A diverse coalition of residents and officials successfully pressured Trinity Health to keep the Burdett Birth Center open after the system initially planned to close it.

Residents, midwives, and bipartisan political leaders in Troy, New York, successfully campaigned to prevent the closure of the Burdett Birth Center. Trinity Health, the Michigan-based system that owns the facility, had announced plans to shut down the center citing financial losses. Following months of community protests and state-level intervention, the health system reversed its decision and committed to keeping the center open.

Community and Political Opposition

The proposed closure sparked a broad coalition that included local mothers, doulas, midwives, and elected officials from both major political parties. Opponents argued that the closure would force families to travel up to 30 minutes to Albany for maternity care, noting that 1 in 4 Troy residents lacked access to a vehicle. The campaign included public rallies, the distribution of "Save Burdett" signs, and a community survey to highlight the impact on local families.

State Intervention and Funding

The campaign gained momentum as state officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, launched an investigation into the closure. State Assembly member John T. McDonald III worked with Republican and Democratic colleagues to secure $5 million in state funding to support the facility. Trinity Health, which operates 91 hospitals and reported over $25 billion in revenue last year, eventually reversed its decision nearly a year after the initial announcement.

Burdett’s Patient-Focused Model

The Burdett Birth Center is known for its collaborative model involving midwives, doulas, and OB-GYNs. According to 2025 hospital data, the center maintained a C-section rate of approximately 25%, compared to the statewide average of about 33%. The facility also recorded fewer preterm births and fewer instances of low birth weight among newborns.