Women Leading with Purpose at Crouse Health
For nearly 140 years, Crouse Health has cared for generations of Central New Yorkers.
Founded by women in 1887, the organization has grown into one of the region's leading healthcare providers while staying true to its original mission: providing exceptional patient care and improving the health of our community.
Today, Crouse is Central New York's largest provider of maternity care and serves patients across a 16-county region through a wide range of specialized services.
Behind Crouse Health's continued success are the women helping lead its future. Across clinical care, philanthropy, and hospital operations, they are strengthening healthcare in Central New York while mentoring the next generation of leaders.
We spoke with three of these leaders about what inspires them, the experiences that shaped their careers, and the advice they would share with the next generation of women leaders.
Meet Three Women Leaders at Crouse Health
Joan O. Dadey
Director, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Joan O. Dadey is a results-driven and strategic healthcare leader with more than 25 years of experience in nursing leadership.
She has a proven track record of establishing a positive work environment and promoting nursing excellence through effective leadership and strong interpersonal skills. She is committed to high-quality nursing practice and patient-centered care.
What drives your passion for the work you do?
"I am so proud to be a nurse! It is the work Crouse NICU nurses do each day that inspires me. That commitment and passion drive me to constantly strive for excellence."
What excites you most about the future of women's health?
"The field of neonatology is constantly evolving and growing. I feel hopeful that we will continue to improve birth outcomes for moms and babies."
What experiences have shaped the leader you are today?
"During high school, I chose a nursing career path and mentioned that I was interested in nursing administration. Little did I know then the path my career would take. My first nurse manager job was in the NICU when I was just 29 years old.
I have been blessed with incredible nurse mentors over the course of my career. They have been my role models. It is my goal to help shape the next generation of nurse leaders."
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
"I am most proud of my family and marriage. My husband, Tom, and I have been married 25 years. His endless support has been a constant.
We have three beautiful daughters who are growing into incredible young women. Erin is an RN, Regan is a teacher, and Maeve is in college studying psychology. These girls are my pride and joy."
What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?
“Take advantage of every learning opportunity. The times when I said 'yes' to a new project or idea were the times my career grew the most and I was the most challenged. Ultimately, those experiences allowed me to be a better leader."
Gracie Thorpe
Director of Advancement Operations & Interim Executive Director, Crouse Health Foundation
Gracie Thorpe serves as Interim Executive Director of the Crouse Health Foundation, where she connects generous donors and community partners with opportunities to strengthen healthcare and improve lives.
With more than 10 years of experience in nonprofit development and communications, she is passionate about building meaningful relationships, inspiring philanthropy, and creating lasting impact through strategic leadership.
she believes the strongest organizations are built on authentic connections, collaboration, and a shared commitment to making a difference.
What drives your passion for the work you do?
"What drives me most is serving my community and helping advance Crouse Health's commitment to provide the best in patient care."
What excites you most about the future of women's health?
“the opportunity to help ensure that our community continues to have access to exceptional, compassionate care close to home.
Women's health is constantly evolving, and it's inspiring to see the advancements being made in prevention, treatment, and whole-person care. At Crouse, I'm excited about the continued investment in innovation, technology, and the people who make our mission possible.
Through philanthropy and strong community partnerships, we have the opportunity to expand access, improve patient outcomes, and make a lasting difference for generations to come.”
What experiences have shaped the leader you are today?
"I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by inspiring leaders throughout my career, and each has helped shape the leader I am today.
One of the most influential mentors in my professional journey has been Michael Melara. Mike taught me the importance of leading shoulder to shoulder with the people you serve, work alongside, and support, showing up with humility, authenticity, and a willingness to do the work together.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have spent some of the most formative years of my career learning from his example, and I strive to carry those lessons into my own leadership every day."
What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?
"Be willing to learn from everyone around you, regardless of their title or experience. I've learned that some of the best leaders aren't the ones with all the answers. They're the ones who listen, learn, and lift others up along the way."
