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As cardiology questions swirl, Sch’dy residents pack public forum
Thursday, October 1, 2026
More than 135 residents, elected officials, healthcare professionals and community leaders packed the DoubleTree by Hilton in Schenectady on Thursday morning for a community conversation about the future of healthcare in the region.
The turnout exceeded expectations. Organizers expanded the conference room to accommodate the crowd, and attendees filled the space, leaving standing room only. While questions ranged from primary care access and women’s health services, one issue dominated the discussion: the future of cardiology care in Schenectady.
“We wanted to hear directly from our community,” Ellis President & CEO Paul Milton told attendees. “People have questions, and they deserve answers.”
Throughout the event, residents repeatedly returned to concerns about ongoing litigation involving the physicians who currently provide cardiology services at Ellis and what that could mean for patients in the years ahead.
The issue stems from ongoing litigation between St. Peter’s, part of Michigan-based Trinity Health, and Ellis Medicine over the future of cardiology services in Schenectady. St. Peter’s is seeking to enforce non-compete clauses and other contractual restrictions affecting cardiologists who plan to join Ellis. Ellis, meanwhile, argues that its own agreement with St. Peter’s expressly permits Ellis to hire those physicians if the affiliation ends. Milton said that restricting where doctors can practice could affect patients’ access to local heart care. The outcome of the lawsuits could help determine where more than 20 cardiologists practice beginning in 2027 and how local patients access cardiology services.
The strongest moment at the morning event came from Dr. John Nolan, founder of Cardiovascular Associates of Schenectady, who drew a direct connection between physician non-compete agreements and community access to care.
“I think it’s pretty clear: non-compete clauses cannot cause public harm,” Nolan told the audience when he rose to ask a question during the Q&A portion.
Nolan argued that access to heart care is an essential community service. When employment disputes and restrictions affect access to care, decisions cannot rest solely with one employer.
The comments drew a strong reaction from audience members, many of whom expressed concern about maintaining local access to cardiologists they have relied on for years.
Milton sought to reassure the audience: Ellis leadership is confident that cardiology care will remain available in Schenectady.
According to information shared during the event, 20 of the 27 cardiologists currently at the center of the dispute have signed employment agreements with Ellis. Of the seven not yet signed, one is retiring and one works part-time. To date, only three have elected to not to move to Ellis.
Milton said additional physicians could still choose to join the organization before the matter is fully resolved.
Ellis has also recruited two new cardiologists from outside Schenectady, and is preparing to launch an expanded network of cardiology offices on Jan. 1, 2027. Ellis is actively working with regulators and in the process of opening seven cardiology offices serving communities throughout the region, including Schenectady, Niskayuna, Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Gloversville.
“Our focus is preserving local access to cardiology care,” Milton said, echoing a theme that appeared throughout the discussion. “We want physicians to have the ability to choose where they practice and what communities they serve.”
The cardiology dispute has increasingly attracted attention from policymakers and regulators. In September, the chief of the New York State Attorney General’s Antitrust Bureau wrote directly to the court hearing the case, stating that New York law reflects a “strong public policy” in favor of free competition and cautioning that employment restrictions can suppress worker mobility and limit job opportunities. The filing arrived as Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara continues to press for legislation focused on preserving access to healthcare when non-compete agreements threaten essential medical services.
What Cardiology Patients Should Know
Milton and other Ellis leaders remain confident that comprehensive cardiology services will continue to be available locally.
Ellis will be sharing additional information in the coming weeks about the seven new office locations, how to make appointments, and how patients can continue their care with their local cardiologists.
Patients whose doctors are leaving St. Peter’s to continue at Ellis are expected to receive information from St. Peter’s regarding the process for transferring their medical records. Ellis also plans a broad patient outreach campaign to help residents understand their options and ensure continuity of care. Additional information will be shared here on ellismedicine.org as it becomes available.
Beyond cardiology: Expanding acess to care
While cardiology drove much of the conversation, attendees also heard updates on several other initiatives.
Milton highlighted Ellis’ recent acquisition of CareNet Medical Group, now operating as Ellis CareNet OB/GYN; continued investments at Bellevue Woman’s Center; plans for a new midwifery practice; physician recruitment efforts; and improvements in emergency department operations. He noted that emergency department wait times have fallen significantly and described today’s emergency department as functioning as effectively as it has in years.
He also discussed the organization’s discussions with Albany Medical Center regarding a potential merger, emphasizing that talks remain in the early stages and that preserving local access to care remains one of the Ellis Board’s central priorities.
Ellis Medicine | Newsroom
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