(Credit: Courtesy ARCC, 2023)
(Credit: Courtesy Mark Rogers, 2023)
Dr. John Rugge wins ARCC's Juckett Community Service Award
From a press release: The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) is pleased to announce that the 34th Annual J. Walter Juckett Community Service Award will be presented to retired physician, and founder of Hudson Headwaters Health Network, Dr. John Rugge. Dr. Rugge will be presented with the award at the ARCC Annual Dinner on the evening of March 10, 2023 at The Sagamore Resort.
“We are excited to celebrate Dr. John Rugge as the 34th Annual J. Walter Juckett award honoree. Dr. Rugge is so deserving of this honor. As the founder of Hudson Headwaters Health Network, his passion and drive to further healthcare in our region is admirable. We are fortunate that Dr. Rugge chose to stay in our region and establish a healthcare system that helps so many of our community members,” said ARCC President & CEO Tricia Rogers.
John Rugge was a family physician who dropped into the Adirondacksto finish writing a canoe book in 1974. He then accepted a position with the Glens Falls Hospital to serve as supervising physician at a brand-new health center in Chestertown with the intention of practicing for six months before returning to Albany Medical Center.
As it turned out, all the surrounding communities were losing their GPs to retirement, and he found it impossible to depart with no one to take his place. Instead, he combined medical practice with community engagement (and grant writing) to establish the Hudson Headwaters Health Network which has grown to include 21 health centers between Saratoga County to the Canadian border with some 200 medical providers and more than 150,000 patients.
Dr. Rugge observes that the way local need generated remarkable community support attracted the attention of health care policymakers in Albany and Washington, leading him in turn to serve on forty government advisory panels, task forces, and councils—all of which has served to make Hudson Headwaters a model for others across the state and across the nation.
Dr. Rugge has combined clinical practice and leadership of several related organizations that provide health care services across northeastern New York. Special emphasis is on caring for the underserved communities. His experience also includes service as senior policy advisor to government, development of managed care organizations, and organizer of innovative models of care for the Adirondack North Country Region.
The J. Walter Juckett Award, named in honor of the longtime chairman of the Sandy Hill Corporation, was created 34 years ago to recognize and honor a deserving member of the community who has selflessly gone above and beyond by contributing time and energy to help others. To see a list of past honorees, please visit the Chamber’s website: www.adirondackchamber.org/j.-walter-juckett-community-service-award.
ARCC will celebrate Dr. John Rugge’s contributions to the community at the ARCC Annual Dinner event on Friday, March 10, 2023 at the Sagamore Resort.
Dragons baseball club names Mark Rogers to baseball operations post
The Glens Falls Dragons baseball team has hired Glens Falls native Mark Rogers as an Assistant in Baseball Operations.
A press release said Rogers will be responsible for partnering with local businesses to develop strategic marketing opportunities at East Field, the Glens Falls Dragons’ home stadium.
Rogers previously held sales positions at Bermuda Star Cruise Line in Florida, TD Bank in Glens Falls, Manheim Auto Auctions in Clifton Park and most recently Adirondack Broadcasting in Queensbury.