Nominated by their patients and peers, these individuals are being recognized for showing compassion, care, and concern in the midst of a global pandemic.
Dr. Julie Morison
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust the nation’s mental health crisis into the spotlight. The pandemic – and its associated economic upheaval – exacerbated the symptoms of many already struggling with mental illness, and caused great stress, worry, and panic for others.
“As clinicians, we’re not normally coping alongside our patients. This is a unique situation because we’re all going through it together.”
That’s according to Dr. Julie Morison, founder and director of HPA/LiveWell in Albany, NY, a behavioral health practice offering a wide range of mental health care services to address eating disorders, anxiety, and mood disorders, as well as trauma and ADHD.
When you get knocked down, it’s about figuring out how to bounce back up.
Dr. Julie Morison Founder and Director, HPA/LiveWell
Morison says the pandemic provided a unique opportunity for her to truly empathize with her patients.
“All of us can fall apart sometimes. Life is hard. But I tell my patients, it’s about resiliency. When you get knocked down, it’s about figuring out how to bounce back up.”
Dr. Julie Morison
Congratulations to our Frontline Heroes award winners!
Morison’s office was well-positioned to pivot in the wake of the pandemic. The practice, well-known for its intensive outpatient program, quickly moved from in-person to virtual visits. Morison says she was relieved to see patients completing the program with the same 90-percent success rate in the new, virtual environment.
“This success was a huge team effort. In order for us to be strong for our patients, we needed to be strong as a team. I’ll gladly carry the trophy, but I’ll also pass it around to the entire team!”
John D. Bennett, MD, FACC, FACP, is president and CEO of Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP), an award-winning, physician aligned, not-for-profit health plan based in Albany, NY. Bennett has held the position since 2008 after serving more than 10 years as chair, vice chair, and board member for CDPHP.
During his tenure, CDPHP has been ranked among the top-performing health plans in New York and the nation, most recently named #1 in Customer Satisfaction in the 2023 J.D. Power Member Health Plan Study. Under his leadership, CDPHP has also become known as a model employer regionally and nationally and was recently named among the top five Best Companies to Work for in New York by the Society for Human Resource Management, as well as Forbes Best-in-State Employers 2022.
Prior to joining CDPHP, Bennett served as founding member and CEO of Prime Care Physicians, PLLC. During his tenure, he co-led a team of 25 cardiologists and helped grow the practice to a 100-physician multi-specialty group.
Bennett is board certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Internal Medicine, with subspecialties in internal medicine and cardiology. He earned his medical degree at SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, and a Bachelor of Science degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Bennett completed an internship and residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Albany Medical Center. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.
Bennett is currently board chair for the Center for Economic Growth and the Capital Region Chamber, and vice chair for the Palace Theatre. Bennett also serves on the boards of the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Russell Sage Colleges. Bennett is a member of the New York Public Health and Health Planning Council where he helps shape decisions related to New York State's public health and health care delivery system.
Well-known locally and nationally for advancing health care innovation, Bennett was recently named to Crain’s New York Business 2021 Notable in Health Care, as well as the Albany Business Review’s Power 50 list.
The Daily Dose
John D. Bennett, MD, FACC, FACP
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