Rochester Regional Health - St. Lawrence Region

10/29/2025

We’re thrilled to celebrate the formal grand opening of the SeaComm Federal Credit Union Café at Canton-Potsdam Hospital! ✨

A huge thank you to SeaComm for their generous partnership and continued support of our hospital and community. This beautiful new café provides a warm, welcoming space for patients, visitors, and team members to relax and recharge.

We’re also grateful to our community partners — The Blue House (Josh Taillon), Canton Apples (Joel Howie), One Steep at a Time (Patti Mason & Sharon Poole), St. Lawrence Valley Roasters (Conor O’Brien), and Sugar Valley Bakery (Kristen Ashley & Maranda Rowley) — for helping us bring fresh, local flavor to every visit.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special opening — your support helps make Great Care, Right Here possible! 🩵

10/20/2025

Welcome, Bradley Ashcroft, MD, to our Eye Care Center in Potsdam! 👋

Dr. Ashcroft provides comprehensive medical and surgical eye care, with a focus on patient education and compassionate care.

Raised in Central New York with strong ties to the Adirondacks, Dr. Ashcroft is excited to settle in the North Country, a region where he feels “at home.”

He offers full-scope medical and surgical care and partners with patients through clear education and support.

🗓️ Dr. Ashcroft is accepting new patients at our Eye Care office at 49 Lawrence Ave in Potsdam. Call 315-274-9085 to make an appointment.

10/15/2025

“The biggest thing is, I don’t have the fear of falling anymore."

"My leg used to give out, and I’d be on the floor. Also, I’m not turning down invitations to go places and do things, and I’m no longer checking my watch all the time to see if I can take ibuprofen again. The pain is gone.” - Susan Hart, Potsdam Resident

Like many others, Susan lived with hip pain for years. She chose Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Dragos Macelaru, MD—affectionally called “Dr. Mac” by his patients—for a total hip replacement, and says it gave her independence back. “You just couldn’t find a better doctor.”

Before surgery, she tried shots and physical therapy. When pain kept limiting her life, she met with Dr. Mac, asked her questions, and left feeling heard and prepared. She completed a joint replacement class and read the surgery guide cover to cover. Her procedure took place in December 2024 at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, just five minutes from her home.

Recovery moved fast with her prescribed therapy, plus some extra work with a trainer and massage.

💪 Now she climbs stairs, ties her shoes, and moves without fear of falling — all the things she says she used to take for granted until she could no longer do them with ease.

One other thing Susan loved? Having expert care five minutes from home. “There was no need to go outside the St. Lawrence community. We have wonderful practitioners here.” 🩵

➡️ Are you ready for a hip replacement? Take the assessment to see if you might qualify:

Discover expert joint replacement for hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles. Advanced care, personalized plans, and comprehensive recovery support at Rochester Regional Health.

10/13/2025

Feet on the course. Hearts with the community. 🩵🩷

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month - and this weekend, we were proud to sponsor and participate in the 2025 Potsdam Angel Dash, presented by Rachel's Gift, in special honor of families who have experienced this loss.

To participants and volunteers, thank you. When our neighbors need support, this community answers. Every step this weekend told that story.

10/09/2025

❌ Out: Checking for lumps once a month.
✅ In: Knowing your “normal” and noting ANY change to your breasts at any time.

Since 2015, the American Cancer Society has recommended “breast awareness” over monthly self-exams.

Why the change? The ACS found that formal monthly exams didn’t lower cancer-related deaths, led to more false alarms, and didn’t address other potential signs of breast cancer, like color change, swelling, or dimpling.

Now, providers recommend being proactive and looking for ANY changes in the breast at any time throughout the month, including:

➡️ new and unusual, persistent lumps
➡️ changes in size, shape, or color
➡️ dimpling, puckering, thickening, or bulging skin
➡️ ni**le discharge (aside from breast milk for women who are breastfeeding)
➡️ redness, soreness, rashes, or swelling

⚠️ If you notice any of these changes at any time, contact your provider as soon as possible for evaluation. Early detection saves lives!

Learn more at https://roc.health/awareness

10/08/2025

It’s Safe Sleep & SIDS Awareness Month. Let’s make safe sleep a daily habit. 😴

Check out these 5 tips for infant sleep safety, save them, and share with a friend. 🩵

10/07/2025

Meet Tara Hyneman, FNP-C - Now accepting new OB/GYN patients! 🩵

A North Country native with 20 years of healthcare experience, Tara is now seeing patients at our OB/GYN offices in Gouverneur and Canton, as well as providing virtual care to patients across the St. Lawrence region.

Whether you're planning a family, managing chronic pelvic pain, or simply due for a wellness exam, FNP-C Hyneman is committed to helping patients achieve their health goals with respect, dignity, and a patient-first approach.

➡️ See her locations and schedule an appointment at roc.health/thyneman

10/06/2025

We had a great time walking with the community at the 2025 Gouverneur Breast & Ovarian Cancer Fund Walk!

We were a proud sponsor of this wonderful annual event, and are so grateful to all who help make it possible.

Thank you to everyone who came out to walk and show your support - and an extra special shout-out to our Clinical Research and Oncology teams who helped staff our table, handed out fun freebies, answered questions, and connected people with important health resources.

For every step forward, We’re Here for It. 💖

09/30/2025

Celebrating Our St. Lawrence Region Team Members of the Quarter!

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to recognize seven incredible colleagues across the St. Lawrence Region who went above and beyond in Q2, earning praise from both patients and peers.

👏 Please join us in congratulating:

- Nancy Bice - Patient Access Representative, Gouverneur Hospital
- Mara DeCarr – Certified Medical Assistant, Clinical Network
- Allena Jacobs – Nursing Supervisor, Canton-Potsdam Hospital
- Alexander Kot – Security Guard, Massena Hospital
- Serena Lafayette – RN, Gouverneur Hospital
- Meagan Lazore – RN, Massena Hospital
- Lauren Prentice – Director of Food & Nutrition Services, SLR

Thank you for embodying our mission every day and making a difference in the lives of those we serve. 🩵

09/29/2025

From Rochester & St. Lawrence, New York to Ndola, Zambia, our team members are showing what it means to care without borders. 🩵

Rochester-based Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. Kim Ressler, and St. Lawrence’s own Pediatrician Dr. Donald Schuessler brought their knowledge, compassion, and teamwork to adults and children in need — many of them orphaned — while on a medical mission in Africa.

Their work is a powerful reminder that the heart of our community can reach far beyond our own region.

We’re grateful to Dr. Ressler, Dr. Schuessler, and local St. Lawrence County resident Bob Zimmerman, who helped patients find the perfect pair of reading glasses so they could keep on sewing, reading, and living their lives with dignity.

09/23/2025

☕ Big news at Canton-Potsdam Hospital!

Last week, we celebrated the soft opening of the SeaComm Federal Credit Union Café with our friends from SeaComm, who joined us for the first cups of coffee. 🩵

We are deeply grateful to SeaComm for their generous donation and support that made this space possible. Thanks to their partnership, our patients, visitors, and team members now have a cozy spot to grab coffee, espresso, tea, apple cider, pastries, baked goods, and to-go lunch options.

The café is officially open daily from 7 AM–2 PM. Stop by and enjoy!

09/19/2025

From Canton-Potsdam to Gouverneur to Massena, our teams came together this month for employee picnics filled with smiles and connection. 🩵

Thanks to all for joining us, to leaders who volunteered to serve food, to Nutrition Services for making the delicious meals, and for everything that our entire team does, everyday.