LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Jane Ehrlich upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award by the
Columbia County Association on May 12, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Jane
Ehrlich upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Distin-
guished Citizen Award by the Columbia County Association, to be cele-
brated at a dinner on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Gallagher's Steak
House, Manhattan, New York; and
WHEREAS, For 22 years, Jane Ehrlich has served as the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Columbia Memorial Hospital, a position from which she
retired in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, Jane
Ehrlich always dreamt of becoming a nurse; at the young age of 16, she
began working in health care when she took advantage of a program for
high school juniors entering their senior years; through this vital
program, she worked full-time as a nurse's aide in different areas of
the hospital; and
WHEREAS, Following nursing school, Jane Ehrlich served as a clinical
nurse in both New York City and Boston; after holding a position which
was half clinical and half administrative, she decided that she really
liked the administrative side; and
WHEREAS, This discovery led her to further her education by obtaining
her Master in Business Administration degree with a major in Health Care
Administration; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Jane Ehrlich was offered the position of CEO of
Columbia Memorial Hospital; at that time, the hospital was nearly bank-
rupt, had no parking garage or Kellner Wing, and was losing potential
patients to hospitals in surrounding counties and states; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a positive attitude, Jane Ehrlich was instrumental
in turning the struggling hospital around in three key areas: financial
stability and performance, technology/facilities upgrades, and improved
staff accommodations and morale; and
WHEREAS, Under her luminous leadership, Columbia Memorial Hospital
expanded its services, constructed a larger parking garage and a medical
office building, renewed facilities such as the obstetrics unit which
was renamed The Family Birthplace, and added the Kellner Wing, which
houses the Emergency Department and Surgical Services; in addition, the
hospital became a role model for young women aspiring to leadership
positions; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Columbia Memorial Hospital was brought into the
21st Century by the implementation of electronic health records, which
helped with accuracy and efficiency, improving overall patient care; and
WHEREAS, After her much deserved retirement, Jane Ehrlich enjoys
spending time in her lovely home, working with her horses, and toiling
in her beautiful gardens; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the occurrence of such a compassionate blend-
ing of strength, intellect and commitment as that demonstrated by Jane
Ehrlich over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-

tion, it is appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend those individ-
uals for the edification and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Jane Ehrlich upon the occasion of her designation as recipient
of the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Columbia County Association;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jane Ehrlich.