About Us

view the 2007-2010 Strategic Plan & Mission on the Mission/Vision Page

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 5 years and comes from a strong background in health education, non-profit management, 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 Health Education from SUNY Brockport. She received her certification for the NAECB Asthma Educator- Certified (AE-C) qualifications 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 completed her Asthma Educator Certification (AE-C) and has implemented RCAN's/ Monroe Plan, Improving Asthma Care for Children Provider Education program, but most currently 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 Open Airways for Schools, Asthma 101 for schools staff, School Nurse updates and Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative instructor. 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 BOD president during the 2008-2009 school year.  

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

Mary Beth has been working part-time as an Asthma Care Coordinator for children living in the city of Rochester since January 2001, accepting referrals from school nurses, primary care providers, specialists, emergency room department nurses, insurance providers, home care nurses and parents. Currently she coordinates asthma services for 175 children and families in high need within the RCSD. 

IN HOME ASTHMA EDUCATION Services Include:

·        arranges home environmental assessments and provides parents with knowledge about how they can improve their child’s home environment

·        coordinates home remediation  

·        provides asthma education for children, parents, school personnel and assists them in planning how to make the school more asthma friendly and allergy free

·        assists parents in making changes so their children will have less emergency room visits, hospitalizations, unscheduled appointments with their primary care provider and improved school attendance and optimal involvement in physical activities

·        co-leads an RCAN school taskforce to improve asthma care in schools

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.

Cindy Sheflin, RN, BSN: Livingston County Asthma Care Coordinator, Livingston County Dept. of Health: csheflin@co.livingston.ny.us  

Cindy is the Livingston County area public health nursing coordinator for the RCAN -Asthma Case manager working with children and families of children with asthma. The Asthma case managers accept 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 6 years.   

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 165 families enrolled in the program. She is a highly respected asset of the coalition.

 Dawn Rose, RN: Wayne County Asthma Care Coordination, Wayne County Department of Health:

Dawn is the Wayne County area public health home visit and care coordination nurse for RCAN. The Asthma Case Managers accept 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. Wayne Co has been working with the coalition for the past 3 years.