2007 Healthcare Hero
Corte Spencer
Lifetime Achievement

When Corte and Sue Spencer came to Oswego with their three daughters for a swim meet in February 1981, little did they know that the Port City would play a significant part in their lives.
Involved in the healthcare profession, Spencer decided to drop in and check out Oswego Hospital, which was seeking a top administrator at the time.

Spencer and Oswego Hospital clicked, and a 25-year career as administrator and CEO ensued.
He is a Lifetime Achievement award winner in this year's "Healthcare Heroes" competition.
After many changes on the local and national healthcare scene, Spencer recently retired after a productive career.

After straightening the financial ship upon his arrival in the summer of 1981, Spencer worked through a career which culminated in a $34 million Renewal Project that has transformed Oswego Hospital into a highly competitive healthcare institution.

As far as retirement is concerned, Spencer intends to share it with his new life partner, Mame Clark, who is about to retired as executive director of the Pulaski Health Center.
In 1981, Spencer supervised a team of 40 full-time physicians and 75 overall staff.
That has grown today to 75 full-time physicians among an overall staff of 135.

"Through leadership and perseverance, our Oswego Health System has grown beyond the imaginable—from the carefully designed Dee C. Heckethorn Health Campus at Seneca Hill, to the strategically located outpatient health service centers, to the partnerships fostered with other health providers — [Corte Spencer] has enhanced the core services we provide as a community hospital," said Maureen Sullivan, former Oswego Health board chairperson. "The conclusion of our ambitious and unprecedented hospital Renewal Project is his final chapter."