Former First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson has a M.S. in Health Services Management from the Milano Graduate School in New York City and a B.A. from Syracuse University.  Ms. Paterson began a career that focused on people’s health by working with both hospitals and healthcare providers. As the Director of Integrative Wellness at Emblem Health, formerly HIP, Ms. Paterson focuses on evidence-based programs that promote healthy living, with a concentration on childhood obesity and stress-related ailments. Previously, Ms. Paterson was the Director of External Affairs and Corporate Contributions for HIP, where she worked with community organizations, agencies, and corporations on issues such as healthcare and education. Ms. Paterson’s community service activities include assisting victims of domestic violence. She spent three years as an on-call volunteer at the St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospital where she counseled injured domestic violence victims in the emergency room about the services provided by hospitals and the state government.

 

 As First Lady, Ms. Paterson’s public service efforts included working to turn the fitness challenge that she created for her home community of Harlem into a statewide initiative called "Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge”. The program challenged middle school students to lead healthy lifestyles through exercising more and eating healthy foods. Through the collaboration and cooperation of New York state schools, state agencies and community organizations this program aimed to foster positive healthy changes in our children’s lives. Ms. Paterson currently sits on the Advisory Board of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine – Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs, and is an Advisory Board Member of the Common Good; a non-partisan information and public advocacy organization of the media, business, arts and entertainment communities. Ms. Paterson is also a member of the Links, Inc.; a national women’s organization that enhances the quality of life in communities by implementing programs identified by its members. Ms. Paterson currently lives in Nanuet, New York, where she has two children, Ashley, and Alex.