Thayer Named Rural Health Champion
Recognized for helping people through collaboration
October 29, 2026 – Plattsburgh, NY – Ken Thayer’s ability to bring diverse organizations together to help North Country residents has made a lasting impact on the health and well-being of the community. His work was recently recognized with a Rural Champion award from Adirondack Health Institute (AHI). Thayer serves as Director of Community Integration for the University of Vermont Health Network-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH).
The Rural Health Champion Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a lasting commitment to improving the health and well-being of rural communities across New York’s North Country.
In her nomination of Thayer, Clinton County Director of Community Services and CEO of the Community Services Board Richelle Gregory offered “While his title is Director of Community Integration, that description barely captures the role he plays throughout our region. Ken is the connective tissue between the hospital and the community, bringing together health care providers, public safety, behavioral health, schools, nonprofit organizations, local government, and countless community partners to improve the health and well-being of those we serve. He understands that rural healthcare extends far beyond.”
“Kenny understands that no single organization can meet every community need alone,” said Alice Hyde Medical Center and CVPH President Michelle LeBeau. “His commitment to bringing partners together around a common purpose is a shining example of what can be accomplished when we work together as community to benefit those in need.”
Thayer was presented with the award at the AHI Leadership Summit in September. The annual event brings together health care leaders, community partners and stakeholders from across the region to share best practices, discuss emerging challenges and explore innovative solutions to improve health and health care services.
Staff and leaders from CVPH also presented quality initiatives at the gathering held in Lake Placid:
- Bridging the Gap: Leveraging an Accredited Nurse Residency Program to Strengthen Rural Nursing (poster) presented by CVPH Director of Nursing Research and Clinical Practice Abby Bennett and CVPH Director of Nursing Excellence and Program Development Stephanie Drown, highlighting how nurse residency programs help support and retain new nurses as they transition into practice.
- Building an Alternate Level of Care Unit: A New Model for Patients Awaiting Long-Term Placement, presented by CVPH Nurse Manager Andee LaMora and Drown exploring an innovative approach to caring for patients who no longer require acute hospital services while waiting for long-term care placement.
- Building a More Equitable Healthcare Workforce: CVPH’s Advanced Practice Providers’ (APP) Transition to Practice Program, a breakout session led by CVPH Emergency Department APP Manager Maurice Paquette and Drown focusing on preparing and supporting advanced practice providers as they begin their careers.
- Breaking the Ward Walls: Leading Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Inpatient Diabetes Care, a presentation by Frankie LaPierre, RN, CDE of CVPH, highlighting the importance of teamwork and collaboration in improving outcomes for patients with diabetes.
- Beyond the Snapshot: How Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Data Drives Real-Time Collaborative Care, a breakout session led by LaPierre examining how CGM technology supports more informed and coordinated patient care.
AHI is a regional nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of people living in the Adirondack and North Country regions of New York. It brings together health care providers, public health agencies, behavioral health organizations, community groups and other partners to address regional health challenges and improve access to care.
Posted: October 30th, 2026 under Highway Dept. News, Northern NY News.