June 2021

Highland Hospital Tower Project Focuses on Patient Safety, Privacy and Comfort

Highland was getting ready to break ground on the South Tower last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the project to be placed on a sudden hold. While the pause presented many challenges,the experience of the pandemic provided Highland Hospital, under the direction of the lead construction project manager, Keith Mortimer, an opportunity to design patient rooms that are the first of their kind in the Rochester region. “Stopping the project was difficult on everyone, but it gave us a chance to think and discuss what we could do differently,” said Facilities Director Brenda Michaud, CHFM, MBA. “We were in the unique position of having a construction project ramping up at the perfect time when the pandemic struck. The outcome is that we will have a new structure with the technologies and designs that take into consideration a future pandemic or an unforeseeable event that could have a public health impact.” 

Mary Ma, M.D., Named Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Mary Ma, M.D., has been appointed as the new Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Highland Hospital. Dr. Ma has been an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center since 2016. She earned her bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of Toronto and her medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Dr. Ma completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Vermont before joining the faculty at Highland Hospital.

Stephen Schultz, M.D., Receives National Award

The American Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors have honored Stephen Schultz, M.D., program director at the University of Rochester/Highland Hospital Family Medicine Residency with the Nikitas J. Zervanos Outstanding Program Director Award. The honor will be added to his list of awards that already includes numerous awards for teaching and leadership from the Academy, the AFMRD, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and state and local organizations.

Highland Receives Age-Friendly Health System Certification

The University of Rochester Aging Institute has announced that both Highland and Strong Memorial hospitals have been certified as Age-Friendly Health System (AFHS) participants, part of a nationwide movement to improve health care for older adults. “This is one of the first steps on our transformative journey to ensure age-friendly care to older adults across all UR Medicine care settings,” said Annette Medina-Walpole, M.D., the Paul H. Fine Professor of Medicine, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Aging, and director of the University of Rochester Aging Institute. “The goal of providing high-quality, age-friendly care is successfully met across our system every day as part of our patient-centered, holistic approach to medicine, but it is accomplished in many different ways.”

Highland Recognized as Center of Excellence for Inspire Device

Highland Hospital is being recognized as the first Center of Excellence in the Northeast for Inspire, the only FDA approved obstructive sleep apnea treatment that works inside the body to treat the root cause of sleep apnea with just the click of a button.