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College to Award Honorary Degrees to Hanks and Patricia Timpano Sparrell ’78, Retired ExxonMobil Executive and Higher Education Advocate
Steven Hanks, M.D., president and CEO of St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany and St. Joseph’s Health in Syracuse, will deliver the address at Russell Sage College’s 109th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m., at the MVP Arena in Albany. Approximately 1,249 students completing bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees or certificate programs are eligible to participate in the ceremony.
“Dr. Hanks leads an organization known throughout upstate New York for providing compassionate, high-quality care, and St. Peter’s is a valued partner that provides clinical experiences to our students. It is also a top employment destination for our alumni,” said Russell Sage College President Matt Shaftel, Ph.D. “We are proud to welcome Dr. Hanks as our commencement speaker and to celebrate our graduates and their future contributions to healthcare, education, business, and the arts, in the Capital Region and beyond.”
Since January 2023, Hanks has served as president and CEO of Trinity Health’s two New York ministries. One of the largest employers in upstate New York, the regional healthcare system includes acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, medical practices, senior services, and related businesses.
He joined Trinity Health in 2016 as Chief Medical Officer for what was then the Acute Care Albany division of St. Peter’s Health Partners. He previously held executive roles at Cerner, Hartford HealthCare, Finger Lakes Regional Health System, Unity Medical Group, Rochester Community Individual Practice Association, and Adroit Research Solutions, which he co-founded. He served as assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education at the University of Connecticut and as a professor at Quinnipiac University’s Frank H. Netter School of Medicine, and has practiced as both an internist and emergency physician throughout his career.
Hanks holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and a medical degree with Distinction in Research from the University of Rochester, as well as a master’s degree in Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School of Public Policy and Management. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Federation of State Medical Boards.
At the ceremony, the college will bestow honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees on Hanks and on Patricia Timpano Sparrell ’78, a retired ExxonMobil executive and former chair of the Russell Sage College Board of Trustees, whose distinguished career, volunteer service, and philanthropy have opened doors for learners at every stage of their academic and professional lives.