Dr. Nora OBrien-Suric Named Trocaire College Commencement Speaker
President of Health Foundation to address 200 graduates
Trocaire College announced today that Nora OBrien-Suric, Ph.D., president of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, is the distinguished speaker for Trocaire’s 73rd commencement ceremony to be held on May 13 at 7 p.m. in University at Buffalo’s Center for the Arts.
“In inviting Dr. OBrien-Suric to speak at graduation, we are recognizing her achievements and are excited to hear her perspective on the challenges and rewards in serving as a healthcare advocate,” said Dr. Bassam Deeb, president, Trocaire College. “Since most of our students will soon be starting careers in healthcare, we look forward to her insights into the field. We know she will inspire our graduates to find their voice as they seek to live out their dreams.”
With more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy, Dr. OBrien-Suric was named the second president of the Health Foundation for Western and Central New York in 2017, a private foundation serving 16 counties in New York State. Guided by the principles of trust-based philanthropy, the Health Foundation builds strong community partnerships and engages in advocacy to advance health equity, with a focus on older adults, young children, and community capacity-building. Before joining the Health Foundation, Dr. OBrien-Suric had more than 20 years of experience in philanthropy with The John A. Hartford Foundation and The Brookdale Foundation.
Earlier in her career, Dr. OBrien-Suric collaborated with community-based organizations focused on providing services to older adults, including the New York City Department for the Aging and the Institute on Law and Rights for Older Adults. She established the position of Director of National and Internal Partnerships at the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance; and served as the vice chair of the United Nations NGO Committee on Ageing, which provided consultation to the development of the United Nations International Plan on Action on Aging in 2002. In 2021, Dr. OBrien-Suric launched a statewide campaign to advocate for a Master Plan for Aging in New York State. In 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul initiated the plan and named Dr. OBrien-Suric to the state’s Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Committee.
Dr. OBrien-Suric holds a doctoral degree in social welfare from Hunter College School of Social Work, a master’s degree in gerontology from the California State University at Dominguez Hills, and a certificate in geriatric mental health counseling from the University of Southern California Davis School.