Team
Robert A. Brandis, MD FACP
Medical Director
Prior to his employment with Nathan Littauer, Dr. Brandis was in private practice in the Northville and Mayfield communities.
Dr. Brandis also served as Medical Director for Lexington Center Day Treatment Facility for the Developmentally Disabled in Gloversville for ten years.
Dr. Brandis holds undergraduate degrees in Biology and Biochemistry from SUNY Buffalo, which is also where he received his Doctor of Medicine.
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In his employment with Nathan Littauer Hospital, Dr. Brandis serves on the Credentials Committee, Department of Medicine team, and Ethics Committee.
Dr. Brandis’s innate ability to connect with patients, coworkers, and community members earned him well deserved recognition in 2011 with the Gregory R. Hoye Award for demonstrated sensitive and compassionate hospice care by consistently listening and responding to needs of patients and their families. Dr. Brandis was also recognized in 2010 with the Project Action Tobacco-Free Coalition Award for outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting tobacco-free healthy lifestyles.
I his spare time, Dr. Brandis enjoys his Upstate New York surroundings with hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, gardening, and photography.
Dana Monk
Nurse Manager, Nancy Dowd Hospice House
Dana joined the MVH team in 2011 as the Nancy Dowd Hospice House Nurse Manager. She knew from the beginning of her career she would welcome the opportunity to assist patients and their families facing life-limiting illnesses with a focus on comfort, quality, and dignity. Of her career at MVH, Dana states, “It’s the most rewarding job I’ve had…those I’ve cared for along the way have taught me so much more than I could ever teach them.”
Dana graduated with an Associate’s in Applied Science/Nursing in May of 2004. Already working in the Special Care Unit of a local hospital, she was offered a transition from her Unit Coordinator/Monitor Tech position to the RN role. Dana attended the Critical Care Consortium and became certified in telemetry monitoring during her tenure in the hospital setting.
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Dana then transitioned from acute care to long-term care and rehab, where she was instrumental in transforming a former county-run facility into a privately owned entity. While working in that setting, Dana fulfilled the Nursing Supervisor position for the 120- bed facility and eventually became the Unit Manager for a 40-bed wing. Dana worked closely with the facility’s Interdisciplinary Team and Medical Director to provide exceptional care to the individuals residing there.
Dana resides in Montgomery County with her husband of 13 years, their 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
Amy E. Osborne
Chief Financial Officer
During an almost 20-year career at a Healthcare Manufacturing firm as a Practice Administrator Amy’s responsibilities, experience, and achievements included implementing an automated financial accounting system. including Human Resource programs, electronic billing, and patient management software. Other areas that Amy supervised were Facility Maintenance, Information Technology, Client Relations, Purchasing, and Inventory Management. This diverse oversight provided Amy with a well rounded background.
As a Program Director, Amy was responsible for the implementation of Performance Improvement, Quality Outcome and Business Development plans for a private healthcare provider.
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Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Financial Accounting from The College of St. Rose, Albany, New York.
Amy grew up in Schoharie County and currently lives in Montgomery County with her husband and two daughters. Daughter Lauren is at Harvard University, and Emily attends Canajoharie Central School.
Adrienne Quickenton
Lead Social Worker
During her tenure with the Seton Health Care System, Adrienne was involved in many committees in an effort to meet the needs of the residents and their families, as well as the community. Most notably she served as an active member of the Ethics Committee for Seton Health/St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY.
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Adrienne and her husband Michael reside in Johnstown, NY with their 7-year-old daughter Eliana and their Schnoodle puppy Nola. Adrienne spends her free time as a full-time mother, wife, daughter, friend, chauffeur, and trainer of a precocious puppy. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, entertaining, working as a “groupie” for her husband’s band, and tea parties with Eliana.
Kara Travis
President/Chief Executive Officer
In June of 2017, Kara joined Mountain Valley Hospice and the Nancy Dowd Hospice House as President/Chief Executive Officer. MVH is based in Gloversville, NY and covers the rural Upstate New York counties of Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, and Hamilton.
Prior to joining the MVH team, Kara spent more than 10 years as a Senior Director with the Bassett Healthcare Network in a variety of roles from Medicaid Reform (DSRIP) to Facilities Operations to Patient Experience to Employee Relations to Organizational Development & Training.
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Kara’s professional experience also includes engagements with the State University of New York at Cobleskill, Howe Caverns, Inc. and the Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau.
Broad experience working with non-profit boards, Kara most recently served as past President of the Board of Directors for United Way Otsego/Delaware Counties, as well as past President of the Friends of the Worcester Free Library and the Worcester Women’s Club.
Kara is a former recipient of The Capital District Business Review’s ‘Forty under 40’ award for emerging leaders in the Albany, NY region. She is also part of a national speaking panel of experts on improvement of Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) scores. Kara was recently selected to serve on a New York State advisory board for the United Way campaign for A.L.I.C.E. (asset limited, income constrained employed), also known as “the working poor.”
Kara grew up in the Adirondacks and currently lives in the Mohawk Valley with her husband and two Labrador retrievers.