There is a growing sense that the future of the Mohawk Valley is being built in real time, and few events capture that momentum quite like the SUNY Polytechnic Institute AI in Action Showcase. Bringing together leaders across healthcare, research, education, and industry, the multi-day showcase highlights how artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept, but an active force shaping how we live, work, and care for one another. It is an opportunity to see innovation not just discussed, but demonstrated through real applications already impacting our region.
A standout moment was the keynote from Dr. Nicholas Qandah, neurosurgeon at CNY Brain and Spine, who shared a compelling look at how AI is already advancing care locally. His perspective grounded the conversation in something tangible, showing how innovation is not theoretical, but actively improving outcomes for patients in our region.
The afternoon continued with the “Future of Medicine and Human Health” panel, bringing together Dr. William LeCates of Mohawk Valley Health System, Dr. Maria Kontaridis of Masonic Medical Research Institute, and Dr. Jacques Kpodonuof Harvard Medical School. Moderated by Dr. Wole Soboyejo, the discussion offered a deeper look at how AI is transforming care delivery, accelerating research, and redefining patient outcomes at every level.
As a media partner to CNY Brain & Spine, Mohawk Valley Health System, and Masonic Medical Research Institute, Mohawk Valley Living continues to work alongside the region’s leading healthcare and research organizations to help share and amplify the innovation happening here at home. Events like this reflect the power of that collaboration and the momentum building across the Mohawk Valley.
What becomes clear through it all is this. The Mohawk Valley is not simply participating in the future of healthcare and technology. It is helping shape it.
May is Mental Health Month
This is Your Reminder that You Don’t Have to Be in Crisis to Deserve Support
By Alyce Short, LCSW Greenhouse Therapy Co.
When many people think about going to therapy, they wonder if what they’re experiencing is “serious enough” to justify it. There’s often hesitation around seeking professional help for things like breakups, work stress, parenting challenges, and other “everyday” life experiences.
But underneath these day-to-day stressors is a nervous system that is constantly working to respond, adapt, and protect us.
Often, it’s these life stressors that reveal something deeper – communication patterns that contribute to a breakup, difficulty managing time that impacts work, or challenges with
emotional regulation that show up in parenting moments.
Instead of waiting until you’ve hit a breaking point, let’s normalize prevention over intervention. Therapy can be a tool for support and growth – not just a response to something going wrong. Let’s view it like going to the gym or prioritizing a well-balanced diet – a way to care for your overall well-being before things feel unmanageable.
May is Mental Health Month… but these conversations matter year-round. In a world that often feels fast-paced, uncertain, and overwhelming, tending to your mental health isn’t extra – it’s essential.
Interested in screening your mental health?
Visit screening.mhanational.org
