Infection Prevention Associate

SUNY Geneseo welcomes Brett Walsh as new CCMO. July 22, 2026 Brett Walsh (Image provided) Brett Walsh has been appointed as SUNY Geneseo's chief communications and marketing officer (CCMO), effective August 13. Walsh brings more than 17 years of progressive leadership experience in communications and marketing at the regional, state, and national levels. Most recently, Walsh served as the director of communications and public relations for Rochester Regional Health in Rochester, NY. As director, he led executive, change and crisis communications, public relations, and supported a brand re-launch for an expansive regional healthcare system during a time of dramatic change. Prior to leading Rochester Regional Health's communications team, Walsh served as an emergency management specialist and external affairs officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), acting as a spokesperson and executive communications advisor, leading press briefings, shaping leadership communications, and managing congressional and intergovernmental affairs during multiple federally declared disasters in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. This critical national service followed nearly 10 years of public service with Monroe County in the executive and legislative branches during which he directed communications, legislative strategy, policy development, and public messaging on wide-ranging community priorities and government operations. Throughout the search process, Walsh distinguished himself as a thoughtful and strategic communicator with a strong commitment to building relationships and engaging diverse audiences. During his campus visit, he connected meaningfully with campus constituents and shared a compelling vision for strengthening Geneseo's communication and marketing efforts in support of its institutional priorities. "I am confident Brett can help drive a reimagined communications strategy for New York's Public Honors College," says SUNY Geneseo President Melinda Treadwell. "Geneseo is an exceptional, distinctive institution, and our future depends upon sharp messaging and elevation of our visibility with new audiences. Brett's approach is disarming and authentic, and I believe our future is even brighter with his instinct and energy driving our marketing and communications strategy forward." "What drew me to Geneseo is its belief that excellence and opportunity belong together," Walsh says. "As New York's Public Honors College, Geneseo demonstrates that academic rigor and broad opportunity can go hand in hand. I'm honored to join this remarkable community and look forward to helping more people discover what makes Geneseo such a special place." Walsh holds a bachelor's in communication from Roberts Wesleyan University, a master's in strategic communications from Regent University, and is completing an MBA at Eastern University. Walsh is also an instructor with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. Wendi Kinney Chief of Staff

RRH invests $17.5M in specialty care hub for Finger Lakes region. Rochester Regional Health is expanding its specialty care footprint in the Finger Lakes with a $17.5 million investment in a new Orthopedic and Neurosciences Center in Canandaigua. Construction is underway at an existing 39,000-square-foot facility at 183 Parrish St. that will serve as a centralized destination for orthopedic, spine, pain management, imaging and ambulatory surgical care. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2027. The center will consolidate several RRH practices currently operating from separate locations in Canandaigua, including Canandaigua Orthopedic Associates, Finger Lakes Bone and Joint and the Spine and Pain Center. Health system leaders say the integrated approach is designed to streamline care delivery while reducing the need for patients to travel between multiple sites for appointments, imaging and procedures. "Patients deserve access to high-quality specialty care without having to navigate multiple locations for appointments, imaging, and procedures," said Jennifer Eslinger, chief operating officer of Rochester Regional Health. "This campus reflects how care needs are evolving across the region and how we are responding to growing demand for orthopedic and neurological services in a more coordinated, accessible way." A key component of the project is the creation of a new Ambulatory Surgery Center and Hospital Outpatient Department. Plans call for four operating rooms and 16 pre- and post-procedure bays. Once completed, the facility will feature 32 clinical exam rooms supporting coordinated care across orthopedic, spine and pain management specialties. Onsite diagnostic capabilities will include MRI, X-ray and DEXA imaging,. Dr. Gordon Whitbeck Jr., executive medical director of Rochester Regional Health Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, said the center is designed to meet growing demand for orthopedic services while improving patient convenience and outcomes. "We're creating a destination where patients can receive comprehensive orthopedic care right here in Canandaigua, supported by the latest technology and a highly collaborative team," Whitbeck said. The project also represents a significant expansion of neurological care services in the Finger Lakes region. Dr. Sowmya Lakshminarayanan, executive medical director of neurosciences for Rochester Regional Health, noted that patients with neurological conditions often require treatment from multiple specialists. "By bringing neurology, spine care, pain management, advanced imaging and outpatient procedures together under one roof, we can significantly improve our patients' experience," Lakshminarayanan said.