Catholic Health Makes Leadership Changes to Accelerate Recovery and Strategic Plan
Across the county and throughout WNY, the healthcare industry continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID pandemic. As staffing shortages, financial losses, and supply chain challenges continue, healthcare providers remain steadfast serving their communities while facing reimbursement shortfalls from public and private payors that have not kept up with the current market.
As the largest hospital in Catholic Health, and one of the largest in the region in terms of size and scope of services, Mercy Hospital of Buffalo continues to feel a significant impact from these market forces as well as the effects of a 40-day strike less than a year ago. Mercy is home to highest levels of specialty care at the Catholic Health Heart Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center, and the leading provider of healthcare to the Southtowns, serving more than 100,000 patients annually.
Catholic Health is taking an important step to focus on strengthening Mercy Hospital as it continues to serve patients across the region. Effective immediately, Marty Boryszak, Senior Vice President of Acute Care Service at Catholic Health, will also become President of Mercy Hospital.
In his Senior Vice President role, a position he has held for the past three years, Boryszak is responsible for the system’s four hospitals and their administrative operations. As he assumes added responsibility at Mercy, he will be based at the Abbott Road site to stay in close contact with the hospital’s management team.
“We have always taken this dynamic and timely management philosophy, to look at our leadership team and put their talents where they can best meet the needs of our system and advance our mission,” said Mark Sullivan, President & CEO of Catholic Health. “Marty has been at the helm successfully leading many important initiatives for our system, from our nationally-recognized response to the COVID pandemic to our innovative approach to redeveloping St. Joseph Campus. Now, he will use the skill, knowledge, and experience leading our acute care services to advance Mercy Hospital.”
Boryszak’s ties to Mercy Hospital and the community are strong. “I grew up in South Buffalo and it played a big role in shaping who I am today. My parents still live there,” he said. My career move to healthcare really stemmed from my mother, who worked in various nursing roles at OLV, Mercy and St. Joseph hospitals for more than 40 years. I feel a sense of responsibility to my family, my community, and to Catholic Health to ensure Mercy Hospital remains strong for the next generation.”
“Since the strike, we worked hard to forge a new partnership with the CWA and Marty was instrumental in that process, as well as playing a significant role in crafting our progressive labor contract,” Sullivan added. “I know moving forward he will be able to partner with union leaders and our associates to make Mercy Hospital the place where skilled caregivers want to work and patients continue to come to receive the highest quality care.”
Catholic Health developed a new five-year strategic plan before the pandemic hit and has been adapting the plan in a post-COVID environment. While the core of the plan has not changed – creating centers of excellence and leveraging its new electronic health record technology – system leaders know they have to make up lost ground to the pandemic. Eddie Bratko, Mercy Hospital’s current president, will transition to a new role leading key projects tied to accelerating Catholic Health’s Strategic Plan.
“Our leadership team is committed to accelerating the transformation of Catholic Health for the long term,” Sullivan said. “We are fortunate to have Eddie’s insight as an operational leader, his knowledge of our system, and his deep analytical and project management capabilities to help drive these high priority initiatives.”
“We know the challenges before us require innovation and creative leadership as well as exceptional operational skills to solve,” Sullivan added. “We are grateful to have Marty take on this critical responsibility as we continue our momentum to attract the best and brightest to Catholic Health while setting the standard for quality and patient safety across the region.”
