SUNY Upstate IMT

09/11/2026

🚀 Air Upstate Continues to Soar!

This week, the Air Upstate team surpassed 200 RigiTech Eiger flights, marking another major step forward in advancing autonomous aerial logistics and the future of healthcare delivery.
This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and innovation of Bob Squire, Sebastian Ibanez, John McCormick, and Zachary Lane, who continue to demonstrate what is possible when industry, healthcare, and aviation partners work together.

We are proud to collaborate with RigiTech, AX Enterprize, NUAIR, and the Oneida County Test Site as we advance safe, scalable drone operations and help shape the future of healthcare logistics.

200 flights down. Many more ahead.

05/20/2026

Students from Syracuse STEAM School visited Upstate Community Hospital to learn how autonomous technology is being used in a healthcare setting 🚁🤖
During the visit, students explored SUNY Upstate's autonomous machines, watched live drone demonstrations and learned how robotics are supporting hospital operations and patient care.

04/03/2026

Upstate Medical University has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an expanded drone flight area across Central New York, marking a significant milestone for the university’s medical drone program.

The newly granted Certificate of Waiver allows Upstate’s drone operator, Air Upstate, to operate drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) across a large operational corridor connecting several of its facilities, including Community Campus, Downtown Campus, the Pathology Institute, the Upstate Cancer Center in Verona, to Utica, along with locations in between. The span from the Upstate Downtown Campus to Utica is approximately 50 miles.

“This is a major achievement for our team and for the future of medical drone operations,” said Upstate University Hospital Chief Executive Officer Robert Corona, DO, MBA. “Approvals of this scale are very uncommon, and the FAA granting the full scope of what we requested positions Upstate in a unique and privileged position to continue advancing innovative solutions that improve patient care.”

Read more:

Waiver allows beyond-visual-line-of-sight medical drone flights connecting multiple healthcare facilities.

02/16/2026

Last week, Upstate Medical University's IMT Telecom & Information Security department met to present a road mapping and strategy session with Upstate CIO/CISO, Mark Zeman.

“I continue to be thoroughly impressed with the dedication and expertise of our Telecom and Information Security department. While it might go without saying, the work that this team does is deeply embedded in virtually all projects and initiatives in the organization, even if it’s not always the most visible aspect of what IMT does. The amount of work they currently undertake and knowing their upcoming roadmap of projects reflects Upstate’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve, thoughtfully leveraging proven, emerging technologies to strengthen our infrastructure, safeguard our organization, and ultimately advance our missions for patient care, education, and research. I am incredibly proud of the team’s vision, discipline, and dedication in positioning Upstate for continued success,” says Mark Zeman, Upstate Medical University CIO/CISO.

The Telecom & Information Security department consists of: Networking Services & Infrastructure, Voice Communications, Campus Protection Management, Identity & Access Management, SailPoint and Cybersecurity.

02/11/2026

Upstate Medical University chief information officer (CIO) and chief information security officer (CISO), Mark Zeman, has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review 2026 list of hospital and health system CIO’s to know. Zeman was named CIO at Upstate in 2019 and, additionally, CISO in 2025.

According to Becker’s, the executives featured on this list drive forward-thinking strategies that create meaningful improvements for both patients and providers. In close collaboration with their teams, they are modernizing hospitals and health systems through initiatives such as EHR enhancements, AI integration, strengthened cybersecurity frameworks and more.

https://www.upstate.edu/imt/news/2026-02-11-ciotoknow.php

02/04/2026

“The digital divide is real; we see this in areas where the lack of high-speed internet access or a smart device can be a real barrier to patients receiving the health care they need,” said Margie Greenfield, program manager with Upstate’s Information Management and Technology department. “Our goal is to expand access to care by making telehealth truly equitable, ensuring technology is not what stands between patients and the care they need.”

As part of a five-year $2.4 million grant from the State Health Department, Upstate Medical University plans to expand telehealth services through the implementation of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and creation of Telehealth Access Points (TAPs). These initiatives will be completed over five years to strengthen access to care, improve health outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions, and reducing strain on the healthcare system.

As part of a five-year $2.4 million grant from the State Health Department, Upstate Medical University plans to expand telehealth services through the implementation of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and creation of Telehealth Access Points (TAPs).

01/08/2026

A new Upstate-initiated research study, published in the journal 'Drones', examines how efficiently drones with varying levels of autonomy perform when working alongside human operators in challenging environments such as rural areas with limited roads, weak communications, or difficult terrain.

This empirical research study was conducted by Gwendolyn Morgan during her tenure working with the Autonomous Machines department at Upstate Medical University, under the supervision of advisors from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Martha Grabowski, PhD and Selmer Bringsjord, PhD.

🗞 Read more: https://www.upstate.edu/imt/news/2026-1-08-droneresearch.php

12/09/2025

Foundry's Computerworld announces Upstate Medical University as one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in IT. This award recognizes the top organizations that challenge their IT staff while providing great benefits and compensation. In their second year appearing on the list, Upstate was ranked No. 25 among large organizations (5,000+ employees), rising 10 places from its 2025 ranking. Upstate also ranked 10th in career development and training on the list.

“This recognition validates the culture our Information Management and Technology (IMT) team has worked so hard to build,” said Mark Zeman, Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Upstate Medical University. “Our success comes from empowering our people, encouraging ideas, supporting growth, and creating a space where everyone feels valued. We’re proud to be recognized again among the world’s top IT workplaces, and even more proud of the people who make it possible.”

View the full article: https://www.upstate.edu/imt/news/2025-12-09-bestplaces2026.php

10/31/2025

Many IMT teams (and robots 🤖) were able to take part in Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital Halloween village and parade today. Teams from around Upstate gathered to create 60 treat stations for pediatric patients at Golisano to trick or treat through!