Fairfield and Westchester Counties
DOCTORS of DISTINCTION
Saluting those who go beyond the diagnosis
2020
VIRTUAL EVENT
SEPT. 24 AT 5 PM PRESENTED BY
See page 3 for photo identifications.
WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE 2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION Congratulations to tonight’s honorees
We are especially proud of our colleagues: The White Plains Hospital Emergency Department Team for Team Recognition The White Plains Hospital Innovation Team for Telehealth Platform, WPH Connect
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Fairfield and Westchester Counties
DOCTORS of DISTINCTION
Saluting those who go beyond the diagnosis
2020
WELCOME VIRTUAL EVENT
SEPT. 24 AT 5 PM Historically, once-a-century a catastrophic health crisis hits the world like what we are experiencing right now. In Westchester and Fairfield counties the dramatic and courageous response of our health providers gives us the opportunity to give them a special tribute and recognition.
/WestfairOnline
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COVID-19
CHANGED THE WORLD Americares Free Clinics staff and volunteers rose to the challenge. Americares Free Clinics congratulates its staff and volunteers on receiving a Doctors of Distinction award in telehealth—and celebrates the other award winners improving health care in the U.S. and around the world.
americaresfreeclinics.org
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THANK YOU
TO OUR SPONSORS HEALTH CARE LEADERS:
HEALTH CARE PARTNERS:
SUPPORTERS:
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M E DIC A L
CONGRATULATIONS United Hebrew of New Rochelle CONGRAT ULAT E S
JENNIFER TAN COVID-19
Going above and beyond to care for Westchester’s most vulnerable residents during a global pandemic took superhuman effort. You are our hero! Thank you for leading our nurses in delivering excellence in senior care.
Jennifer Tan Chief Nursing Officer United Hebrew of New Rochelle
Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation • Willow Towers Assisted Living • Willow Gardens Memory Care Certified Home Health Agency • Meadow Lane and Soundview Senior Apartments
www.uhgc.org 914-632-2804 6
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
ALL IN THE FAMILY
DR. RICHARD FINDLING
Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health
DR. RICH FINDLING is a gastroenterologist with a broad interest in various gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, functional bowel disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic liver diseases and gastrointestinal cancers/screening. He graduated summa cum laude from the Schwartz College Pharmacy at Long Island University with a minor in medicinal chemistry/pharmacology and a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy. He later graduated magna cum laude from the Sackler School of Medicine at SUNY/Tel Aviv University. Dr. Findling completed his residency and chief residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology at Columbia University/St. Luke’s-Roosevelt. He has been an assistant professor of medicine at both Einstein College of Medicine and Columbia University and is board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Findling takes enormous pride in keeping up to date and promoting continuing medical education (CME). He directed and organized the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds Program at Phelps for the last 20 years and was the physician-in-chief for CME and the assistant medical director for medical-staff quality at Phelps for the last 15 years. His patients know him as a great listener who communicates with them in language they can understand. “I am a huge advocate for utilizing anatomic models, diagrams and patient handouts,” he says. “I want my patients to gain a better understanding of their health so that they feel empowered when leaving the office.”
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Open Door Congratulates
“No Land Too Far� Award Honoree
ANDREW SWIDERSKI, MD, MPH Pediatrician, Open Door Ossining
and all of the 2020 Doctors of Distinction Honorees. Thank you for your outstanding dedication to improving the health and quality of life of our community.
