Jane Hamilton, RN, practice manager of Bassett Healthcare Network’s School-Based Health Program, was honored with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by the National School-Based Health Alliance on July 2.
The Alliance’s Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates a leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to making an impact in school-based health. These leaders are innovative, dedicated, and collaborative advocates who offer outstanding contributions in the field, manifesting the vision of quality school-based healthcare for all young people.
Hamilton helped establish Bassett Healthcare Network’s School-Based Health Program when it opened its first clinic in 1992. Since then, she has helped expand and develop the program to include 22 clinics across 18 school districts in central New York. More than 7,000 students are enrolled and receive medical, dental, and mental healthcare at no out-of-pocket cost to families.
Services are available for students in prekindergarten through grade 12. Today, Bassett’s School-Based Health Program is the largest rural program of its kind in New York state.
There are no out-of-pocket expenses for families enrolled in school-based health. The program transcends common barriers to healthcare in rural areas, like lack of insurance, lack of transportation, and many other socioeconomic factors.
