Community Open House To Honor Retiring Bassett Nurse Practitioner

Cooperstown, N.Y. – After nearly four decades of dedication as a health care professional and serving the local community at Bassett’s Edmeston-Burlington Health Center since 2008, Mary Ann Bigger, family nurse practitioner, will retire. 

Mary Ann began her career in 1967 as a registered nurse, as a graduate of Mount Carmel School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio. After marrying her husband Rick, they moved to Columbus, N.Y. where she worked at Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich from 1969 through 2001. She was certified in obstetrical nursing and served as nurse manager of the obstetrical unit for 12 years. In 1996, she became a certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) through Community General Hospital in Syracuse, and has cared for mothers she assisted in labor, their children and grandchildren as well as many residents in surrounding communities over the years. She practiced as a FNP at Chase Memorial Nursing Home and its New Berlin Family Practice for 10 years until it closed July 2008. In the fall of 2008, she joined Bassett Healthcare Network at the Edmeston/Burlington location on Rt. 80, a rural health center that has been serving the community’s health needs since 1973.

She is looking forward to spending more time with Rick, their five children and spouses and eight grandchildren. After enjoying the summer she will occasionally work per diem for Bassett where needed.

A Community Open House celebration will commemorate Mary Ann’s retirement, as well as formally introduce Tanya Quarty, F.N.P., who will begin to see patients at the health center on a full-time basis beginning July 5. The open house will be held Thursday, June 30, at Bassett Healthcare Network – Edmeston/Burlington Health Center, 2106 Route 80, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The community is cordially invited.