Latest news with #TrilliumHealth
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Trillium Health to celebrate annual White Party fundraiser
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Trillium Health will host an evening of entertainment and advocacy for its largest annual fundraising event on Saturday. The White Party is held to advance Trillium Health's effort to end the HIV epidemic and provide individuals with accessible healthcare and resources. Trillium Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that takes a holistic approach to providing comprehensive care to over 20,000 patients throughout the Greater Rochester area. Formerly known as the Community Health Network before expanding to Trillium Health in 2016, the organization was founded by Dr. William Valenti and Dr. Steven Scheibel as an HIV and AIDS clinic in 1989. They also serve the community with primary care and additional health services. Pittsford CommUNITY to host pride walk, celebration 'We are beyond excited to host The White Party once again and bring our community together for an unforgettable night. This event plays a critical role in supporting our work, ensuring we can continue providing accessible care to all, no matter their financial situation,' President and CEO of Trillium Health, Jason Barnecut-Kearns, said. The ticketed event will include an open bar, gourmet tasting stations, and dancing for attendees from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Mercantile on Main. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
As New York sees historic decrease in drug-related deaths, concerns rise on possible federal cuts
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – New York is seeing a historic decrease in reported drug overdose deaths. With threats of looming cuts at the federal level by President Trump's administration, local leaders that specialize in drug recovery and treatment services are sharing their concerns. Recent reporting from the CDC shows New York saw a 32 percent decrease in drug-related deaths in 2024 compared to previous rates in 2023. According to the CDC, approximately 77 percent of those deaths involved an opioid, such as heroin or fentanyl. 'I think we don't really know all the reasons why we see this dramatic decrease. We do know there have been several programs that have taken up more traction. Some of that is the overdose prevention education that the Rochester community and the country have invested in as well as the Naloxone distribution. It's also education around safer opioid prescribing practices, and access to medication like Buprenorphine and Methadone,' said Dr. Sarah Bolduc, chief medical officer for Trillium Health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, drug overdose deaths surged to record levels. With the recent decline comes concern surrounding the uncertainty for continued supports from the federal government. Leaders with Rochester-based Trillium Health and Common Ground Health both say it could put programs backed by those federal dollars in jeopardy nationwide. 'There will be no treatment services available for people who want to get into treatment. There will be no funds to continue the prevention education piece of this, which is very important in our communities. We must keep doing the work until we're told we can't do it anymore,' said Jackie Dozier, director of community health and well-being for Common Ground Health. As both local agencies continue to work to meet the needs of the community, leaders say they are bracing for any possible changes in the future. 'I think we will continue to see more deaths and see less of a decline if we have less programming and support economically for this programming in the community. We believe it's correlated. We know that things like Naloxone work, and having more ready-access and people carrying it just so they can potentially help somebody that's potentially struggling on the street, I think that's very important and all of that takes funds,' said Dr. Bolduc. Last week, hundreds of national researchers and health care providers issued a letter to Congress warning about the 'dire consequences' budget cuts would present for substance use and mental health programs in the U.S., specifically in overdose prevention. More information from New York State on the CDC's latest report can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
5 years later, Dr. Mendoza reflects on our area's first COVID-19 case
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — In his role as Monroe County Health Commissioner, Dr. Michael Mendoza was watching COVID-19 hitch hike around the world. China, Italy, and New York City. Then, on March 12, 2020, he joined other local leaders to announce Monroe County's first official COVID-19 patient. 'I remember thinking, this is going to be a long haul,' Mendoza said. For the first few days, though, little changed. Folks still went to work and out to eat. Then came business closures and masking guidance. Mendoza said on Monday that he and other medical leaders worked with the best information they had at the time, which sometimes fell short. 'Six feet inside versus six feet outside, what's the difference? And we had all these questions and didn't have great answers in the scientific community,' Mendoza said. Still, he commended the local health care system for adapting quickly to double their capacity, preventing the need for a field hospital. 'They did what they needed to do in the initial 2 months, so our health care system didn't collapse but it was challenging,' Mendoza said. He also commended all those who masked up and stayed home when possible. 'I know our numbers were better than other spots for what that's worth,' he said. 'Our mortality rates were lower, but that's not to diminish that a lot of people lost loved ones. A lot of people had really trying experiences and we can't make that go away with good data.' He said the messaging got more difficult as the months wore on, as new variants reversed falling case numbers, and more was learned about the virus. 'That pivoting and pivoting and pivoting – and years of it – essentially got people tired,' Mendoza said. 'COVID fatigue was something we talked about even in that first year.' Then came the hate. Mendoza, like many other health leaders across the country, would become the target of attacks, mainly on social media. 'It's hard to think through some of that especially when some of that was directed at my family and my kids. My kids and my family didn't sign up for that. And I think I've contextualized it and realized people were just responding to fear,' Mendoza said. 5 years later, Dr. Mendoza reflects on our area's first COVID-19 case Monday, sitting in his new office at Trillium Health, Mendoza said his greatest hope is that the recent pandemic has better prepared the medical community and country as a whole for the next one. 'It's not a question of if, but when,' he said. 'Estimates say it's an annual risk of 2-4% to have another pandemic so if you play that out for the next 25 years there's a 50% chance.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
