Sedore brings experience to Crouse Hospital

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Aug 04, 2006 by Acton, Ryann

SYRACUSE - Ann Sedore, Ph.D., is back to where she began her nursing career 3-4 years ago.

Sedore started at Crouse Hospital in 1972 as a parttime, intensive-care-unit nurse working weekend nights. The position allowed her to simultaneously teach at the College of Nursing at Syracuse University (SU), get her Ph.D. in adult education from SU, and raise her three children.

Now, Sedore is in her first month in her new position as the director of nursing at the Crouse Hospital School of Nursing. She replaced JoAnn Herne, who voluntarily resigned from the position. Herne, a nurse practitioner, stepped down August 1. She is now the school's student-services coordinator.

Crouse Hospital School of Nursing was founded in 1913 and offers associate's degrees in applied science, with a major in nursing. There are 300 total students enrolled. The school employs 55 staff members.

Sedore's position is unique in that she oversees the academic programs, including curriculum and academic development, the administrative responsibilities, including admissions, recruitment, and bursar, and assists with Crouse Hospital's financial departments.

The new position blends Sedore's past work experiences in academics, administration, and finance together.

"I think that's why they asked me to come here," Sedore says, noting that few people have academic, administrative, and financial experience.

Sedore worked in administration at University Hospital for 14 years after she resigned from SU in 1992.

In January 2006, Sedore left University Hospital, having served as the chief operating officer (COO) and chief nursing operator (CNO). When Phillip Shaengold, came on board as CEO in January 2006, he evaluated the senior-management team and decided not to keep Sedore as COO, because the two shared different philosophies on finances, she says. Sedore retired two days later. Schaengold allowed her to bow out gracefully by retiring, she says, but Sedore left with some unfinished business.

"I miss the nursing staff a lot," Sedore says, noting she didn't get to properly say goodbye to them.

During Sedore's time at University Hospital, she led the renovation of the cafeteria and new lobby and stabilized hospital revenue, which allowed the hospital to get funding for the planned Golisano Children's Hospital.

Even though she has only been in her new position for a few, short weeks, Sedore is already outlining some major goals.

One of them is to continue to encourage students to choose to work at Crouse Hospital after graduation. The school's internal goal is to retain 90 percent of its graduates as Crouse employees, Sedore says. This allows Crouse to ensure a high-quality nursing staff, she says.

Approximately 84 percent of nursing graduates from the 2005-2006 school year accepted positions at Crouse Hospital after completing their studies, Sedore says. It's beneficial for graduates to work at Crouse, because it eases the transition from the classroom to the work force, she says.

Enrollment for the 2006-2007 school year could be the highest Crouse has ever had with 300 students registered for the fall semester, Sedore says. Enrollment has nearly doubled in the past four years.

Sedore is now evaluating the current academic programs to see what Central New York students need. Currently, evening and day programs are available.

Sedore feels that now was the perfect time to return to academics.

"I always wanted to end my career in academia," Sedore says.