Cycling for a Cause: Fidelis Care Medical Director’s Volunteerism in Action
Dr. Sarah Vogel, a Fidelis Care Medical Director since 2022, has plans in motion to benefit a worthy cause. This summer, she will participate in the Empire State Ride to End Cancer (ESR), a cycling event dedicated to impacting the future of cancer research and saving lives. All funds raised from the event support cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Sarah first learned about the event through her partner, Mark, who lost both his parents to cancer. “He has always been an avid biker, and this event was a way to combine his love of biking and his desire to end cancer,” Sarah said.
While Mark completed the full ride last year, Sarah was only able to participate for three of the seven days due to her work schedule. This July, Sarah will complete the full course. Beginning in Staten Island, participants will bike 63 to 100 miles each day and camp out each night. After a week of biking, the course concludes in Niagara Falls. Sarah says there will be a lot of time spent training and fundraising.
Sarah reflected on last year’s event. “It was amazing to see over 300 people rolling out each morning, all working together to raise money to fund cancer research,” Sarah said. “Many of the riders were cancer survivors, were currently undergoing treatment, or had family members being treated. In the evening, we would gather and listen to speakers who would share stories of why they were there, and what the research at Roswell Park had done for them.”
"When you’re biking 500 miles, you have plenty of time to think and reflect on all of the people in your life who have been affected by cancer,” Sarah said. “Some have won the battle, some have lost, and some are still fighting. Biking over 500 miles is hard, but it’s easier than what they are going through. I’m happy to do this to raise money and fund research that may bring about the next big breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
The Empire State Ride to End Cancer is just one way Sarah gives back to the community. Her broad history of volunteerism includes time at the State Police Summer Program and Double H Ranch, among others. “The New York State Police used to run a summer program at which underprivileged kids from across the state would participate in a one-week summer camp program,” Sarah explained. “The goal was to give underprivileged children from across the state an opportunity to interact with troopers in a positive setting.” A medical team would do physical exams and check the children’s vision, she said.
From 2012-2017, Sarah spent a week each summer working onsite at the Double H Ranch providing medical care to the children attending camp. “This camp provides specialized programs for children dealing with life-threatening illnesses and allows them to feel normal and just be a kid,” Sarah said. “Medical staff resides at the camp for the week, providing around the clock monitoring and treatment for every type of medical condition.”
Recently, Sarah began volunteering at the Sycamore Collaborative (formerly Schenectady Inner City Ministry), which provides a drive-through and walk-up food pantry service once a month. This is one of many volunteer events supported by Fidelis Care. “Along with other Fidelis Care volunteers, I help put together boxes of food and assist with loading boxes into cars for residents in need.”
Sarah has also volunteered as the medical director for the Ski Windham Ski Patrol since 1998. Sarah assists with yearly training and oversees medical care at the mountain. She has also served on the Regional Emergency Medicine Organization Physician Advisory Council for emergency medical services. Currently, Sarah volunteers on the board of the Bethlehem Triathlon Club, through which she helps to organize group training and to coordinate the mentorship program.
Sarah shared more about how her professional role as a doctor has impacted her volunteer efforts. "Being a doctor has allowed me to volunteer in some positions that would not otherwise be possible, like with the State Police Summer Program and Double H Ranch,” she said. “I worked in emergency medicine for 20 years, and I can’t even begin to count the number of people I had to break the terrible news that they had cancer. All those people, plus the friends and family who have had cancer, are my current motivation for doing the ESR this summer.”
“After many shifts in the emergency department, I drove home being incredibly thankful for my situation, my family, and my health,” Sarah said. “I try to never take that for granted and look for opportunities to give back when I can.”
Dr. Sarah Vogel graduated from medical school at University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine in 1996 and completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Albany Medical Center in 1999. She practiced Emergency Medicine in community hospitals in the Albany area for the next 16 years, and worked closely with emergency medical services as a medical director and educator. Prior to joining Fidelis Care in 2022 as a Medical Director, Dr. Vogel worked for Landmark and oversaw care for Medicare Advantage members with multiple chronic medical conditions.