A Message From our CEO
A Message From our CEOAccess and Equity in Action: Why the Open Door is Only the Beginning
We often talk about “opening the door” to healthcare. But at Whitney Young Health, we know that for many of our neighbors, the door isn’t just closed, it’s heavy, it’s bolted from the other side, or they’ve been told for generations that it wasn’t built for them.
When we speak about access, we’re talking about that door. It’s the physical building in your neighborhood, the phone line that picks up when you call, and the relief of knowing that we accept most health insurance plans or offer a sliding fee scale for the under and uninsured. Access is the fundamental right to have a place to go when you are sick and when you are taking responsibility for your preventive care.
But equity? Equity is what happens once you’re inside.
The Heart of the Mission
Equity is the “Mission Moment” that happens in our exam rooms every day. It’s the realization that two patients can walk through the same door with the same cough, but they are walking back out into two very different worlds.
One patient might go home to a quiet house with a stocked pharmacy nearby. Another might be heading to a second shift, worrying about how to afford a prescription while also paying for the bus fare to get there. Equity is our commitment to seeing the whole person, not just the symptom. It is the recognition that the “causes of the causes”- where we live, work, and age- directly impact our ability to heal (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014).
Removing the Invisible Barriers
True equity requires us to be “equity in action.” It means we don’t just offer a service; we bridge the gap.
- It’s in the Enrollment Assistance: For the mother overwhelmed by paperwork, equity is the hand-holding process of our staff helping her navigate insurance enrollment so her children can see a dentist for the first time.
- It’s in the Sliding Fee Scale: For the worker in between jobs, equity is the sliding fee scale that ensures a routine check-up doesn’t become a choice between health and groceries.
- It’s in the Trust: For communities that have historically felt ignored or mistreated by the medical system, equity is the patient, respectful care that slowly earns back a seat at the table (Institute of Medicine, 2003).
Why We Do What We Do
We do this because we believe that your zip code or your bank balance should never determine how long- or how well- you live. We are driven by the passion to ensure that every resident of the Capital Region has a “Primary Care Home” where they aren’t just a medical record, but a neighbor.
When you notify your health insurance company that Whitney Young Health is your provider, or when you walk into any one of our sites for the first time, you aren’t just accessing a clinic. You are joining a community that believes in fairness, dignity, and the relentless pursuit of health for all.
Our mission isn’t just to provide treatment for an illness; it’s to provide hope, opportunity, and a health system that finally works for everyone. That is Access and Equity in action. That is the heart and soul of Whitney Young Health.
References
Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: It’s time to consider the causes of the causes. American Journal of Public Health, 104(S4), S19–S31.
Institute of Medicine. (2003). Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. National Academies Press.
WYH Mission Moment
Melanie Brown: Building Relationships
Melanie Brown has been a Registered Nurse Care Manager with Whitney Young Health since July of 2025. She’s helped serve hundreds of Whitney Young patients since then, but one of Melanie’s very first appointments still sticks with her. Melanie formed a true connection with one of her clients, a man named Ray. Their relationship stands out as a testament to the importance of compassionate care. Ray has graciously allowed us to share his journey with Melanie, a journey marked with resilience and hope.
Ray came to us during the winter of 2023, following a traumatic event the year before that left him paralyzed. Now, as a wheelchair user, his life was filled with uncertainty—rapidly moving between skilled nursing facilities. Eventually Ray found himself living out of a hotel. He had sporadic physical and occupational therapy but was relying on a patchwork support system. He endured episodes of cellulitis, struggled with a painful pressure wound on his back. Throughout 2025, he faced repeated hospitalizations for wound and urinary tract infections. Despite all these challenges, he continued living in the hotel without a ramp, depending on the kindness of others to help him navigate his daily life and attend medical appointments.
When he met Melanie in July of 2025, things began to change for the better. Melanie’s first challenge was making sure that Ray received the catheters he needed to prevent painful and dangerous infections—a process that took weeks of persistent effort. Melanie tackled many other obstacles with dedication and persistence. She helped him navigate a lapse in insurance, supported him through missed appointments caused by bad weather, and addressed ongoing transportation issues, including the lack of a ramp at the hotel, and food insecurity issues. Melanie responded with compassion and practical support: she initiated a Health Home and Behavioral Health referral, provided essential education after a lapse in his medication, and, when Ray expressed his desire for independence, Melanie arranged for him to begin physical therapy. Over the past few months, Ray has taken incredible steps forward, reaching out to the Whitney Young Health RN Care Manager team for both medical guidance and positive encouragement.
