September 18, 2017

Healthcare Trustees of New York State Presents Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award to William K. Buscaglia, Jr.

LAKE PLACID, NY— Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) presented its 2017 Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award to William K. Buscaglia, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Catholic Health System, Buffalo. The award was presented at HTNYS’ Annual Conference in Lake Placid on September 15.

Mr. Buscaglia has served Catholic Health through various leadership roles on the Board of Directors since 2010. He is currently Board Chair, a role he stepped up to assume without hesitation in 2015 following the unexpected death of the Board Chair, while maintaining all of his other Board responsibilities and positions.

Under Mr. Buscaglia’s Board leadership, Catholic Health System continues to increase its charity care and community benefit contributions each year to ensure people have access to quality care, regardless of their ability to pay, and to develop programs and services that will have an impact on the health of the community.

As a steady and guiding presence, he has helped to lead Catholic Health through important growth and collaborative opportunities as well as major capital projects that will improve healthcare in the community for years to come. Mr. Buscaglia is highly regarded for his ability to ask the right questions, look at challenges and opportunities from every perspective, and inspire others to think critically. In 2015, Mr. Buscaglia was involved in key governance decisions as Catholic Health completed the acquisition of Mount St. Mary’s Hospital. He also provided leadership for an unprecedented collaboration in 2016 when Catholic Health, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Kaleida Health, and Erie County Medical Center partnered to bring a new joint cardiac catheterization lab to Niagara County.

Through Mr. Buscaglia’s advocacy, guidance, and support as Chair of Catholic Health’s Finance and Operations Committee, Catholic Health sought and received state approval to expand the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sisters Hospital to meet a growing demand for services.

In addition to his hospital Board role, he helps strengthen his community through his present and past volunteer work and Board leadership with several organizations including the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Canisius High School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo.

About the Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award

HTNYS created the Trustee Leadership and Advocacy Award in 1985 to recognize trustees who bring extraordinary leadership and dedication to their governance role. The award is presented to trustees whose skills, commitment, and effective decision-making have a profound impact in their boardroom. The award honors trustees for taking a lead role in positioning their organizations to meet the challenges of the evolving healthcare environment. It also recognizes trustees for their outstanding contributions to grassroots advocacy efforts for their hospital or healthcare system.

About Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS)

Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS) was established in 1981 to address a growing need for governance education for New York’s healthcare trustees and to provide them with new opportunities to participate in healthcare advocacy.

HTNYS’ Mission

To assist voluntary healthcare trustees through education, communications, and advocacy to promote the delivery of quality healthcare to all communities in a cost-effective manner.