We promote the well-being of rural agricultural workers and their communities by proactively addressing and preventing occupational injuries and illnesses. Our team of nationally recognized experts work collaboratively with businesses, industry leaders, and health and safety professionals to ensure research is translated into actionable, practical programs, which directly support agriculture and forestry, and rural industries at large.
Delivering impactful programs and services based on decades of expertise to keep agricultural workers safe.
OUR MISSION
Promoting the well-being of rural and agricultural workers and their communities by proactively addressing and preventing occupational injuries and illnesses
OUR VALUES
NYCAMH is proud to be Independent.
Essential: Agricultural workers are the backbone of the world’s food supply, making safety and wellness programs crucial to their well-being and the industry’s sustainability. Our programs help prevent injuries and illnesses, promote a positive work environment, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural industry, recognizing the invaluable role of the workers.
Practical. Agricultural workers are also known for their practicality. We offer high-value programs tailored to address the real-life challenges agricultural workers face, acknowledging their sensible nature. Our approach caters to the industry’s hands-on needs, providing accessible training, resources, and support to empower workers to implement practical safety and wellness practices.
Trustworthy: To deliver consistent and well-documented services and programs aimed at helping agricultural workers, we are committed to building trust with diverse audiences. By actively engaging with and understanding the unique needs of agricultural workers, we tailor our services to effectively address various challenges, fostering a strong sense of trust and collaboration within the agricultural community, legislators, and advocating organizations.
NYCAMH BY THE NUMBERS
37
+
years of
experience
7,000
workers trained in 2024
$
1,256,234
in safety improvements
for NYS farmers and counting
OUR FUNDERS
The Health Screenings for Farmworkers in the South Central New York Region pilot project is made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation for South Central New York.
THE BASSETT NETWORK
NYCAMH is a proud affiliate of the Bassett Healthcare Network, a unique healthcare system connecting comprehensive care and services to the Central New York region. HealthWorks is our occupational health services clinic, providing a range of services such as DOT physicals, firefighter health exams, and vaccination clinics. To inform our outreach and educational programs, we use the research done at the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. Discover more about our network below.
OUR TEAM
NYCAMH Leadership
Julie Sorensen
Director
Erika Scott
Deputy Director
Brian Quinn
Medical Director
Stephen Clark
Research and Grants Administration Director
Susan Ackerman
Center Manager
Pauline Boyer
Outreach/Education Supervisor
Liane Hirabayashi
Research Supervisor
Christine Lalonde-Meade
HealthWorks Supervisor
Advisory Board
We’re honored to work with our incredible Advisory Board. Their wealth of expertise and unique perspectives bring immense value to our mission. We couldn’t ask for a more dedicated group of individuals to guide us on our journey. See all board members here.
Careers
Join our passionate team and explore a fulfilling career that offers opportunities for personal and professional growth. Work on meaningful projects alongside like-minded individuals and enhance your skills in a collaborative environment.
Year in Review
As a sister organization to NYCAMH, much of NEC’s research informs NYCAMH programming. Discover more about NEC and our reach across the Northeast region in the previous year’s Year in Review.
OUR HISTORY
NYCAMH: Founded in research,
focused on solutions.
In the early 1980s, two pulmonologists, Drs. David Pratt and John May at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York, shared an interest in researching occupational health and safety issues among New York’s farming population. This initial work was known as the Bassett Farm Safety & Health Project. In 1988 their work received official designation by the New York State Legislature as the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH).
In 1989, NYCAMH became a member of the NYS Occupational Health Clinic Network to better support rural workers in New York State.
In 1989, under the New York State Department of Health, NYCAMH became one of seven members of the NYS Occupational Health Clinic Network. This provided the opportunity to discuss and disseminate agricultural safety and health information to other occupational health specialists throughout the state. In 1992, NYCAMH became one of seven agricultural centers designated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to be known as the Northeast Center for Agricultural Medicine (NEC). The NIOSH Centers, located in geographically designated regions act by cooperative agreement to address pertinent and emerging problems related to occupational safety and health in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
Over the years, NYCAMH has been fortunate to secure additional grant funding from New York State agencies such as the Department of Health and Department of Labor, national sources such as NIOSH, NIH, CDC, as well as the W.W. Kellogg Foundation. This grant funding allows the Center to carry out the research, education and outreach activities that are directed toward promoting safer farmsteads and healthier farm families working in agriculture in the Northeast.
Drs. David Pratt (kneeling) and John May at a farm visit.
QUICK LINKS
CONTACT US
Phone: 607-547-6023
Toll free: 800-343-7527
info@NYCAMH.org
One Atwell Road
Cooperstown, NY 13326
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