In Ray’s own words, “Melanie has spent time talking with me about how I ended up in ‘the chair.’ She hasn’t just been there to help me figure out medical issues; she’s listened to and supported me, and helped me look toward the future, including my mental health. Melanie checks in with me, helps me schedule doctor’s appointments and rides. But most importantly, I know someone cares about me.” Ray is also proud to share that he has just signed a lease for an apartment, a milestone that speaks to the power of trust, empathy, and the genuine partnership that Melanie Brown and Whitney Young Health have offered him.
Supporting Life-Changing Care
Perspectives and stories from our donors
Whitney Young Health has relied on the generous support of our donors from the very beginning. Volunteers of time, money, and talent have all contributed to the impact Whitney Young Health has been able to have in our community. For all these thousands of donors, there are thousands of reasons for their support. But all our donors give in the advancement of one unifying mission. To provide equitable and accessible care – empowering our diverse community to achieve better health and wellness.
Two such donors are long-time Whitney Young Health partners Dan Nolan and Carol Hausamann. Both have been supporting Whitney Young Health for over a decade, but their reasons for doing so are deeply personal, diverse, and unique.
For Dan Nolan it all, “started with a phone call.” An attorney and financial advisor by trade, Nolan was approached by President and CEO Dave Shippee for guidance on our 2016 Campaign for Smiles. The $2 million capital campaign allowed for the relocation and expansion of Whitney Young Health’s dental services. While working on the campaign, Nolan says, “I got to understand what a jewel Whitney Young is in the community, and especially in North Albany. Most people here know the name, but not the reach and depth of the services that Whitney Young Health provides.” Nolan’s partnership went deeper than his financial guidance, the mission of Whitney Young Health connected with his personal beliefs in a meaningful way. in Nolan’s words, “I look at our country as the largest, most complex economy in the world. If it was done right this country could provide quality healthcare to everybody.” Nolan supports Whitney Young Health because, “We provide healthcare to our community, we don’t turn others away according to whether they can pay. It is a model of what should be happening everywhere.”
For Carol Hausamann, the connection is more emotional. A former board member and current Whitney Young Health donor, Hausamann has a profound interest in the whole-person care that Whitney Young Health provides. Hausamann lost her nephew to a fentanyl overdose, and while he was unable to access the support he needed to manage his addiction, Hausamann is moved by a desire to see others have access to better care. Hausamann says, “The services and the counseling that Whitney Young Health provides is life changing. The support that Whitney Young Health provides for young people and their families is important to me. These services are critical for our community.” Asked about her hopes for the future Hausamann says, “The world is a better place if we open our eyes and care for the whole person. And I think that is something that we do.”
Both donors have contributed so much to the growth of Whitney Young Health. Whether motivated by personal connection, moral belief, or a little bit of both, our donors’ support is invaluable. When asked why others should consider partnering with us Dan Nolan explained, “We have a healthcare facility in a community where many of the folks, if not for Whitney Young Health, would be waiting 12-24 hours in the emergency room at Albany Medical Center. Instead, they have a new, clean, state-of-the-art facility to get quality healthcare. We need to preserve and expand that.” Hausamann wanted to tell potential donors that, “People say you get more than you give, and it’s true. We must keep reaching more people and doing the work that few others are doing.”
Pushing Back Stigma, Embracing Humanity
Frances Rivera’s International Journey with Substance Use Counseling
Frances Rivera, one of Whitney Young Health’s newest Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselors, meets dozens of people each day, helping them process their relationship with addiction. In her home country of the Philippines, people living with SUD deal with lethal social stigmas. “We have this term, Buang, which just translates to crazy,” Rivera says, “It’s like an umbrella term. It means, ‘Oh, this person is using (substances), let’s really isolate them.”
The term arises from and encapsulates decades of stigma and fear surrounding SUD, reinforced by government policies and fearmongering. In 2016, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced a “war on drugs”, which actually amounted to a war on substance users, leading to thousands of extrajudicial killings of those dealing with SUD.