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Building healthy, strong communities since 1972.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
ALL IN THE FAMILY
DR. DINA KATZ
Phelps Hospital, Northwell Health
DR. DINA KATZ is a senior attending cardiologist on staff at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and has been a key figure in a busy outpatient cardiology practice in Briarcliff Manor. She was trained as an invasive cardiologist and performed coronary angiography for 14 years before shifting her focus to preventing rather than identifying heart disease. She treats all aspects of established cardiovascular disease and particularly enjoys teaming with her patients to optimize their cardiovascular health through individualized lifestyle management. Dr. Katz earned her medical degree on a merit scholarship to The Sackler School of Medicine and completed internship and residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. She completed her cardiology fellowship at Westchester Medical Center where she also served as chief fellow. She is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, with section memberships to sport and exercise cardiology, prevention of cardiovascular disease and women in cardiology. She is also a fellow of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and a member of the National Lipid Association and American Society of Echocardiography. Along with her partners Drs. Arthur Fass and Franklin Zimmerman, she has served her local community since 1994. Now as a member of Northwell Health she is excited to collaborate with other outstanding health professionals and utilize the vast resources the health system has to offer to ensure that every patient benefits from optimal health. Dr. Katz prides herself in “practicing what she preaches� engaging in daily exercise, focusing on plant-based eating and practicing mindfulness techniques. 9
Congratulations to Our Doctors of Distinction The Women’s Health Services Team at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
Winners of the Team Category
L-R: Dr. Meera Garcia, Division Chief of General Obstetrics & Gynecology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons; Dr. Lisa McLeod; Maria Rosato-Nierenberg, CNM; Joanne Mazzio, CNM, NP, MS; Dr. Matthew Cantor; Dr. Pavan Ananth and Dr. Meedlen Charles, FACOG.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital congratulates our amazing women’s health services team on this well-deserved award. We are incredibly proud of the advanced clinical expertise and compassionate care this team provides to our community. We applaud our team and all of the healthcare providers who continue to go above and beyond to serve patients in Westchester County. Sincerely, Stacey Petrower President NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital General Information: 914-788-4635 | Women’s Health Services: 914-734-3258 nyp.org/hudsonvalley
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
BIOMEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH
DR. SALOMON AMAR
New York Medical College
DR. SALOMON AMAR is vice president for research at New York Medical College (NYMC) and director of the office of research administration. He holds academic appointments as professor of pharmacology and professor of microbiology and immunology at NYMC. In addition, Dr. Amar serves as provost for biomedical research and chief biomedical research officer, for Touro College and University System, and professor of dental medicine at Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College. As a faculty member, Dr. Amar’s research has focused on periodontal tissue homeostasis and mechanisms of inflammatory bone loss. His research has led to seminal observations in periodontal systemic diseases especially cardiovascular diseases or obesity leading to innovative approaches in public health aspects of these diseases.
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It’s time to give back to those who have given so much. FRONTLINE HEROES BENEFITS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. It’s one small way we can say thank you for being there in our time of need. Ask us about our special benefits: • WebsterOne® Relationship Checking1 - No monthly fee - No minimum balance requirement - ATMs with no Webster fee and rebates of the ATM fees charged by other banks, including international ATMs • Mortgages and Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit2 Once you open and use a new WebsterOne Relationship Checking account:*
You’ll get $250 from Webster deposited directly to your new checking account when you open and use it.
We’ll give $250 to United Way COVID-19 Response Funds.
Talk to us today. | Call 800.325.2424 | Visit websterbank.com/heroes Terms and Conditions These offers are available July 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 and benefits are available until December 31, 2021. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Any full-time or part-time employee currently in essential healthcare, including Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Medical Practices, Dental Practices and Home Healthcare as well as First Responders (Police, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics). 1See a banker for details. 2All loans and lines of credit are subject to credit approval, see a banker for details. THIS CHECKING OFFER IS LIMITED TO ONE PER HOUSEHOLD *CHECKING CASH OFFER: Limit one (1) per household. Receive $250 with WebsterOne Relationship Checking Promotion available 07/01/2020 until 12/31/2020 for new WebsterOne Relationship Checking accounts opened by residents of CT, NY, MA or RI and meeting minimum opening balance requirements. Customer must be a resident of CT, NY, MA, or RI at time of account opening and promotion payout. Customer must qualify for account and complete: At least one (1) single Direct Deposit of $500 or more (Direct Deposit transactions are limited to payroll, social security, pension and government benefits. Person-to-person transactions such as PayPal® and Venmo are excluded); OR twenty (20) Visa Debit Card transactions using Signature or PIN (ATM withdrawals are not eligible). Qualifying transactions must be completed by the end of the third month following your account opening date. To be eligible, the primary customer must not have had an open checking account at Webster Bank within 12 months of opening the new account. Minimum opening balance requirements for all accounts must be met in order to qualify for offer. Account must be in good standing at the time of payment; an account is considered to be in good standing if it has a positive balance and is not in the process of being closed. All funds will be transferred into the newly established checking account within 150 days of account opening. All amounts will be reported to the IRS and customer is responsible for any applicable taxes. Offer is subject to change without notice and may be withdrawn at any time. Cannot be combined with any other offer. BANKER: USE CAMPAIGN CODE $250WEBONE-GEN-HEROES 1 WebsterOne® Relationship Checking: Minimum opening deposit of $50 required. Normally there is a $16.95 (or $14.95 with direct deposit) monthly service charge, if combined monthly average balance of $4,000 in checking, savings or money market accounts, or $20,000 in combined deposit (checking, savings, CDs or money market) or home equity balances is not maintained. These monthly service charges will be waived until December 31, 2021. Webster will not charge any fees for checking withdrawals at non-Webster ATMs and will rebate you if another financial institution charges you a fee for using its ATM. Product features are subject to change at any time. Effective January 1, 2022: You will be required to maintain a monthly average balance of $4,000 in checking, savings or money market accounts, or $20,000 in combined deposit (checking, savings, CDs or money market) or home equity balances to avoid monthly service charges of $16.95 (or $14.95 with direct deposit). Webster will not charge any fees for checking withdrawals at non-Webster ATMs and Webster will rebate fees if another financial institution charges you a fee for using its ATM.
