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MacAdam, the medical director at the Community Medical Center in Aurora, told Â鶹ÊÓƵ this week it has been flooded with calls from patients worried it would close along with the college, forcing them to find new doctors. But the center, which is located at 18 Wells Road on the grounds of the private college, plans to keep its doors open even after Wells closes its own, she said.

"I've been nothing but positive and reassuring," she said. "We do not want the patients and community to feel fearful that they're not going to be able to access their primary care provider."

Hearing those words lowered a few blood pressures, MacAdam said. The center has almost 2,000 patients, an average of 30 a day, some she has been seeing since joining it in 1998.

The facility has provided care to Wells students since 1962, and community members since 1974. It also has contracts for medical services with the Moravia and Southern Cayuga school districts, and 12 local fire departments. Concern for those patients and the community is one reason MacAdam has been at the center for more than 25 years.

"That's the job satisfaction of primary care. Your patients become your family and you become part of their family," she said.

"That's just what I love. I don't want to see other patients, I want to see those that are like my family to me." 

MacAdam, who owns the practice through Family Care Medical Group in Syracuse, has spoken with Wells attorneys about taking ownership of the center's building. The college's lawyers warned her of the possibility of the New York State Education Department and the state attorney general's office getting involved, she said, but she hasn't spoken with anyone from either department.

The center finds itself in a similar position to Peachtown Elementary School, which is also on the Aurora campus and wants to continue operating after the college closes.

MacAdam said she and Alyssa Binns Gunderson, Peachtown's head of school, are looking into legal representation.

"With the attorney general getting involved, it's not just a simple matter of a transfer of real estate. It's a lot more complicated than that, apparently," MacAdam said.

The college said on that it is working with the attorney general's office, along with the center and the elementary school, on a "long-term solution" while both continue as normal.

Despite the potential for complications, MacAdam is optimistic she will be able to take over the building and keep the center open. Wells President Jonathan Gibralter has given his verbal support for MacAdam taking ownership of the building, she said, and Aurora Mayor Jim Orman has also expressed support. Their backing is encouraging, MacAdam added.

"It makes me feel even more confident that this will be accomplished, no matter the difficulties we might have to go through," she said. "I just feel reassured that that supports us being here."