Syracuse Man Protests Loss Of Dr. Templemeyer

SYRACUSE – A Syracuse man is protesting along Highway 50 in support of a local medical doctor.

Steve Berner of Syracuse was out in front of Syracuse Area Health on Monday and says he will return periodically to raise awareness about the need for doctors in rural communities.

Berner and  Doctor Zachariah Templemeyer graduated from Syracuse in separate classes. While Berner found work in Las Vegas for 20 years, Templemeyer graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 2001. He specialized in family medicine at Syracuse.

Berner: “I heard about it Tuesday that he had turned in his resignation and, like I say, he’s such a good doctor … I think it’s a shame that we are losing him.”

Berner, a patient of Dr. Templemeyer for the past eight years, said he is protesting because he does not think the hospital administration did all it could to keep him on staff.

Jill Ford, director of foundation and outreach for  Syracuse Area Health, said Dr. Templemeyer informed the hospital that he had taken another position and gave his resignation on Monday, Sept. 14.

Ford: “We thank him for his 16 years of service and wish him well in the future.”

The hospital's other providers are Dr. Kayla Heidinger, Dr. James Steckelberg, Molly Skomer, APRN, Lindsey Elder, APRN, and Jeri Spatz, PA-C.

Dr. Heidinger joined the hospital in August.