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Catholic Health marked a significant milestone in community health and elder care with the official dedication of their third Buffalo area Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) on the afternoon of May 14, 2025.

Housed within Catholic Health’s Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) Division, this new PACE location is located in the School of Arts, Sciences and Education (SASE) building on the D’Youville University campus. This meaningful partnership between D’Youville University and Catholic Health is designed to serve the growing healthcare needs of older adults in the Western New York region, especially in the west side of Buffalo.

“The PACE program provides comprehensive medical and social services to help older adults who need nursing home level care stay in their homes and communities,” said Ashley Rudick, Executive Director of Catholic Health’s PACE program. “We offer services like comprehensive medical care, adult day services, prescription drug coverage, transportation, home care, and caregiver support. We also have a team of geriatric experts to coordinate care and create individualized care plans.”

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The dedication ceremony was emceed by John Beyer, President & CEO of the Catholic Health LIFE/PACE programs. Beyer welcomed guests, community members, and dignitaries to the event. Featured speakers included Joyce Markiewicz, President & CEO of Catholic Health, D’Youville University President Lorrie Clemo, John Craik, Programs and Grants Officer at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, and Rev. Msgr. Robert Zapfel, Chair of Catholic Health’s Corporate Members Board. Each speaker highlighted the unique impact this collaboration will have on aging populations, healthcare education, and workforce development.

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"This partnership is a model for the future of integrated elder care and education," said Joyce Markiewicz. “PACE offers comprehensive, coordinated care that allows seniors to remain in their homes and communities with dignity and independence. I am grateful to John Beyer for his commitment to this program, to Lorrie Clemo and D’Youville for opening the campus, and John Craik and the Mother Cabrini Foundation for their support and investment.”

President Lorrie Clemo emphasized the alignment between the PACE model and D’Youville’s mission to serve the community and train future healthcare leaders. “We’re building on more than 80 years of nursing education through this partnership. The presence of PACE on our campus not only advances healthcare and healthcare education and training at D’Youville, but it also strengthens our community and neighborhood. D’Youville leadership and students will be energized and committed partners.

John Craik underscored the importance of personalized care and the growing need for such programs in Western New York. “This facility will serve as both a care hub and a learning environment, and the Mother Cabrini Foundation is humbled to part of this special project,” he noted.

The ceremony concluded with a dedication and blessing offered by Rev. Msgr. Robert Zapfel, who praised the partnership for its commitment to compassionate service and community wellbeing. “Lord God, by the grace of Your Holy Spirit make the LIFE Day Center at D’Youville a place of blessings and a center providing compassion and healing care,” he said as part of the Blessing Rite.

With this addition, D’Youville University and Catholic Health are setting a new standard for interdisciplinary collaboration, where higher education, faith-based health care, and innovative service delivery come together to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.