The lactation room at Upstate Community Hospital has been named for Cathy Patrick, an Upstate employee who was instrumental in creating a breastfeeding program at the hospital. 

Last month, the Patrick family gathered with donors at Upstate Community Hospital to pay tribute to Patrick, whose lifelong passion was supporting new mothers and babies.

Patrick’s career and work in implementing breastfeeding programs spanned more than two decades and included service at St. Joseph’s Health and Upstate Community Hospital. Among other endeavors at Upstate, Patrick was instrumental in getting Upstate Community Hospital started on the process of being designated as a Baby Friendly Hospital, which it achieved in 2022. Patrick, a certified lactation consultant, was also behind the push to get more Upstate nurses certified as lactation consultants.

After Patrick’s death in 2019, loved ones came together to raise money to create two new funds at the Upstate Foundation, the Cathy Patrick Breastfeeding Education Endowment and a restricted fund for immediate needs. Recently, the restricted fund has been used to support breastfeeding education for nurses who are interested in gaining expertise in that area. 

The plaque outside the lactation room honors Cathy: “Her advocacy for mothers knew no bounds and her love of life no limits.”

Caption: Attending the dedication of the Cathy Pragle Patrick Lactation Room at Upstate Community Hospital are Patrick’s widower, Joe Patrick, and their children Abraham, Lily and Jonah.