Richard J. Servatius, Ph.D.
President
Richard J. Servatius, Ph.D. is a Career Research Scientist with over 25 years with the VA. Dr. Servatius is a Neuroscientist (Ph.D. Department of Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences now Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences in 1993) and Experimental Psychologist (M.S. SUNY Cortland University in 1989). He is a Professor of Psychiatry with Upstate Medical University.
Dr. Servatius’s core research program emphasizes military mental health. Longstanding research focuses on diathesis models of avoidance coping in understanding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and suicidality in Veterans.
Dr. Servatius's research also focuses on active duty military with research collaborations that included US Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Dr. Servatius began a research collaboration with the US Army, Combat Capabilities Development Center (CCDC) in 2002 which continues to this day. With CCDC, Dr. Servatius continues to provide scientific direction to an array of programs spanning psychophysiological processes in warfighters, combatants and noncombatants, the integration of artificial intelligence in combat support systems and training, and effectiveness testing of nonlethal weapons.
Paul Dougherty, DC, DABCO
Vice-President
Paul is a 1990 graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic. He was in private practice for 12 years in Upstate NY. During that time, Paul practiced in an interdisciplinary practice setting and was one of the first chiropractors in New York State to receive hospital privileges. In 2003 he left private practice to direct the New York Chiropractic College’s clinic at the Monroe Community Hospital, a university-affiliated teaching nursing home. In 2005 Paul joined the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Canandaigua NY.
He has continued to actively participate in patient care and clinical research. He has completed two federally funded randomized controlled trials and has published numerous manuscripts.
He is currently the chair of the Syracuse VA Medical Center Institutional Review Board (IRB) and is Chair of the Pain Oversight Committee at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center.
Paul’s main area of interest in research is the non-pharmacological management of chronic lower back pain.
Amelia McLean-Robertson
Treasurer
Amelia McLean-Robertson is an environmental attorney with the law firm Harris Beach, PLLC in Syracuse. Amelia’s practice focuses on zoning, land use, and environmental compliance. Prior to working in private practice Amelia was Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Syracuse. Amelia served as counsel to the city’s Department of Assessment handling litigation and contracts relating to property tax and advising city administration on disposition strategies for city-owned real estate assets.
Amelia attended law school at the Syracuse University College of Law after working for several years as a commercial real estate broker. Amelia specialized in landlord representation of office and retail space and worked on several development projects.
Amelia also serves as the Director of Communications for the Central New York chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA). AMWA is a non-profit professional organization that promotes global environmental responsibility and provides a forum for technology exchange and professional development.
Mark Murdock, MHS, FACHE
Mr. Mark Murdock is an Air Force Veteran who has served as the Medical Center Director of the Syracuse VAMC since August of 2023. He formerly served at VA Dayton, Ohio as Director from 2020 to 2023 and Associate Director from 2013 to 2017, Director of the Cincinnati VAMC from 2018 to 2020, and Director of the Chillicothe VAMC from 2017 to 2018.
His VA career has included assignments as the Program Manager, VISN 10/11 Tele-Nurse Triage Program, Dayton, OH and Health System Specialist, Surgical Service at the VAMC Dayton, OH. Before coming to the VA, following retirement from active duty, he worked for private sector companies and government contractors in the healthcare industry.
Mr. Murdock retired as a Medical Service Corp (MSC) Officer from the United States Air Force in 1999. During his Air Force career, Mr. Murdock was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton OH, Charleston AFB, SC, Misawa AB, Japan, and Aviano AB, Italy.
Mr. Murdock is board certified in healthcare administration by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) in which he holds membership as a Fellow (FACHE), and is a member of the Greater Ohio Healthcare Leaders Forum (GOHLF). Mr. Murdock is also a graduate of the 2012 VHA Healthcare Leadership Institute (HCLI).
Mr. Murdock is a native of Sackets Harbor, New York. Mr. Murdock is a graduate of Park University with a B.S. in Healthcare Management and holds a master’s degree in Health Service Administration from Xavier University (OH). Mr. Murdock and his wife, Stephanie, have four adult daughters and two beautiful granddaughters.
