SUNY Cobleskill President Marion A. Terenzio, Ph.D. has joined the New York State Rural Ambulance Task Force, representing the College and Schoharie County in evaluating the unique challenges faced by ambulance service providers in rural areas that have accelerated EMS closures in recent years. The task force was created through legislation introduced by Sen. Michelle Hinchey (NY-41), and its members will determine and present recommendations to state lawmakers for improvements to support public health and safety.
“Well-staffed and well-equipped emergency medical services are a critical lifeline for rural communities in upstate New York, where hospitals are often fewer and farther between when compared to larger population centers,” said Dr. Terenzio. “As a society, we must ensure that those who have taken the oath to conserve life, alleviate suffering, and promote health are given the tools and resources to do so. I am honored to serve on the New York State Rural Ambulance Task Force and to work concertedly with our EMS providers to find solutions to the challenges facing our local industry, thereby improving the health of our rural citizenship.”
“We are very excited to have Dr. Terenzio on the State Ambulance Rural Task Force. Her leadership and commitment to the SUNY Cobleskill Paramedic education programs, combined with her work with many rural health initiatives, gives her the knowledge and expertise to bring forward innovative strategies to help create a sustainable rural EMS system,” said Ryan P. Greenberg, director of the NYS DOH Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems.
Leading SUNY Cobleskill since 2015, Dr. Terenzio guided the creation of the College’s Institute for Rural Vitality, recognized nationally for its merging of experiential learning with regional and economic development initiatives and receiving the 2019 Excellence and Innovation Award for Regional and Economic Development from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She has been a champion for rural-serving higher education institutions and has written numerous reports and opinion pieces on the importance of serving communities.
Dr. Terenzio serves as co-chair of the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, co-chair of SUNY’s Empowering Students with Disabilities Task Force, and board member of the Bassett Health Care Network. She also serves on the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics, among several other current board and committee memberships.
SUNY Cobleskill’s Paramedic program offers hands-on experience in the lab, hospital, and field to prepare students for entry into the paramedicine, providing compassionate care as a critical link between patients and hospitals.
