LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring President/Chief Executive Officer
Darlene A. Burns upon the occasion of her retirement after 40 years of
distinguished service to Rome Memorial Hospital

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
President/Chief Executive Officer Darlene A. Burns upon the occasion of
her retirement after 40 years of distinguished service to Rome Memorial
Hospital, to be celebrated on Friday, December 31, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Darlene Burns, MS, RN, President/Chief Executive Officer
graduated from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Watertown, New
York, and earned her master's degree in health care administration from
the New School for Social Research; she started her career at Rome Memo-
rial Hospital in 1972 as a charge nurse; and
WHEREAS, Moving up through the nursing and administration ranks,
Darlene Burns served as director of nursing from 1982 to 1989, when she
was named assistant hospital administrator; she briefly served as inter-
im hospital administrator in 1992; in addition, she was promoted from
Senior Vice President/Clinical Services to Senior Vice President/Chief
Operating Officer in 2001, and became President/Chief Executive Officer
in 2002; and
WHEREAS, During her years as the hospital's senior vice-president and
chief operating officer, Darlene Burns played a significant role in the
development of new services to meet the community's needs, including the
hospital's 14-bed rehabilitation unit and its 11-bed senior behavioral
health unit; under her leadership as CEO, the hospital recruited several
new physicians and made significant investments in its infrastructure;
and
WHEREAS, For the past 40 years, Darlene Burns rendered faithful,
conscientious and valuable service to Rome Memorial Hospital; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as President/Chief Executive Officer, Darlene
Burns served with loyalty, honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, In her official acts, Darlene Burns was governed by a keen
sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, the late Patrick,
and their children Neil, John and Scott, as well as their grandchildren,
Taylor, Riley, and Addison, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of
her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, During her tenure with Rome Memorial Hospital, Darlene Burns
earned the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues; she is a
true asset to society; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor President/Chief Executive Officer Darlene A. Burns upon the occa-
sion of her retirement after 40 years of distinguished service; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Darlene A. Burns.