LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring James J. Dooley upon the occasion of his
retirement after 32 years of distinguished service to the health system

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor James J.
Dooley upon the occasion of his retirement after 32 years of distin-
guished service to the health system on Wednesday, March 31, 2010; and
WHEREAS, James Dooley has the distinction of being the longest tenured
health system chief executive officer in New York State, a position he
has held in Geneva since 1978; and
WHEREAS, From 1978 to 1981, James Dooley served as President and CEO
of Geneva General Hospital; when Geneva General Hospital and Taylor
Brown Memorial Hospital affiliated to form Geneva Regional Health
System, he was named President & CEO; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, when Geneva Regional Health System partnered with
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan, New York, creating
what is now known as Finger Lakes Health, the board named James Dooley
to lead the new health system; and
WHEREAS, James Dooley has built Finger Lakes Health from a small
community-based hospital servicing one community to its current status
as a multi-institutional health system serving four counties; Finger
Lakes Health is currently a 660-bed health system comprised of two
hospitals, four long-term care facilities, three primary care centers,
two low-income elderly housing facilities, a fundraising foundation, and
several physician practices; and
WHEREAS, James Dooley was a founding member of the Finger Lakes Area
Health Corporation (FLAHC), which administered an innovative rural
hospital reimbursement experiment sponsored by Medicare and New York
State, which encouraged rural hospital consolidations; he also was a
founding member of Finger Lakes Visiting Nurse Service to ensure that
both home health and hospice care were provided in the local communi-
ties; and
WHEREAS, James Dooley's leadership and sound fiscal management have
supported Finger Lakes Health's ability to invest in equipment and tech-
nology to improve care delivery; programs established under his direc-
tion include: the region's first and only free-standing ambulatory
surgery center; a highly regarded Hospitalist service; a regional Dialy-
sis Center; an Acute Physical Rehabilitation unit; a long-term care
neuro-behavioral unit; an acute medical detox unit; a Cardiac Rehab
Program Phases II and III; Gastroenterology Services; and Family Health
Centers enhancing access for primary care to underserved populations, to
name a few; and
WHEREAS, Finger Lakes Health has received numerous state and national
accolades for clinical quality and patient safety outcomes; during James
Dooley's tenure, the health system has earned state and national
distinction, twice recognized with New York State's Patient Safety Award
in 2004 and honorable mention in 2005; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, and again in 2007, Geneva General was recognized
nationally with the VHA Award for Clinical Excellence, and in 2008, it
was designated a Joint Commission Stroke Center of Excellence; and
WHEREAS, James Dooley has truly given of himself to the Geneva commu-
nity; he is currently affiliated with several organizations through
boards and leadership positions, including: Government Relations Council
(2000; 2003-present); Jobs for Geneva (1997-present); America's Promise
National Advisory Council (2002-present); Ontario ARC Advisory Board

(2004-present); Kresge Chair for Geneva Community Center Campaign
(2008-present), and Chairman, Geneva Community Center Community Advisory
Committee (2008-present); and
WHEREAS, A 2010 honoree for the Rochester Business Journal's Health-
care Achievement Award in the category of Management, James Dooley
possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from St. Anselm College
in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a Master's degree in Hospital Adminis-
tration from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, In his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of
Finger Lakes Health, James Dooley served with loyalty, honor and
distinction; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Caryl, and their
children, Paul and Katelyn, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of
his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at Finger Lakes Health, James Dooley earned
the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor James J. Dooley upon the occasion of his retirement after 32 years
of distinguished service to the health system; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James J. Dooley.