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My Retirement from Syracuse Community Health Center, Inc. (SCHC) A Letter to the General Public

This brief communication is intended to “thank you” my colleagues, my friends, my affiliates and you, the general public for your support of Syracuse Community Health Center, Inc. and to inform you of my retirement, as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Syracuse Community Health Center, Inc. for more than 36 years.

Founding and leading SCHC has been a major part of my life’s work.  I am proud of all that has been accomplished, and I also thank each member of the SCHC staff and Board of Directors I have worked with over the years because all that was accomplished are products of this team’s efforts.

In mid-July, 2014 I communicated to SCHC Board of Directors certain important facts relative to my role with our System of Care. Specifically, I reminded the Board that in 2012, for personal and professional reasons, I was ready to retire from my leadership position with SCHC.  Accordingly, the Board retained a search firm to identify and recommend a successor President and CEO.  The search was about to begin when the insurance component of SCHC began experiencing significant losses. It became immediately clear to all that it would be almost impossible to find the right individual during such circumstances, therefore I agreed to remain as President and CEO until the organization became financially stable again.

By this past summer, SCHC’s financial situation had stabilized and, although still challenging, we had a balanced budget and an ability to plan for our future. Thus in late September 2014 I sent my official Notice of Retirement to the Board of Directors.  Although I provided the required notice I confirmed that my personal preference was to retire sooner. A search firm was retained and the search for a successor President and CEO was reinitiated.

It soon became clear that finding the right person to provide the required leadership to our large and complex System of Care would not be achieved quickly.  In light of my continuing desire to enjoy what I hope you will agree is a well-earned retirement, I spoke with the Board of Directors about expediting my retirement. The Board graciously agreed for me to begin using my vacation accruals immediately and began identifying and retaining an interim President and CSCHC Logo 6EO until the right permanent leadership can be hired and begin employment. Thus effective immediately I will be on vacation to be followed by my actual retirement.

As confirmed by the chairman of SCHC Board of Directors in SCHC’s announcement of my retirement in the Syracuse Post Standard on Aug. 25, 2014, presently Syracuse Community Health Center is in good financial health.  I am confident members of the SCHC Board of Directors with your continued support will find and hire the right permanent President and CEO, capable of guiding SCHC through today’s and future health care environment.  I remain committed to the long-term viability of SCHC and will be available to work with interim and future leadership and the SCHC Board of Directors and staff, as needed and/or desired.

Respectfully,

Dr. Ruben P. Cowart

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