Steven Pflanz, MD
Dr. Steven Pflanz was appointed as the new Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center Chief of Staff in 2019, after serving nearly 25 years in the United States Air Force. In this role, Dr. Pflanz will oversee all clinical operations at the medical center and its 11 satellite clinics serving veterans across a 13-county area of central New York. He recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff in 2023-2024 and worked as an inpatient psychiatrist for the previous three years. Dr. Pflanz grew up in Upstate New York, graduating from Cornell University and the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He retired from the Air Force in the rank of Colonel after a distinguished military care.
Dr. Pflanz is a Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and has over two decades of experience leading a variety of healthcare organizations. He is a board-certified psychiatrist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Upstate Medical University. Dr. Pflanz was the recipient of the University’s “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” award in 2021 and “Psychiatry Preceptor of the Year” award in 2022. His research publications focus on suicide prevention and work stress. Dr. Pflanz has presented widely on the subjects of occupational psychiatry, suicide prevention, and psychiatry in film.
Bruce Tucker
Bruce Tucker was appointed Director for the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System (Bath and Canandaigua VA Medical Centers) May 2019.
Mr. Tucker oversee delivery of health care to the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System including five community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) located in Upstate New York. Mr. Tucker will oversee delivery of health care to more than 33,000 Veterans and an operating budget of over $220 million at the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System.
With more than 1,800 staff and numerous CBOCs and satellite clinics in counties in Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System provides a wide array of health care services for Veterans.
Mr. Tucker joined VA more than 27 years ago and has held progressive leadership positions at the Bath and Canandaigua VA Medical Centers, NY. Prior to serving as interim medical center director for the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System he served as the Medical VA Care Line Manager/Chief of Social Work at both the Bath and Canandaigua VA Medical Centers, where he planned and managed the delivery of medical services across facilities to achieve the organization’s mission.
Mr. Tucker holds a Masters in Social Work from Marywood College and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from SUNY Cortland.
Diego M. Uribe, Lt Col, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Diego M. Uribe is the Director of Operations at the 152d Combat Operations Squadron, Hancock Field, Syracuse, NY. He directs orientation, training, and equipping of 62 Guardsmen tasked to support operations in United States Air Forces Europe. He develops and executes plans, in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratories, enabling the evolution of command & control, and refining capabilities for future operations. As Director of Operations, he advices the commander on the manning, recruiting, professional development, and progression of squadron members. He provides guidance, mentorship, and manages the squadron’s 15 airmen strong full-time staff. In addition to his current job, he also serves as Chief of Combat Operations in the United States Air Forces Europe and Africa combatant commands, providing actionable information to the Joint Force Air Component Commander. Additionally, he plans contingency operations for future emerging threats.
Lt Col Uribe entered the Air Force in September 2001 through ROTC at Boston University in Boston, MA. He completed Joint Undergraduate Navigator Training in October 2002 at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Electronic Warfare Officer School in May 2003 at Randolph AFB, and B-1 Initial Qualification Training in March 2004 at Dyess AFB. He served an active duty for 12 years as a B-1 Weapons System Officer deploying five times, and he served 2 years on the RQ-170. In 2017, he transferred to the New York Air National Guard. In the 152d Combat Operations Squadron, he has served as Senior Offensive Duty Officer (SODO), deployed as Coalition Planner, and served multiple times at the 603d Air Operations Center as Chief of Combat Operations (CCO). Prior to his current position, Lt Col Uribe served as Combat Planner at the 603d Air Operations Center, Ramstein Air Base, during the initial months of the Ukrainian Crisis.
Lt Col Uribe served as Director of Operations, 152d Combat Operations Squadron. He has served in OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE, and OPERATION NEW NORMAL. He has also served as Dynamic Targeting Chief, SODO, and CCO in EXERCISES PACIFIC SENTRY, RED FLAG, AUSTERE CHALLENGE, and NEPTUNE EAGLE.
