New director starts for Orleans Community Health Foundation

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 October 2022 at 1:23 pm

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Lyndonville native Megan Johnson is the new director of Orleans Community Health Foundation. She began her duties on Monday.

MEDINA – The new director of Orleans Community Health Foundation couldn’t be happier to be working in her native Orleans County.

Megan Johnson took over on Monday from Heather Smith, who left to accept a position at Niagara University.

Johnson was born and raised in Lyndonville, a daughter of Roger and Wendy Thering. She graduated from Lyndonville High School and Brockport State College. She lived in Lockport for 15 years before moving to Medina in 2020 with her husband Clay Johnson, also a Lyndonville native.

“I’ve always lived in the area, but I love Orleans County and really wanted to come back and serve my community,” Johnson said.

After college Johnson held positions in marketing and development with several non-profits, including Connects Life, the Summit Center and most recently New Directions Youth and Family Services.

Johnson has a son and step-daughter and said she really wanted to raise her children here. She also acknowledged the importance of the hospital in her home community.

“The hospital is such an integral part of the community,” she said. “I think it’s really important to have the services offered here available locally. That’s what really excites me about this position.”

Johnson said she is just getting her feet wet, but she’s excited to jump right into the job to continue old ideas and develop new ones. Her first challenge is wrapping up plans for Treasure Island, the Foundation’s annual fundraiser scheduled Nov. 5 at Shelby Fire Hall.

“I intend to finish the year as planned and in 2023 perhaps create some new events,” she said. “One goal is to develop programs to draw younger supporters to the hospital.”

Her first week has been busy, and she’s still meeting people in the hospital, she said.

“I loved growing up in Orleans County and I am very excited to be back,” Johnson said. “The people here rise up to the occasion when needed. I hope people realize the value of what we have here so they don’t have to go outside the community for healthcare.”