Q&A with Cecil M. Miller, III, new CEO of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital
In April, UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital (CMH) welcomed its new President and CEO, Cecil M. Miller, III. In this Q&A, Mr. Miller shares his insights into his background in healthcare, what drew him to UHS, and his vision for the Norwich hospital and the community it serves in Chenango County.
Can you tell us about your experience as a healthcare leader prior to joining UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital?
I’ve worked in healthcare for nearly 30 years, beginning my career at WCA Hospital in Jamestown, New York, as the director of Food Service. Over time, I was fortunate to take on additional responsibilities in supply chain and environmental services. About 12 years ago, I was appointed vice president of Operations, a role that gave me a broader perspective on hospital leadership.
Eight years ago, WCA Hospital became part of UPMC—a large integrated health system based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—and was renamed UPMC Chautauqua. I served as VP of Operations there until I joined UHS.
What drew you to the UHS family?
What really drew me in during my first interview was the strong commitment from the local Board and the leadership team to both the community and healthcare in Chenango County. The strong culture was very apparent—one that values employees and puts patients at the center of everything.
I was also struck by how passionate the community is about the hospital. I’m deeply committed to community medicine and rural healthcare, and that alignment is ultimately what brought me here.
How do you feel now that you’ve had some time to settle into your new position?
I’ve never second-guessed the decision. From day one, my goal was to get to know the staff, and I’ve been genuinely impressed by how dedicated and passionate the staff are about their work. There is a strong sense of pride—not just about working at UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, but being part of the entire UHS System.
Every day, I look forward to coming to work, learning new things and meeting new people.
CMH and its network of providers are a central source of routine and preventative medical care for the Norwich and Chenango County community. How will your extensive background in rural healthcare help the hospital continue to serve the needs of its community?
Having worked in a similar community, I understand the unique barriers to healthcare in a rural area—whether it’s transportation or provider availability. Throughout my career, I’ve had success recruiting and retaining high-quality physicians, which is critical in rural settings.
I truly understand how vital this hospital is to the community—that you would have to travel a long way for healthcare, if not for the services provided here. And it’s not just that the hospital is important to the community; it’s the community that is important to the hospital.
One of my key goals is to make sure we stay actively engaged in the community—building strong partnerships and finding meaningful ways to stay involved in Chenango County.
In recent years, the Chenango Medical Neighborhood Plan has allowed the hospital to enhance its facilities and services. Can you tell us about any future plans for continued enhancements?
The project has taken a phased approach, which was a very smart and strategic decision. The team that developed this plan did an excellent job prioritizing the hospital’s core infrastructure, creating a strong foundation for future growth.
Currently, we are working on updates to the Medical-Surgical unit, ICU, Orthopedics and the construction of a new entrance. Looking ahead, we have many exciting things on the horizon. We plan to expand Primary and Specialty Care, and we are actively assessing the feasibility of adding an infusion center.
How would you summarize your vision for the hospital under your leadership?
First and foremost, my goal is to build on the strong foundation and success that has been established here at UHS CMH over the past several years. There’s a lot to be proud of, and I want to continue that positive momentum. At the same time, I want to look to the broader region and leverage the strengths of UHS as a system to build a more connected rural healthcare network, which will enable us to provide care to all the communities we serve.
