Rural Health Council Members

• Tess Sacco Barker, Health Care Provider
  President and Chief Executive Officer, Planned Parenthood of the North Country
  Jefferson County
  Appointed by Governor
• James Button, Health Care Administrator
  President and Chief Executive Officer, Citizen Advocates
  Franklin County
  Appointed by Governor
• Tricia Peter Clark, Health Care Administrator
  President and Chief Executive Officer, ConnextCare
  Oswego County
  Appointed by Minority Leader of the Assembly
• Lazarus Gehring, MD, Health Care Provider
  Partner, Endwell Family Physicians
  Broome County
  Appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
• James Haitz, Health Care Provider
  Director of Community Services, Wayne County Behavioral Health
  Wayne County
  Appointed by Governor
• Steven Kelley, Health Care Provider
  President and Chief Executive Officer, Ellenville Regional Hospital
  Ulster County
  Appointed by Governor
• Claire Parde, Chair, Health Care Administrator
  Executive Director, Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium
  Columbia County
  Appointed by Governor
• Paul Pettit, Health Care Administator
  Director of Public Health, Genesee and Orleans County Health Department
  Orleans County
  Appointed by Governor
• Rebecca Preve, Member
  Executive Director, Association on Aging in New York
  Albany County
  Appointed by Governor
• Victoria Reid, Member, Health Care Administrator
  Deputy Director of Innovation, Ulster County Department of Budget and Finance
  Ulster County
  Appointed by Temporary President of the Senate
• William L. Owens, Esq., Health Care Regulation
  Partner, Stafford Owens
  Clinton County
  Appointed by Speaker of the Assembly
• Reginald Q. Knight, MD, Health Care Provider
  Senior Vice President & Chief Physician Executive, Bassett Healthcare Network
  Otsego County
  Appointed by Minority Leader of the Senate
• Vacancy: Temporary President of the Senate
• Vacancy: Temporary President of the Senate
• Vacancy: Temporary President of the Senate
• Vacancy: Speaker of the Assembly

Process for Filling Vacancies

Vacancies resulting from a Council member's resignation shall be filled with candidates who meet the requirements of the membership as provided for in Public Health Law § 236-b.

Expenses and Reimbursement Information

Members are reimbursed for travel expenses.