Allyson Rossi
Vice President of Finance
Allyson Rossi serves as Vice President of Finance at Crouse Health, where she leads strategic financial initiatives that support the organization's mission of delivering exceptional patient care to Central New York.
A CPA with a background in healthcare finance, she has held progressive leadership roles across both the hospital and Crouse Medical Practice. Allyson is passionate about building strong teams, improving operations, and helping translate complex financial information into meaningful decisions that advance patient care.
Allyson serves on the board of the Syracuse non-profit, The Kara Fund, and holds both a Master’s and Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Syracuse University.
What drives your passion for the work you do?
"Healthcare is one of the few industries where every decision ultimately impacts people. While I work in finance, my role is about much more than numbers. It's about ensuring our clinicians and caregivers have the resources they need to provide outstanding care.
I enjoy helping our organization navigate change in a way that supports both our patients and our employees. Knowing that the work we do behind the scenes helps strengthen our community is what motivates me every day."
What excites you most about the future of women's health?
"Crouse has a long history of serving women and families, and I'm excited to see us continue investing in innovative programs, technology, and expanded access to care.
I also believe the future of Crouse is incredibly bright because of our commitment to evolving while staying true to our mission. Whether it's advancing clinical services, strengthening physician partnerships, or investing in our workforce, we are building an organization that will continue to meet the changing needs of our community for years to come."
What experiences have shaped the leader you are today?
"My career has been built by saying yes to opportunities that challenged me and pushed me outside my comfort zone. I began in public accounting before transitioning into healthcare, where I've had the opportunity to lead through organizational growth, major strategic initiatives, and transformational change.
Along the way, I've been fortunate to work with leaders who challenged me to think strategically, communicate with transparency, and lead with integrity. Those experiences taught me that effective leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about building trust, empowering others, and remaining steady during times of change."
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
"The accomplishment I'm most proud of is having the opportunity to represent Crouse Health in the community where I grew up and where so many of my family and friends still live.
It's incredibly meaningful to work for an organization they trust during some of life's most significant moments, from welcoming a new baby to navigating serious illness or saying goodbye to a loved one.
The feedback I hear is rarely about just one interaction. It's about the entire experience. They consistently describe being treated with compassion, respect, and kindness. Knowing I get to help support an organization that delivers that experience every day is both humbling and the achievement I'm most proud of."
What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?
"Don't wait until you feel completely ready before pursuing your next opportunity. Some of the greatest professional growth comes from stepping into challenges that stretch you.
Stay curious, ask questions, seek out mentors, and remember that your perspective has value."
about crouse health
For nearly 140 years, Crouse Health has been caring for generations of Central New Yorkers. As a not-for-profit healthcare system founded in 1887, Crouse is committed to providing exceptional patient care and promoting the health of the communities it serves.
Today, Crouse is one of the region's top employers, with 3,200 employees, more than 900 physicians, and a 506-bed acute care hospital serving patients across a 16-county region in Central and Northern New York. Each year, Crouse cares for more than 23,000 inpatients, welcomes 56,000 emergency department visits, and provides more than 600,000 outpatient visits.
Crouse is Central New York's largest provider of maternity care, delivering approximately 3,900 babies each year, and serves as the region's referral center for high-risk neonatal intensive care (NICU), caring for approximately 1,000 premature and critically ill newborns annually. The organization is also the exclusive healthcare partner of Syracuse Athletics.
Additional areas of expertise include cardiac care, stroke and neurosciences, surgical services, orthopedics, addiction treatment, and internal medicine. Crouse is home to Central New York's only pediatric cardiac catheterization program and operates the Pomeroy College of Nursing, which educates more than 350 future nurses each year.
Crouse Health is accredited by DNV Healthcare and is a member of several leading healthcare organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the Healthcare Association of New York State, the Greater New York State Hospital Association, the Association for Community Health Improvement, and CenterState CEO.
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