Erie and Monroe counties. The pieces speak to the positive impact VNS Health’s Health Plans have on keeping communities healthy, as well as takeaways from Pat Deferio, VP, Upstate Health Plans.
McKnight’s Spotlights Pinnacle Awardees Rosa Marcus, Margaret McDonald and Grace McGhee
McKnight’s celebrated their Pinnacle Awardees in person this past March and, as part of their coverage, published multiple stories on VNS Health’s distinguished winners. The McKnight’s “Changemakers Podcast” featured an interview with Margaret McDonald, AVP of Center for Home Care Policy & Research, where she discussed her extensive research in home and community health and the critical need to serve vulnerable communities. Rosa Marcus, Director of Support Services, Personal Care, was one of McKnight’s “Unsung Hero” awardees. McKnight’s published a profile of Rosa detailing the compassion she has put into her work, as well as her ability to connect and have empathy for others. In a separate story, McKnight’s also profiled “Setting the Standard” awardee Grace McGhee, Care Management Director, Health Plans, for her efforts to further compassionate and culturally sensitive care for vulnerable communities, as well as her work educating the next generation of clinicians.
VNS Health’s Acquisition of Alliance Home Services Makes Headlines
The Associated Press reported on VNS Health’s acquisition of Alliance Home Services. In their report, Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care, expressed pride in welcoming new colleagues and supporting high-quality care. The announcement was also covered by multiple New York outlets, including Crain’s Health Pulse, Fox 33 (Utica), ABC 10 (Albany) and CBS 8 (Rochester) among others.
Modern Healthcare Spotlights Health Plans Growth
Modern Healthcare focused on the growth of Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs) enrollment across the country, which has surpassed expectations. Their coverage pointed specifically to VNS Health Health Plans and the growth of its Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs), noting that “VNS Health emerged as one of the fastest-growing D-SNP insurers, boasting an 81% growth rate.” A separate story in Modern Healthcare on Medicare growth featured takeaways from David Robinson, VP, Sales and Partnership Development, on the many ways our Health Plans have grown their D-SNP membership by providing care that meets the unique needs of diverse NYC communities. Read more here.
Becker’s Payer Issues Spotlights Our Health Plans as One of the Fastest-Growing Nonprofit MA Plans
A piece in Becker’s Payer Issues examined the growth of nonprofit Medicare Advantage (MA) plans across the country and spotlighted VNS Health’s MA plans as being among the top five nonprofit MA plan administrators nationally in terms of increased enrollment in 2025. Read more on Frontline here.
Long Island Press Features Social Worker Dolly Garcia-Willix
In a story tied to Social Work Month, The Long Island Press profiled the dedication and compassion of Social Worker Dolly Garcia-Willix. In the article, Dolly stresses that one of her most important priorities is helping connect people, particularly older adults, with the resources they need to age safely at home and in their communities. Read the full profile on Frontline here.
Amsterdam News Publishes Inspiring Profiles of RNs Winnie Province and Constance Evans.
The Amsterdam News published an inspiring feature story about VNS Health nurse Winnie Province as part of their “Black New Yorkers series,” focusing on the many ways she supports the health of the community through home care nursing. Winnie spoke to the importance of diversity in the clinician workforce, particularly in serving the Black community in New York City, and how receiving culturally sensitive care has a positive impact on health outcomes.
In a separate profile in the series, Nurse Preceptor Constance Evans was featured in The Amsterdam News, where she shared her story of what brought her to home care nursing, and what she loves most about her job. The piece also details what Connie finds most fulfilling in her current role as a nurse preceptor, helping to mentor the next generation of home care nurses.
Read the full pieces on Frontline here and here.
VNS Health’s Palliative Care Research Spotlighted in Home Health Care News
Home Health Care News spotlighted research on palliative care services headed by Columbia Nursing and co-authored by Margaret McDonald, AVP, Center for Home Care Policy & Research at VNS Health. Margaret highlighted the study’s findings, which emphasize the importance of palliative care for serious illnesses.
AIS Health Features Debra Corbett on How Tech and Compassionate Care Can Help Support an Aging Population
AIS Health published an engaging story about a panel discussion on caring for an aging population, hosted by the Bliss Group. The story featured remarks by Debra Corbett, VP, Care Management Solutions, who shared insights on ways VNS Health is effectively using traditional home care and technology to address health disparities in the community. Read more on Frontline here.
Dan Carpenedo Speaks to HHCN on the Important Role of Schedulers
A story in Home Health Care News examines the important role schedulers play in improving both patient care and business performance for home care agencies. In the piece, Dan Carpenedo, Operations Support Director, speaks to the many ways that the work of schedulers covers more than a typical “administrative” role. Read the whole story on Frontline here.
For Occupational Therapy Month, OT Cici Xu Shares Tips on Recovering from Falls
Patch published a helpful advice piece from Occupational Therapist Qianwen “Cici” Xu, explaining the important role home care occupational therapists (OTs) play in helping people stay independent, especially individuals recovering from a fall. The piecedives into the unique way OTs help patients who have experienced a serious fall build and strengthen the skills needed for activities of daily living. Read the full piece on Frontline here.
Carla Renders, Director, Upstate Network Management, Profiled in Albany Business Review
Albany Business Review featured Carla Renders in their “People on the Move” section. The profile highlights Carla’s significant role in strengthening our Health Plans; provider networks in upstate New York, displaying her deep connections to the region. Read more on Frontline.
