VALHALLA, N.Y. (April 8, 2025) — Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) is on a mission to take healthcare to the next level in the Hudson Valley. As part of this commitment to excellence, WMCHealth is announcing a slate of appointment to key leadership positions MidHudson Regional Hospital, HealthAlliance Hospital, and Margaretville Hospital. These appointments of dynamic, healthcare visionaries are expected to advance innovative, patient-centered healthcare in Dutchess, Ulster, and Delaware counties and the surrounding regions.
The appointments include:
- Shankar Kurra, MD as Chief Medical Officer for HealthAlliance and Margaretville Hospitals. With more than 15 years of experience in clinical leadership and integrated care delivery management, Dr. Kurra brings a wealth of expertise to this position. Prior to joining WMCHealth, Dr. Kurra served as the Chief Medical Officer at Sentara Health, an integrated healthcare network with locations across Virginia and North Carolina. His experience includes advancing quality outcomes by implementing value-based care models and focusing on enhanced patient satisfaction. Dr. Kurra will focus on developing the HealthAlliance Hospital and Margaretville Hospital medical staff, using data and performance metrics to further deliver results for patients.
- Jerome Dayao, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, who joins MidHudson Regional Hospital as Vice President of Nursing. With his extensive experience in overseeing nursing operations at large academic hospitals and trauma centers, Dayao is the ideal person to lead nursing strategies, ensuring the highest standards of care and clinical excellence. Most recently, Dayao spent three years at the Mohawk Valley Health System as Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer. His experience includes managing multi-hospital systems, optimizing staffing efficiency and driving patient safety improvements, specifically focusing on streamlining operations through technology and data and reducing patient wait time.
- Michael Doyle, MD, MBA, CPE as Associate Director of Psychiatry, overseeing WMCHealth’s behavioral health programs at HealthAlliance Hospital and MidHudson Regional Hospital. As a valued member of the WMCHealth Network since 2019 with over 33 years of leadership experience, Dr. Doyle brings an insider’s knowledge to this role. Dr. Doyle previously served as Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley, where he played a critical role in the development of the new HealthAlliance Hospital and the ongoing plans for the Medical Village at the former HealthAlliance Hospital on Broadway in Kingston.
- George Weldon, Jr. as Vice President of Operations at HealthAlliance Hospital and Margaretville Hospital. With over 17 years of experience in healthcare, Weldon has the dedication and deep knowledge required to successfully lead operational processes and enhance the overall hospital experience for patients and staff. Weldon spent 10 years at Northwell Health, where he most recently served as Associate Executive Director of Operations. He focuses intently on building cohesive teams and driving continuous engagement and is passionate about ensuring a high-quality, supportive and efficient environment for all.
“WMCHealth is focused on the long-term success of the Network while providing top-quality patient care to the greater Hudson Valley,” said Elissa Chessari, Executive Director, Northern Region, WMCHealth. “The appointments of Drs. Kurra and Doyle, Mr. Dayao and Mr. Weldon are critical to these efforts, as their expertise and leadership will enable us to streamline our operations and ensure we deliver exceptional care to the communities we serve.”