Salmon for dinner...

That's David McNeil on the right, a proud fisherman named Brent on the left, and breakfast, lunch and dinner for the family at center stage.  Stolen from FB for your enjoyment...

John Sory now at "The U"

UHealth Names New Chief for Regional Alliance

John B. Sory, who brings two decades of experience building and operating clinical research, health information technology and health services businesses in the U.S. and Europe, has been named Chief Executive of the new UHealth Regional Alliance. Among his main responsibilities are forging new relationships with hospitals and physicians outside the UHealth-University of Miami Health System network and managing UM’s contracting relationships with health plans.

“The addition of a talented member of our leadership team who is focused on growth and expanding UHealth’s reach across the region is critical at this time,” said Jack Lord, M.D., Chief Operating Officer and Vice President for Medical Administration of UHealth and the Miller School of Medicine. “We have spent time getting our financial footing in order, and with that foundation in place, it is time to grow and project all the great attributes of our faculty, staff, facilities and services across the region.”

Congrats, John!!! So glad our expert was able to share with us at our 25th reunion.  Who will it be in June 2013???

Link to rest of story at http://med.miami.edu/news/uhealth-names-new-chief-for-regional-alliance

OR read on...

In addition to building new alliances, Sory, who has returned to his native Florida, is eager to take a fresh look at UHealth’s health plan contracts, and help develop new models of outcomes-based, coordinated care that the Affordable Care Act requires.

“I have worked in a number of parts of the business world but it is health care that has been my predominant interest and passion for a majority of my career. It is personal as it touches us all, and topical as discussions in all venues often come back to health and individuals’ care,” Sory said.
“Above all, now is a time calling for real reform and innovation. I want to be a part of building a greater system in this region than we have begun to envision. We have all the pieces and the commitment to do great things here for the good of our communities and as an example for the country.”

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the Miller School of Medicine, calls Sory “a 21st century health care business visionary.” Because he merges “a patient-centered approach with best medical and business practices, he is a leader in the field,” said Goldschmidt, who is also CEO of UHealth. “He will be central to our success as we move the health system forward.”

After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a degree in economics and political science in 1987, he spent four years in the banking and finance sector before earning his M.B.A. from Dartmouth and following his heart and interests to the health care field. He managed finance, planning and business development for New York-based Pfizer’s U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group before joining Pfizer Health Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary. The subsidiary designed and operated health improvement programs, health information technologies and chronic disease management programs.

Key programs included a highly successful chronic care initiative treating Medicaid patients across the state of Florida in partnership with Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration under Governor Jeb Bush, and another chronic care program with a Medicare population in conjunction with the federal government and Humana.

In Florida and across the U.S. and Europe, Sory led the development of the technology, the training and hiring of nurses and the creation of care plans to support patients living with debilitating diseases. “Coordinating care, educating patients in culturally sensitive ways, and ensuring access to care when needed can significantly improve health and quality of life while reducing costs,” he said. That thinking meshes with his philosophy that “we should continue to build a health care system, not simply a sick care system.”

Sory was recognized by Managed Health Care Executive magazine as one of the top leaders in disease management for launching Pfizer Health Solutions’ groundbreaking coordinated care program for patients with chronic diseases in Europe and the U.S. He served as general manager of Pfizer Health Solutions for seven years before joining and leading many efforts within Philadelphia-based eResearch Technology Inc., a global provider of clinical research and health care services.

The expertise of UHealth doctors, coupled with the state-of-the-art facilities across five counties, is an enterprise that Sory hopes to share with private practice physicians and patients across our region. He says everyone can benefit from learning what UHealth offers. A top priority, he stresses, is “to build partnerships and relationships. We can partner in ways where everybody wins.”

East Coast - West Coast

Can you believe it, 30 yrs?!  Doug Schmidt caught up with Hank Lemieux this week on his only night in NYC. Hank is heading up sales for a hot digital company in SF called Bloom Reach and his humor and tequila tolerance levels are both excellent.  He has marked off the June 14th weekend for Reunion so I have his RSVP... Any one coming through the city, please look me up, and with luck, we can connect.

Thanks to JK too for noticing that Hank had made a post on Facebook from NYC, which started a series of texts and emails which led to this picture...The class that keeps in touch, has the most fun at reunion!!!

Caption Contest!

Doug Schmidt's son JD seen in NYC this summer (before the back to school haircut).  Keep it on a high level gents...

Post comments or email jgknight83ATgmail.com

29 years later

Dave Ziccardi says hi to Andy Harcourt on the steps of the Main School Building. Nice!

Shelter courtesy of '83

Summer project in front of the Boyden Library includes a new brick patio.  To shelter JJ and Jodi, our staff bricklaying specialists, from the elements, the Class of '83 tent is being put to good use.  Always nice to have '83 play a pivotal role in the improvement of our school!

Deerfield in the Olympics

 

When the Olympic triathletes line up to start their 1,500m swim, 40km bike ride, and 10km run this Saturday, August 4, Deerfield alumna Sarah Groff '99 will be among them. Ms. Groff, who finished the 2011 season ranked third overall in the World Championship series, qualified for the Games last August and has spent the last year training in Switzerland and Australia. Since triathlon made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, the US has only won a bronze medal, and Ms. Groff hopes to change that when she competes this weekend.

The women's triathlon will be aired on the NBC Sports Network and streaming live on Saturday, August 4, at 4:00 a.m.
For more background see this Reuters article.

Not finished...

Ben Patton's latest project, following up on his book: I Was There video projects with PTSD suffering soldiers. In one film, Ben Patton plays the role of foil as two veterans put it in perspective.

Thanks for your work, Ben...

Not for the faint hearted...

Adult League Soccer, that is.  Van Sullivan took an elbow and got the shiner for free!  Rest up Van so you're sharp for our 30th reunion, June 14016, 2013!

Stickin' With It...

Leigh Guyer shows the grit he has always been known for...

2012 Deschutes Dash TRI report. This was a beautiful event in downtown Bend, OR with a fairly relaxed, non-competitive vibe. The swim leg is down stream in a COLD Deschutes River. I wore a sleeveless 3/4 wetsuit, and my body was fine, but my head and face took about 5 minutes to acclimate. The bike leg was an out-and-back with a consistent moderate climb, which allowed for a speedy down hill return. The run was a pleasant course through some neighborhoods and around the river in the Mill District. I had a class 2 calf strain a week prior, so I planned on walking the run portion, but after the therapeutic effects of the cold river swim, I was able to gingerly run the course. This was a fun, relaxed event with some beautiful scenery. (copied from FB)

Darn it!

So sorry to miss the drive by visit of Taylor Watts and family.  Taylor flew in from Colorado, picked them up in Maine then hit the MA Turnpike to head toward his parents' house in Saratoga, NY.  At exit 4 for 91 north he inexplicably turned right and decided to go the extra miles and show Deerfield to his kids.  He was especially pleased to show them the dining hall because "kids these days can't even imagine it"...
and they got to see the Stanley Can in my office!

Remember: 30th reunion is June 14-16, 2013!