2006 Press Releases
Hospital Promotes Winter to AVP of Communications and Marketing  ROME – Cassie Evans Winter was promoted to assistant vice president of communications and marketing at Rome Memorial Hospital, announced President/Chief Executive Officer Darlene Burns, M.S., R.N. Mrs. Winter is responsible for developing and implementing effective communications and marketing strategies to foster an ongoing exchange of information between stakeholders to advance the hospital, its people and its services. She joined the hospital staff as public relations manager in 1998 and was promoted to public relations director in 2002. “Since she joined the hospital staff eight years ago, Cassie has consistently demonstrated her ability to think analytically under pressure and provide valuable counsel to the hospital’s management team,” said Mrs. Burns. “Under her leadership, our Public Relations Department has enhanced the community’s awareness and appreciation of the hospital’s services and the hospital’s role as a community asset.” “More than anything, I see my role as one of an educator,” Mrs. Winter said. “Rome Memorial Hospital has made such a dramatic transformation in the last 10 years with advancements in quality, modern technology and new services to meet the community’s needs. It is our responsibility to keep our community informed about the progress that we’ve made.” “My job has been easy because we have such a good story to tell,” she said. “Rome Memorial Hospital has renovated nearly three quarters of its physical plant and is constructing a new Emergency Department in response to increased volume. We have one of the best nurse-to-patient ratios in the state, which allows our nurses to spend more time with patients at the bedside. We opened the only Senior Behavioral Health Unit in the region, which was recognized nationally for its level of excellence. Our cancer treatment center in Chestnut Commons has the only IMRT system in the Mohawk Valley that is equipped with respiratory gating and portal imaging to enable cancer patients to be treated with greater precision.” “I am honored to be part of an organization whose leadership and frontline staff truly embrace its mission,” Mrs. Winter said. A graduate of Camden Central High School, Mrs. Winter returned to the Mohawk Valley after earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Texas A & M University, College Station. She was employed by the Rome Sentinel Company for seven years before joining the hospital’s staff. Writing under the deadlines of the Daily Sentinel newspaper sharpened the essential skills that were necessary to transition into corporate communications, she said. “I have been privileged to learn from experienced and supportive mentors throughout my career including David Swanson and Patricia Hendrickson at the Rome Sentinel, Paige Group’s Nancy Pattarini, and Basil Ariglio at the hospital.” Mrs. Winter earned national recognition for the hospital’s last two annual reports, including a third place Profiles in Healthcare Marketing award for the 2002-2003 annual report and a bronze Aster Award for the 2003-2004 report. She is a member of the Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development. Mrs. Winter is pursuing a master’s degree in health services administration at SUNY Institute of Technology. She resides in Taberg with her husband, Arthur, and their sons, David, 10, and Nathan, 8. | 
