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Emergency Department Physicians in Elizabethtown, Malone and Plattsburgh Named ‘Unsung Heroes of Emergency Medicine’
Awards highlight exceptional clinical care, community involvement and support of colleagues
Elizabethtown, Malone, Plattsburgh NY (12/20/2024) - Three University of Vermont Health Network emergency department (ED) physicians serving communities across New York’s North Country have been recognized as “Unsung Heroes of Emergency Medicine” by the New York Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
Two of the physicians – Wendell Bliss, MD, Michael D’urso, MD – are part of a shared team of physicians and providers caring for patients in emergency departments (ED) at University of Vermont Health Network – Alice Hyde Medical Center and University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital. Michael McMahon, MD, joined the ED of UVM Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in 2014.
The shared staffing model brings together clinicians with fellowship residency training in emergency medicine and fellowship expertise in a wide range of sub-specialties, such as wilderness medicine and ultrasound, to care for rural communities in Vermont and northern New York.
The clinicians said they were honored to be recognized by ACEP and nominated by ED medical directors at UVM Health Network - Alice Hyde Medical Center, UVM Health Network -Elizabethtown Community Hospital and UVM Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.
“It’s awesome to have people recognize that you’re doing good work,” said Dr. Bliss, who was nominated by Elizabethtown ED Medical Director Jordan Ship, MD, for his care of an obstetrical cardiac arrest patient in Elizabethtown’s ED. “There are so many people every day who put forth that extra effort taking care of people; there’s a lot of camaraderie on our team.”
Dr. D’urso, who practices at Alice Hyde and UVM Health Network – Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital in Plattsburgh, was nominated by Alice Hyde ED Medical Director Gary Starr, MD, FACEP, for his exemplary care of patients and conscientious support of colleagues across Alice Hyde’s inpatient care team. He said the recognition was a heartwarming surprise.
“Working at Alice Hyde has been great. It’s such a small community, I’ll see a patient and they’ll tell me that I treated their other family members,” said Dr. D’urso. “It’s nice to be appreciated. I always wanted to be a doctor to help people, and hearing that my medical director wanted to [spotlight] me for this is exciting.”
Dr. McMahon was nominated by CVPH ED Medical Director Nicholas Aunchman, MD, for his “creativity, compassion and commitment to excellence,” as well as his commitment to evidence-based care, improving clinical care and participation in a wide range of voluntary roles at the hospital, including leading CVPH’s Stroke Committee and serving on the Board of Directors for the Foundation of CVPH. He called being recognized an honor that made him reflect on the mentors and colleagues who have impacted his development as an emergency department physician.
“It’s been a humbling experience and very much an honor to be nominated – especially by Dr. Aunchman,” said Dr. McMahon. “If I had the chance, there are so many colleagues I would share this with. Their expertise, professionalism and passion – I’ve taken it along with me, and I’m proud to work with physicians like Dr. Bliss and Dr. D’Urso and to be on the list with them.”
Dr. Starr, a US Air Force veteran and flight surgeon who joined Alice Hyde in 2023 and brings a background in family and emergency medicine to the hospital, said recognitions like ACEP’s ‘Unsung Heroes’ spotlight are important for ED physicians because of the nature of their work.
“It’s requires an intense amount of skill and compassion, and if you’re not associated with some tragic event that everyone hears about on the news, it’s often not recognized,” he said. “This is a selfless job all the time and I’m proud of our physicians’ expertise, their professionalism and their kindness.”
Drs. Bliss, D’urso and McMahon were among more than two dozen ED physicians from across New York State highlighted by New York ACEP.
“Their impact goes well beyond those they directly treat,” wrote the New York chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, announcing the recognition. “They train young clinicians, share their skills, knowledge and experience and are always willing to do whatever is needed for their patients and colleagues.”
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About Alice Hyde Medical Center
Alice Hyde Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit Critical Access Hospital located in Malone, NY. Established in 1913, Alice Hyde Medical Center is comprised of a 25-bed acute care facility, four family health centers, a walk-in clinic, cancer center, orthopedic and physical rehabilitation center, cardiac rehabilitation unit, and a dental center. The medical center provides a 24-hour MD staffed emergency department, laboratory, an array of surgical services, and a wide range of outpatient services. For over 100 years, Alice Hyde Medical Center has been providing high-quality, low-cost health care to the more than 55,000 residents of the North Country. In early 2015, Alice Hyde opened The Alice Center, a new, state of the art 135-bed skilled nursing facility with a 30-bed Assisted Living Program. The facility replaced two obsolete skilled care facilities located in Malone, and is the first such facility to be constructed in Franklin County. Alice Hyde Medical Center is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, and is accredited by the Joint Commission. Learn more at UVMHealth.org/AHMC
About Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital
The University of Vermont Health Network - Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is a private, not-for profit hospital in Plattsburgh, NY. Established in 1967 with the merger of Champlain Valley and Physicians Hospitals, CVPH joined Fletcher Allen Partners in 2012, which in 2014 became The University of Vermont Health Network. Together with its partner hospitals, the UVM Medical Group and a home health agency, CVPH provides high quality, cost effective care, close to home. Services include an award winning cardiac services program, accredited cancer center, freestanding ambulatory surgery center, comprehensive rehabilitation services and a 24 hour physician-staffed Emergency Department. Governed by a 15-member Board of Directors, CVPH is accredited by the Joint Commission and licensed by New York State and Medicare/Medicaid Approved. Learn more at UVMHealth.org/CVPH or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Elizabethtown Community Hospital
The University of Vermont Health Network - Elizabethtown Community Hospital is a designated critical access hospital and the primary health care provider serving residents in Essex County and northern Warren and Washington Counties in New York. Elizabethtown Community Hospital is transforming rural health care at its main campus in Elizabethtown, NY, at a new emergency department and outpatient center in Ticonderoga, NY, and at six community-based primary health care centers located throughout the region. The hospital is one of the community’s largest employers with 350 employees. Across the Elizabethtown and Ticonderoga campuses, the hospital maintains two 24-hour emergency rooms, a 25-bed inpatient unit, specialty care practices, physical therapy, laboratory and digital radiology departments. Elizabethtown Community Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission and is licensed and certified by the New York State Department of Health and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.