2005 Press Releases
new grants administrator appointed  ROME - Susan D. Smith has been appointed to the new position of grants administrator at Rome Memorial Hospital, announced President/Chief Executive Officer Darlene Burns, M.S., R.N. “Sue has been involved in supporting nonprofit organizations her entire career. With 30 years of experience in communications, grant making, fund development and nonprofit management, she possesses both detailed knowledge of the field and a true passion for advancing the mission of nonprofit organizations for the greater good of the community,” Mrs. Burns said. As grants administrator, Smith will be responsible for researching and submitting applications for grant dollars in support of the hospital’s programs and services. She will also monitor compliance with grant specifications when grants are awarded. “Increasingly, state and federal agencies are relying upon a grant process to allocate special funding for workforce development and other programs. To access these valuable dollars, we created the new position to ensure that we have an experienced professional with the time and skill set to secure new sources of funding,” Mrs. Burns said. “Foundations and other organizations are willing to invest in healthcare. We just need to tap into those resources.” Healthcare economists recommend that hospitals maintain a 4% margin for reinvestment. Ninety-three percent of New York’s hospitals – including Rome Memorial Hospital - are below that level. “Given this financial reality, hospitals must leverage grant dollars and other fund-raising efforts to advance their strategic initiatives,” Mrs. Burns said. ”Having the opportunity to establish a grants administration department for the hospital is tremendously exciting for me personally and professionally,” said Ms. Smith. “My goal is to ensure that the hospital develops and nurtures its relationships with funders and competes more aggressively for grant opportunities that will benefit the hospital and ultimately, the community.” A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Ms. Smith graduated magna cum laude from Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned her master’s degree in English literature at the University of Rochester. Ms. Smith also received professional certificates from the Evaluator’s Institute, John Brown Ltd. Planned Giving, and the Grantsmanship Center to expand her philanthropic expertise. Over the last 30 years, she has been associated with advancing the missions of Villanova University, SUNY Geneseo, University of Rochester Cancer Center, Eastman Dental Center, the Norman Howard School, the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. She served as the executive director of the Utica Symphony Orchestra and has provided consulting services to several organizations in the Mohawk Valley. When not at work, Ms. Smith spends her time fly fishing and canoeing or improving her aim at sporting clays and skeet. She resides in Barneveld with her husband, Roger. | 