[Meet Your Hospital Board Members - Michael Cioffi

MARGARETVILLE — Michael Cioffi joined the Margaretville Hospital board in 2022 after being asked by Fred Marguiles and Emilie Adams. The owner of the Phoenicia Diner is a weekender in Margaretville who said that when he was looking for an “escape place” to come from New York City, he sought a community with a supermarket and a hospital. Margaretville fit the bill.

Cioffi utilized his experience as an “aging adult” to bring in more interest in the hospital. He and his wife each have an aging parent and sought a way to help the community. Cioffi’s parent in assisted living and the journey his family had to take in order to place her there caused him to "focus on my healthcare future, and got me interested in trying to make it easier and more transparent to folks my age." His time on the Margaretville Hospital Board has given him “a lot of insight.”

Cioffi’s main priority on the board from a community standpoint is to “try and guide” and “give back to the community.” He hopes to represent the community on the board.

The new helipad is a major topic that piqued Cioffi’s interest. When he found that the Margaretville Auxiliary Thrift Shop was part of the fundraising effort, he did more research. One of his friends had a medical incident that required a helicopter trip to Albany. This further solidified his determination to bring the improved helipad to the hospital.

He said that through fundraising and grants, the board has been able to make major progress toward its construction.

Cioffi specially thanked Adams for her skill.

“She’s an amazing leader,” he said.

Cioffi also spoke highly of other members of the board, describing them as having “lined up goals.” He said that the effort looked to “increase the diversity on the board so that we have full representation of the county and the community.”

The board member hoped for increased visibility for the hospital and the board. He described a “revelation” 30 years ago coming from Brooklyn and hoped that COVID visitors and those since would be able to discover more about the area and the hospital. He said that there is a need for further awareness of the hospital and what it has to offer. He describes the hospital as a “little jewel” that could be utilized for care nearby.

As a business owner, Cioffi added that he is able to remind members of the public about the services offered by the hospital.

“As the son of an aging parent and as someone who is aging out as well, there are facilities there that people can tap into,” he said.