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BUFFALO, NEW YORK; May 1, 2009-Springfest 2009, Putting on the Ritz, the ECMC Lifeline Foundation's annual black-tie gala, will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. Springfest is the premier fund-raising event conducted each year by the Lifeline Foundation for ECMC Corporation. Attendance for this 2009 function is expected to exceed 525 medical and community professionals.
ECMC Lifeline Foundation will recognize three outstanding individuals during this annual gala event. The individuals chosen to be honored this year are: Kevin E. Cichocki, BA, BS, DC, as the Lifeline Chairman's Distinguished Service Honoree; William J. Flynn Jr., MD, as the Distinguished Physician Honoree; and William R. Arnold, RN, as the Distinguished Nursing Honoree.
Chairman's Distinguished Service Honoree: Kevin E. Cichocki, BA, BS, DC, Vice-chair and Chief Clinical Officer of Palladian Health, Dr. Cichocki has overseen the development of proprietary clinical care algorithms integrating physical therapy, chiropractic, and physical health and fitness with primary care to eliminate duplication of services and reduce healthcare costs. As Director (1994) of the New York Chiropractic Group, Dr. Cichocki lead the organization to help create an integrated environment between chiropractic and medical communities within hospitals and in establishing the first in-house, hospital-based chiropractic clinics in the nation.
As an active ECMC Corporation Board of Directors Member since 1999, Dr. Cichocki supports the performance of the hospital system, ensuring that the institution meets its Public Benefit Corporation mission. He is Immediate Past-chair of the ECMC Corporation Board of Directors and currently serves as a Vice-chair. As board chair, Cichocki was instrumental in turning the hospital around to be fiscally sound. Cichocki played a key role representing ECMC in negotiations with New York State's Berger Commission and the subsequent merger process with the Kaleida Health System. Dr. Cichocki represents ECMC Corporation as a Board Member of Great Lakes Health System of Western New York, the organization including Kaleida Health and ECMC Corporation created to develop a new model of healthcare delivery for Western New York.
Dr. Cichocki was Chiropractic Speaker for the Congressional Health Care Reform Forum (1994). He served as a member of the New York State Chiropractic Association Board of Directors (1996-2000), President (1992-1996), Vice President (1990-1992), and Treasurer (1989-2000). He has also served as: Staff Chiropractor for the World University Games (1993) and the Empire State Games (1993-2000). Other professional organizations of which Dr. Cichocki is a member include the: American Chiropractic Association and its Councils on Nutrition and Sports Injury; the Foundation of Chiropractic Education and Research; and the National College of Chiropractic Alumni Association.
Kevin E. Cichocki earned his graduate degree as Doctor of Chiropractic (1986) and an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree (1984) from the National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Illinois. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Canisius College (1982). Dr. Cichocki has also gained expertise through post graduate work with the New York Chiropractic College and the National College of Chiropractic in such specialties as: sports injury, radiological diagnostics, nutrition, and in studies of numerous other injuries and illnesses.
Dr. Cichocki resides with wife Kathi in the town of Elma.
Distinguished Physician Honoree: William J. Flynn Jr., MD, is Associate Professor of Surgery (1999) for the State University of New York (S.U.N.Y.) at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Flynn was appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery at S.U.N.Y. Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (1991) where he also completed his residency (1989). Dr. Flynn earned his doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Medicine in (1983). He received his Master of Sciences degree from S.U.N.Y. Buffalo (1979). He is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Advanced Burn Life Support.
Dr. Flynn was recently appointed Clinical Director of Surgery at ECMC. Prior to this appointment, he served at ECMC as Attending Staff Surgeon (1991) and as the Director of Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Assistant Clinical Director of Surgery and Project Planner/Supervisor of the Trauma ICU Renovation Project.
Throughout his career, Dr. Flynn has earned many accreditations and certifications for his medical knowledge, teaching abilities, and outstanding work ethic, which define both his sense of dedication and the high quality of care that he directs and delivers to ECMC patients. He is a member of the: New York State Committee on Trauma, American Trauma Society, Buffalo Surgical Society, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Buffalo Academy of Medicine, and various other organizations. He earned Fellowships as a Trauma Fellow; a Research Fellow; and in Intravital Microscopy Section, University of Louisville (1991). Dr. Flynn became a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery (1991) and Surgical Critical Care (1992) and a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners (1984).
Dr. Flynn lives with his wife Nancy in the town of Orchard Park.
Distinguished Nursing Honoree: William R. Arnold, Jr., RN, BSN, Nursing Informatics Manager at ECMC has served in this capacity since 2002. Informatics merges technology and nursing, including new developments in various monitoring systems, automated vital signs equipment, and more efficient medical and administration information. Health efficiency and patient safety are top priorities for Nurse Arnold at ECMC. As the only person at ECMC in this position, he is required to understand perspectives of a nurse, a computer analyst, and an administrator. Bill Arnold is currently working on a bed tracking system for ECMC.
Bill Arnold consistently demonstrates a passion for healthcare and a solid work ethic. Having an affinity for medicine, Bill Arnold graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from D'Youville College (1981). With 25 years of his 30 year career in Critical Care, he gained valuable knowledge and experience working in such a highly active environment. This background prepared him for ECMC's fast-paced environment.
Before joining ECMC, Bill Arnold served as a staff nurse and a unit manager in various area hospitals. He also served in the Air Force Reserves for five years as a flight nurse. Flight nurses aid in combat transports and go into the field to take wounded soldiers back to safety.
Bill Arnold and his wife Kathleen live in Clarence Center.
Springfest 2009 will commence at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo at 6:00 P.M. with cocktails and a silent auction. Dinner will be served at 7:00 P.M. Dancing to the music of JOYRIDE & The Hitmen Horns will immediately follow the dinner program. Those individuals or organizations interested in obtaining additional information, sponsoring Springfest, and/or wishing to purchase tickets, should contact the ECMC Lifeline Foundation at 716-898-5881.
ECMC Lifeline Foundation, Inc. was created as a not-for-profit corporation with a mission to assist ECMC in establishing the resources needed to support the medical center's Adult Regional Trauma Center and its Culture of Care through excellence in medical and customer services. Since ECMC is now an independent Public Benefit Corporation and is no longer a part of Erie County, it seeks to receive support from the community it has helped for so long and from those who may need its services in the future.
NEWS CONTACT: Joe Cirillo: 716-898-4300
FOUNDATION CONTACT: Gia Coone at 716-898-5800
