Colleen Lanning addressing audience members at a town hall meeting hosted by Indivisible Cortland County in February (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)
The following is a republished press release from Indivisible Cortland County.
CORTLAND, N.Y. - Indivisible Cortland County (ICC) will host a public healthcare forum on Saturday, May 20 at the United Presbyterian Church, 25 Church Street in Cortland. The forum begins at 2:00 p.m.
Panelists participating in the forum include Linda Smith (Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton’s office), Doug Rahner, MD (Family Health Network), Denise Wrinn (Cortland Regional Medical Center), Lisa Hoeschele (Family Counseling Services), and Bob Haight (Cortland County Chamber of Commerce).
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Panelists will discuss a variety of healthcare topics, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience. Conversation will focus on the Affordable Care Act and a review of what has worked, what has not worked, and who has been left behind. Other healthcare topics will include a discussion on healthcare in Cortland County including gaps in services and community need, and information on the proposed New York Health Act (“universal healthcare.”)
Linda Smith has worked for Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton since 2004 and is currently her Chief of Staff. Prior to working for Assemblywoman Lifton, Linda was an occupational health and safety trainer for the Midstate Council on Occupational Safety and Health (Midstate COSH) and the Central New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health (CNYCOSH). She was an active member of Midstate Central Labor Council for 20 years, including serving as president. Linda also worked at a local manufacturer for 13 years and served as a UAW leader. Linda and her husband also raise their own pork and preserve food from their large garden as well as from other locally grown produce.
Doug Rahner is a family physician. He has served on the Cortland County Board of Health for the last 8 years and has also held several leadership positions at Cortland Regional Medical Center (CRMC). He is the recipient of the Rural Health Practitioner of the Year award from the New York State Association for Rural Health as well as the CRMC Physician of the Year award.
Denise Wrinn is the Vice President Finance/Chief Financial Officer at Cortland Regional Medical Center. She has 28 years of experience in health care finance with 22 of those years at Cortland Regional Medical Center. Denise served 6 years as Vice President of Finance/CFO at St. Camillus Health and Rehab Center in Syracuse.
Lisa Hoeschele is Executive Director and CEO of Family Counseling Services of Cortland County and the Family & Children's Society in Binghamton. She has a Master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.
Bob Haight has been President/CEO of the Cortland County Chamber of Commerce for the past eight years. The Chamber continues working to help individuals and small businesses navigate the ACA, and has trained three staff navigators in providing thousands of appointments.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable item to benefit local food pantries.
ICC welcomes residents of Cortland County and the 22nd New York Congressional District from any party who are concerned with the actions and policies of the current administration who want to help further the mission of the group. For more information about ICC, visit www.indivisiblecortlandcounty.org. Find Indivisible Cortland County on Facebook and follow @IndivisibleCort on Twitter.
For more information on the national Indivisible movement, visit www.indivisibleguide.com
