Larry Consenstein Research by SuperAGI

Mohawk Valley Health System

Professional Overview

Dr. Larry Consenstein is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 30 years of experience in pediatric and neonatal medicine. He holds dual board certifications in Pediatrics and Neonatology, underscoring his expertise in neonatal-perinatal care. Dr. Consenstein’s medical education, residency, and fellowship were completed at SUNY Upstate Medical University (Syracuse, NY), specializing in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

Current Positions & Responsibilities

Medical Director, Special Care Nursery at Mohawk Valley Health System (St. Luke’s Hospital, Utica, NY) since 2013. In this role, he provides oversight of quality and coverage for the Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), having implemented numerous evidence-based clinical improvements in unit operations and patient care protocols.

Pediatrics Department Chair at St. Joseph’s Health (Syracuse, NY) since January 1988. He has held this leadership role for over 37 years, guiding departmental clinical strategies, education, and research initiatives.

Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate School of Medicine since 1984, reflecting a strong commitment to academic medicine, clinical education, and mentoring residents and fellows over four decades.

Formerly served as Medical Director, Newborn Services at both St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center and Upstate University Hospital at Community General (Syracuse, NY) from 1984 to 2015. During this tenure, he elevated the NICU level of care from Level 2 to Level 3, expanded service capacity, and helped grow the patient coverage to include approximately 90% of all newborns delivered in that hospital system.

Career Highlights and Achievements

As Medical Director at St. Joseph’s, Dr. Consenstein spearheaded the transition of the NICU from Level 2 to Level 3, positioning the unit as a regional center of neonatal care with the capacity to treat more complex and critically ill infants.

Maintained an interdisciplinary approach by leading teams inclusive of attending physicians, residents, nurses, and nurse practitioners that foster family-centered care models and innovative treatment protocols.

Achieved high patient and employee satisfaction with minimal staff turnover, demonstrating effective leadership and team development.

Established participation in two national NICU databases to benchmark clinical outcomes, consistently attaining results in the highest percentiles nationally.

Held the unique distinction of being the only Medical Staff President at St. Joseph’s Hospital to be re-elected (elected originally in 2004), indicative of strong peer confidence and leadership influence.

Currently applies data-driven protocols to monitor and optimize costs, coding, length of stay, and reimbursement factors in neonatal care delivery.

Educational Background

MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University (1973–1977)

Pediatrics Residency, SUNY Upstate Medical University (1977–1980)

Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University (1980–1982)

Master’s Degree in Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo (1971–1973)

Professional Development and Affiliations

Board Certified in both Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.

Designated Clinical Professor of Pediatrics as of March 2014, acknowledging his longstanding contributions to clinical education and research.

Participant in healthcare leadership and clinical informatics coursework including the American College of Healthcare Executives Congress on Healthcare Leadership (2016), Epic Physicians Builder Course (2015), and Mednax Medical Directors Meeting (2015).

Strong proponent of change management in healthcare settings, with experience counseling and inspiring physicians through systemic transitions aimed at improving institutional performance and team dynamics.

Geographic and Institutional Context

Based primarily in Syracuse, New York, holding leadership roles at St. Joseph’s Health, with additional operational responsibility in Utica, NY, through Mohawk Valley Health System’s St. Luke’s Hospital.

Active involvement in the region’s healthcare landscape for over four decades, highlighting deep institutional knowledge and expansive professional network within Upstate New York healthcare communities.

Clinical and Research Interests

Neonatal care advancements, especially improving NICU care levels and protocols.

Clinical research and resident education in neonatology and pediatrics, with published contributions in neonatal-perinatal medicine literature.

Advocacy for family-centered care models and interdisciplinary team integration.

Engagement with national neonatal care outcomes benchmarking and quality improvement initiatives.

Summary of Actionable Insights

Dr. Consenstein possesses a rare combination of clinical expertise, administrative leadership, and academic dedication, particularly in NICU and newborn care at both Level 2 and Level 3 facilities. His historic success in elevating NICU capabilities, embracing data-driven practices, and mentoring clinical teams is crucial context for any engagement involving neonatal or pediatric care services and innovations in hospital quality management. His longstanding positions and peer-elected leadership roles emphasize his influence and respect within multiple healthcare institutions in Upstate New York.

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