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Area Health Care Executives Join HEALTHeLINK™ Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2009
Contact:
Laura Taczak
e3communications
716-854-8182

ECMC CEO and BlueCross BlueShield Executive recently named

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - HEALTHeLINK™, the Western New York Clinical Exchange, today announced that Cheryl Howe, executive vice president, operations with BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Jody Lomeo, CEO of Erie County Medical Center, have joined the organization's board of directors.

As part of the executive leadership team for BlueCross BlueShield, Ms. Howe oversees all market-related activities including sales, marketing and communications, corporate operations and medical management. Ms. Howe received her master's degree in health services administration from D'Youville College and a Bachelor of Science in communication from the University at Buffalo. Ms. Howe is chairperson of Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, serves on the Key Bank Advisory Board as well as the board of directors for the Foundation for Healthy Living.

Mr. Lomeo was recently named as permanent CEO at ECMC after serving as interim CEO.  Previous to his appointment as CEO, he served on the ECMC Corporation Board of Directors in various leadership positions and worked as an independent financial planner.  Mr. Lomeo earned his Bachelor of Science in finance from University at Buffalo.  He serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Joseph Collegiate Institute and also is a board member of the U.S. Small Business Administration Buffalo District Advisory Council.

The 2009 HEALTHeLINK™ board is chaired by Michael Cropp, MD, president and CEO of Independent Health. Other board members include: Anthony Billittier, MD, Commissioner of Health, Erie County; Mary Lee Campbell-Wisley, regional president, Univera Healthcare; Paulette Crooke, executive vice president, HSBC USA; David Dunn, MD, vice president, health sciences, University at Buffalo; Dennis Horrigan, president and CEO, CIPA WNY IPA Inc.; James Kaskie, president and CEO, Kaleida Health System; Kenneth Oakley, CEO, Rural Health Education Center; David Scamurra, MD, pathologist, Catholic Health System; and Judy Smith, executive medical director, Roswell Park Cancer Institute. 

About HEALTHeLINK™

HEALTHeLINK™, the Western New York Clinical Information Exchange (WNYCIE), is a collaborative effort among various organizations to share clinical information in efficient and meaningful ways to improve the delivery of care, enhance clinical outcomes, and help control healthcare costs throughout the region. The not-for-profit organization was established through funding from The Catholic Health System, Erie County Medical Center Corporation, HealthNow New York (BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York), Independent Health Association, Kaleida Health, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Univera Healthcare and a $3.5 million HEAL 1 grant from New York State. HEALTHeLINK™ stakeholders also include a broad representation of healthcare professionals and organizations throughout the eight-county Western New York region such as the Buffalo Academy of Medicine (BAM), Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), State University of New York at Buffalo and the WNY R-AHEC (Rural Area Health Education Center).