About Us

Our Mission is :

"To promote partnerships that improve the quality of life of those affected

by asthma in the Finger Lakes Region". 

Meet the Staff of RCAN

Cindy Trubisky, MS Ed, AE-C; Asthma Coalition Director; American Lung Association of NY:  ctrubisky@alany.org

Cindy has been the coalition director for the past 7 years and comes from a strong background in health education, non-profit, grants and volunteer management. She has previously worked with a NYS DOH grant for the NYS DOH Healthy Heart program, and was a program director and fundraiser for the American Heart Association before coming to RCAN.  She has a bachelor degree in Health Education from SUNY Cortland and a MS Ed in Community Health Education from SUNY Brockport. She became a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) in 2005.

Julia VanOrman, BS, AE-C; School Projects Coordinator/ Asthma Educator: American Lung Association of NY:   Jvanorman@alany.org 

Julia has been working with the coalition since it's creation in 1999. She has a strong relationship with the schools and has extensive experience with Asthma management and the Parent Teachers Association for the Greece Central School District. In 2005 she became a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) and has implemented RCAN's Open Airways for Schools, Kickin Asthma for MS, Asthma 101 for Staff and, Improving Asthma Care for Children Provider Education programs. Currently she heads the school programs initiatives for RCAN, including the Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative (AFSI), a national model program for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Rush Henrietta School District and Lyons School District;  and Asthma Managent in Schools programs.

She is an asthma advocate on many levels including a exceptional trainer/ speaker for Open Airways for Schools, Asthma 101 for schools staff, School Nurse updates/ trainings and the local and national Asthma Friendly Schools Initiatives. She was elected to the Greece Central Schools Board of Education in 2006 and has recently been re-elected for second term. Julia has also served as the BOE president during the 2008-2009 school year and is currently the Vice-President for 2010-2011.  

Mary Beth Schlabach, RN, MS, AE-C: RCAN Asthma Care Coordinator for children living in the City of Rochester: bbkbach@rochester.rr.com  

Mary Beth has been working part-time as the RCAN Asthma Care Coordinator for children living in the city of Rochester, NY since January 2001. Referrals are accepted from school nurses, primary care providers, specialists, emergency department nurses, insurance providers, home care nurses and parents. Currently she leads asthma care coordination and in-home education services for 199 children and families in high-need within the City of Rochester. She also services as the co-chair of the RCAN school Taskforce to improve asthma care in schools and is part of the RCAN Executive Leadership committee. She is a highly valued and respected member of the coalition and contracted staff.

Prior to joining RCAN, her local jobs included, Community Health Nursing Instructor at SUNY Brockport for four years, School Nurse in the Rochester City Schools thirteen years and Supervisor of School Nurses and Nursing Assistants in the Rochester City Schools for eight years.  In January 2005 Mary Beth accepted a part-time Senior School Health Project Coordinator position, working with the University Of Rochester School Of Nursing and the Rochester City School District to help plan their school health services for the future. She has her BSN and MS in Nursing, and became a Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C) in 2005. 

Celanire Morgan, RN, BSN:  Rochester City Asthma Home Visit Nurse Educator:

Ms. Morgan has been working with the coalition for the past 6 years as a part time In-home asthma educator for the Rochester City program. She assists with implementing the program on the grass roots level and interacting with the 150+ families enrolled in the program and that recieve in-home education sessions. She is a highly respected member of the coalition.

Cindy Sheflin, RN, BSN: Director of Preventive Services, Livingston County Dept. of Health: csheflin@co.livingston.ny.us  

Claire Wood, RN: Public Health Nurse, Asthma Care Coordinator,           cwood@co.livingston.ny.us 

Cindy is the Livingston County area Director of Preventive Services for the RCAN -Asthma Care Coordinator and Asthma Educator working with children and families of children with asthma. Claire Wood is the Public Health Nurse and Asthma Care Coordinator for Livingston County. She has an extensive history and experience working with RCAN, Asthma and families.

The Asthma program accepts referrals from county providers and school nurses to provide telephone based and in-home asthma education to the community and children in need. This education includes medication management, device trainings, and environmental home assessments. Livingston Co has been working with the coalition for the past 7 years.   

 Wayne County Asthma Care Coordination, Wayne County Department of Health:

The Wayne County area public health home visit and care coordination nurses are available for home education and professional education through a partnership with RCAN. The Asthma Care Managers accept referrals from health care providers, school nurses and families provide telephone based and in-home asthma education to the community and children in need. This education includes medication management, device trainings, and environmental home assessments. Wayne Co has been working with the coalition for the past 5 years.