“We will honor you by making a promise that we will work everyday as hard as we can to be the best healthcare facility that you all deserve,” Darlene Stromstad said.
By: Matthew Breault
UTICA, N.Y. — Darlene Stromstad concluded her tenure as president and CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System on Friday, after seven years in the role.
Stromstad announced her retirement in January and was instrumental in guiding the health system through the COVID-19 pandemic, digitizing medical records, and merging the staff at St. Elizabeth’s and St. Luke’s hospitals.
One of her significant achievements was overseeing the construction of Wynn Hospital in downtown Utica.
“It was important to us to understand what the community was thinking about and what they needed,” Stromstad said.
“This hospital was built in this place for this purpose. It’s the right place and the right-size hospital we needed to bring the two aging facilities together,” she said.
Reflecting on her departure, Stromstad said, “There is a little bit of this that’s scary, that I have lived my life by a calendar and by a watch, and I have eaten all of my meals at a hospital cafeteria.”
She expressed optimism about the hospital’s future, particularly with Dr. William LeCates taking over as the new president and CEO.
“This hospital, this healthcare system, has a tremendous opportunity for growth,” Stromstad said.
Dr. LeCates shared this vision, saying, “We’re growing and serving people every day and really being the regional system of choice. People should want to drive here for the quality of care in Utica.”