“Every single crime was blamed on substance use disorder,” Rivera explains. Duterte responded in force, even going so far as to tell his citizens, ‘If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself.” Some international estimates state that over 30,000 people were killed as a result of these policies. Though Duterte was eventually arrested by the International Criminal Court, the ripple effects of his war on drugs have been difficult to overcome.
For Rivera, those ripples manifested as a deep-seated fear. “As a kid, I remember the first time I saw somebody use, I was so scared. The person doing it was on a basketball court; he was so far away, but I just vividly remember the feeling that I felt,” Rivera says, “Because that person was using, it automatically translated to, ‘that person is going to go on a rampage’, because that’s what I was taught.”
Rivera is still processing the effects of these biases on her life and in her work. “How can I grow up with that much fear instilled in me when it comes to substance use, to come here and serve that population? I don’t know.” Rivera says. After a pause, she answers, “This one day in ninth grade, I was sixteen, and that’s when I discovered psychology, and I just remember something that day clicked. I began researching, and I realized these people are not ‘just crazy’. Something might have happened to them a long time ago for them to act this way. And that was never explained to me as a kid.”
With a newfound perspective on others’ lives, Rivera’s budding interest in psychology grew. The more she learned, the more she felt empathy for those struggling in her community. But in her home country, there were limits to what she could learn and where she could go; those living with SUD in the Philippines are still considered dangerous, and research and acceptance have been slow-moving. Rivera shared, “It was heartbreaking in a way. When you realize that you’re very drawn into this field that doesn’t have the ability to grow in your own country.” Rivera decided to move to the US, where she could explore psychology and mental health in a country where they’re more widely discussed.
Once in the US, Rivera was drawn deeper into psychology, eventually earning her master’s degree from SUNY Albany. While she found a society more willing to discuss mental health, she still saw an all too familiar sense of stigma and isolation, “When it comes to substance use, some people say, ‘oh, like, that’s your fault. You got yourself into it.’ But why can’t we treat it like a disease? It’s something that consumes us, right?”
When looking for employment, Rivera sought a facility that practiced empathy, respect, and genuine compassion for its clients, an atmosphere she found at Whitney Young Health. “The way we treat our patients is really, truly, refreshing to me.”
Discussing her personal counseling philosophy, Rivera shared that when it comes to her patients, she empathizes and says, “Hey, I hear you, let’s talk about it, instead of just brushing people off, instead of treating them how they’re used to being treated by others.”
While her career is just getting started, Rivera is already finding her place. Today, Rivera works to dismantle the stigmas she was exposed to growing up. She now helps others overcome the biases and fears she herself overcame, treating her patients with compassion and respect. “One thing I was really surprised by is that at Whitney Young Health, everybody knows everybody. We know our patients.” Rivera said. She is already learning their names, faces, and stories, and is doing her best to make sure they know she cares. In Rivera’s words, “you can make somebody’s day by making them feel that they’re seen and they’re heard and they’re known. And I think that’s work that I really, really admire doing here.”
Tee Off Fore Tots
Whitney Young Health’s Inaugural Golf Classic!
On Monday, August 24, 2026, friends and supporters of Whitney Young Health – including corporate, community, and public leaders – will gather at the picturesque Edison Club in Rexford, NY, to enjoy a day of great food, connection, and most importantly, golf.
Tee Off Fore Tots is not just a great day of golf, it’s also a chance to invest in healthier kids, stronger families, and more resilient communities. Every dollar raised will go towards our pediatric services, ensuring that every family has access to affordable care for their children. Whitney Young Health provides care to pediatric patients regardless of their family’s ability to pay, including primary, vision, dental, pharmaceutical, and mental health services, because of support from donors like you.
We hope you consider joining us, not just for the chance to enjoy a great day of golf, but also to partner with us in providing equitable healthcare to all.
Not a golfer? No problem! You can purchase tickets to our evening reception, where we’ll hold our silent auction and present corporate and community partners with awards. Reception tickets can be purchased on our website below.
Looking for more ways to support? Consider sponsoring our event. Sponsors enjoy benefits such as custom event signage, social media acknowledgement, and other public relations and event benefits. You can view all sponsorship levels here.