Our Board of Directors

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.

Dr. Kyle Possemato is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Associate Director for Research at the VA Center for Integrated Health.  She also serves as the Vice President of the Central New York Veterans Health Research Institute and the Chairperson of the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Research and Development Committee. Dr. Possemato holds faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology, Syracuse University and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Possemato received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University. She leads an VA and NIH funded research portfolio focused on developing, testing and implementing interventions for PTSD, alcohol use disorders, and general psychological distress with an emphasis on interventions that can be delivered in non-traditional ways in order to increase patient engagement. Examples include brief interventions delivered in the primary care setting, treatments that combine professional support with mobile health apps, mindfulness training, and services delivered by peer-support specialists.

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.

Michael DelDuca, MBA, is serving as the Interim Medical Center Director.

Michael DelDuca, a Central New York native, most recently served in the capacity of Ambulatory Care Line Manager for the Syracuse VA Medical Center, providing administrative leadership for Primary Care, Outpatient Clinics, Emergency Medicine, Home Based Care, Telehealth, and Whole Health. His previous positions include business operations manager for the VA Maryland Health Care System in the Medical Care Clinical Center, Anesthesia and Neurology Clinical Centers and Nursing Services.

Mr. DelDuca earned Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo and a Masters of Business Administration, Healthcare Management, from Clarkson University Capital Region Campus. He then completed an Administrative Fellowship with the VA Capitol Health Care Network, completed the FEMA Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents and is a graduate of the VHA Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP). He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Family Health Centers of Baltimore, a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center.

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.

Danielle Bergman is currently serving as the Acting Medical Center Director for VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, a role she assumed on July 1, 2025. She also continues to serve as Assistant Director at VA Western New York Healthcare System (VAWNYHS). 

Danielle began her current role in 2017.  Prior to this assignment, she has served as Human Resources Manager for VAWNYHS. She began her VA career in 2007 at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center as a Human Resources Technical Career Field Intern and then served as a Human Resources Specialist. Following her service at Canandaigua, she worked for VA Health Care Upstate New York - Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 2) in Albany, NY as a Supervisory Human Resources Specialist. 

Bergman graduated summa cum laude from St. John Fisher College in 2005, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a certification in Service Leadership, and in 2007 summa cum laude with a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development, 2016 graduate of the VA Health Care Leadership Development Program, a 2019 Graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, and a 2024 Graduate of the Partnership in Public Service Excellence in Government Program. 

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.

John Tully serves as the Vice President of Operations at HCA Healthcare Colleton Hospital. He leads strategic initiatives to optimize efficiency, drive cross-functional collaboration, and ensure seamless execution across all business units.

With over 7 years of experience in healthcare, John has held key roles in leadership, operations, and enterprise expansion. Prior to joining Colleton Hospital, he served as Director of Strategy for HCA’s South Atlantic Division, where he spearheaded service line and  brick and mortar expansion initiatives. His expertise spans strategic planning, team development, and change management, earning him recognition for delivering measurable impact in complex environments.

John holds a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Cornell University and Bachelors of Industrial Engineering from Auburn University. His commitment to continuous improvement and empowering teams has made him a trusted leader in driving sustainable success.

Professor at SUNY Upstate 

Jerian O’Dell serves as the Chief Operating Officer of North Star Health Alliance, where she provides executive leadership and operational oversight across the Alliance’s member organizations, including Carthage Area Hospital, North Country Orthopaedic Group and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center. In this role, she drives systemwide initiatives that enhance quality and operational efficiency while ensuring alignment across hospitals and shared services throughout Northern New York.

With more than 17 years of experience in healthcare operations and leadership, Jerian has held progressive roles within Carthage Area Hospital, including Chief Operating Officer and Director of Outpatient Clinics, as well as Administrator of North Country Orthopaedic Group. Her expertise includes strategic planning, clinical operations, regulatory compliance, and process improvement, with a proven record of expanding services and improving access to care in rural communities.

Jerian earned her Master of Business Administration in Health Services Management from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and holds both a Bachelor and Associate degree in Dental Hygiene from the State University of New York system.