Congratulating Dr. Carol Podgorski upon the occasion of her retirement after many years of distinguished service to the University of Rochester Medical Center

Assembly Resolution No. 1439

BY: M. of A. Bronson

        CONGRATULATING   Dr.   Carol  Podgorski  upon  the
        occasion of  her  retirement  after  many  years  of
        distinguished service to the University of Rochester
        Medical Center

  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend   those    distinguished    individuals    whose    professional
accomplishments  and  civic  contributions  have enhanced the quality of
life in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
congratulate Dr. Carol Podgorski upon the  occasion  of  her  retirement
after  a  career  of  extraordinary  service, scholarship, advocacy, and
leadership in the fields of aging, behavioral  health,  and  Alzheimer's
care; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Carol Podgorski is a nationally recognized leader whose
distinguished   career   has   bridged  research,  clinical  innovation,
education, and community impact, improving the lives of countless  older
adults, caregivers, families, and underserved communities throughout New
York State and beyond; and

  WHEREAS,  Dr. Podgorski has served with distinction as Professor and
Associate Chair of Faculty Affairs in the Department  of  Psychiatry  at
the  University  of  Rochester  Medical  Center,  where she has advanced
integrated approaches  to  mental  health  and  aging  while  mentoring,
supervising,   and   educating   future   generations   of   clinicians,
researchers, and scholars; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout her exemplary career,  Dr.  Podgorski  has  held
numerous leadership positions within the University of Rochester Medical
Center,  including Director of the Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for
Alzheimer's Disease, Clinic Director of  the  UR  Medicine  Memory  Care
Program,  Psychiatry Department Discipline Chief for Marriage and Family
Therapy, Director  of  Alzheimer's  Disease  Support  Programs  for  the
University  of  Rochester  Geriatric  Workforce Enhancement Program, and
Co-Leader of the Vital Living Core of the University of Rochester  Aging
Institute; and

  WHEREAS,  Through  her  leadership  of  the  Finger  Lakes Center of
Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease  and  the  UR  Medicine  Memory  Care
Program,  Dr.  Podgorski has provided compassionate, evidence-based care
for patients  and  families  navigating  complex  cognitive  conditions,
strengthening systems of support for caregivers and enhancing quality of
life  for older adults throughout the Finger Lakes region and across New
York State; and

  WHEREAS, An accomplished clinician and scholar,  Dr.  Podgorski  has
dedicated  her  academic  career  to  advancing  medical  family therapy
approaches to caregiving and developing family  systems-oriented  models
of patient- and family-centered dementia care; and

  WHEREAS,  Dr.  Podgorski  earned  her Doctor of Philosophy degree in
Sociology and master's degrees in Public Health and Marriage and  Family
Therapy  from  the  University of Rochester, combining interdisciplinary
expertise  with  a  steadfast   commitment   to   public   service   and
compassionate care; and

  WHEREAS,  A  prolific  author  and  researcher,  Dr.  Podgorski  has
authored and co-authored 29 journal  articles  and  six  book  chapters,
contributing  significantly  to  the  body  of knowledge in gerontology,
behavioral health, caregiving, and  Alzheimer's  disease  treatment  and
support; and

  WHEREAS, Dr. Podgorski has distinguished herself as an award-winning
policy  advocate  and  leader  in professional organizations, serving as
past president of the New York State Association for Marriage and Family
Therapy and chair of its Family Team, where she led legislative advocacy
efforts that helped secure Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial  insurance
coverage  for  family  therapy  services,  thereby  expanding  access to
behavioral health care for countless individuals and families; and

  WHEREAS,  In  recognition  of  her  expertise  and  dedication,  Dr.
Podgorski  has  been  appointed by the Governor to serve on the New York
State Council for Alzheimer's Disease  and  Related  Dementia,  and  has
further lent her leadership and insight to numerous professional, civic,
and advisory organizations at the local, state, and national levels; and

  WHEREAS,  Dr. Podgorski is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor
of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a Fellow of
the Gerontological Society of America, and a member of  the  Alzheimer's
Association  International  Society  to Advance Alzheimer's Research and
Treatment, among many other  professional  affiliations  and  leadership
appointments; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
individuals of such  caliber  and  achievement  dedicate  themselves  to
improving  the  well-being of others, they merit the highest recognition
and gratitude of the people of the State of New York; now, therefore, be
it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
congratulate  Dr.  Carol  Podgorski upon the occasion of her retirement,
and to honor her for her distinguished career, steadfast leadership, and
enduring contributions to the fields of aging, behavioral health, family
therapy, and Alzheimer's care; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Dr. Carol Podgorski.