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Webster Bank, the Webster Bank logo and the W symbol are trademarks of Webster Financial Corporation and Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Webster Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. © 2020 Webster Financial Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
CARING FOR ALL
STEVEN SREBNIK
Performance Rehabilitation
STEVEN SREBNIK graduated from Boston University with two Master of Science degrees with distinction in 1986. Since then he has taken care of more than 10,000 people using evidencebased practices. Prior to opening his own practice, he was on staff at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan when, in the early 1990s, he realized a tremendous need for a privately owned physical therapy practice in Yonkers. He opened Performance Rehabilitation on Yonkers Avenue in 1991 and has been in the same location ever since, adding three additional PTs to his practice. While he has a diverse orthopedic background, he holds an advanced certification as a hand specialist and cares for the most complex hand injuries and surgical reconstructions. He’s one of only a few therapists in Westchester County with this advanced certification. Also, Srebnik’s practice has offered pro bono work for local school districts as well providing preseason training and injury prevention programs through Peak Performance. In 2006, he joined the teaching staff of New York Medical College as an adjunct in the physical therapy department. He was the course director of the college’s modalities component until 2018 but still goes in twice per year to provide the lecture and lab material for the anatomy, kinesiology and clinical aspects of the hand.
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Congratulations to our 2020 Doctors of Distinction Kelly Hutcheson, MD,
Director of Ophthalmology, WMCHealth No Land Too Far Award
John Savino, MD,
Former Director of Surgery, Westchester Medical Center Lifetime Achievement Award
Donald Chen, MD,
Hospital Epidemiologist, WMCHealth COVID-19 Hero Award
Nigel Knox, MD,
Pain Management Specialist, Westchester Medical Center COVID-19 Hero Award
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
CUTTING EDGE
DR. BARRY ZINGMAN
Montefiore Health System, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
DR. BARRY ZINGMAN is clinical director of infectious diseases at the Moses Division of Montefiore Medical Center, medical director of the Montefiore AIDS Center, professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and principal investigator at Montefiore/Einstein of the NIH Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial of new therapies for patients hospitalized with Covid-19 and on upcoming Covid vaccine trials. Dr. Zingman’s interest in infectious diseases started when he was a medical student in the early 1980s in New York City, caring for people newly diagnosed with an as-yet unnamed illness that was striking young men, drug users and particularly people of color. This led him to specialize in infectious diseases, with a primary focus in care, teaching and research in HIV/AIDS. He has led dozens of studies of new therapies for HIV/AIDS over the last 30 years, chaired committees to improve care of people living with the disease and rose to directing the largest HIV program in New York state. His involvement in Covid came as unexpectedly as it appeared, but his team, his colleagues and he took on the responsibility to try to offer hope to people stricken by the illness, along with their desperate families. This research led to the first therapy (Remdesivir) proven to work for Covid-19. His team is studying additional treatments for Covid-19 and he is leading Covid vaccine studies to start this month at Montefiore/Einstein. He is proud to be able to offer new treatments and vaccines to the New York-area communities most affected during the early US Covid-19 outbreak.
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CONGRATULATIONS
TOP DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION AWARD
2020 COVID-19 HEROES
Richard Wu, MD Pulmonary Medicine
Joseph Brill, MD Pulmonary Medicine
Robert DeMatteo, MD Pulmonary Medicine
Rajendra Rampersaud, MD Critical Care
Radhika Hariharan, MD Infectious Disease
Michael DiGiorno, DO Medical Education
Mark Silberman, MD Emergency Medicine
Not Shown: Jonathan Bauman, MD, Chief of Anesthesiology, Hospitalists and Emergency Medicine Providers and our IM and EM Resident Teams
Paul Sasso, MD Emergency Medicine
Anthony Darmiento, MD Hospitalist
Steven Barry, MD Infectious Disease
Rafaele Milizia, MD Emergency Medicine
Paul Antonecchia, MD Physician Hospital Leadership & Medical Education
These St. John’s physicians were the front-liners of the COVID-19 response every day in our ICU, ED and facility-wide. They worked four months straight fulfilling their mission of service to our community, and in some cases did not go home in fear of exposing their own families. With their leadership, we expanded our ICU capacity by 333% while also treating hundreds of COVID symptomatic patients in the ED. This team worked alongside their colleagues, and our incredible nursing and ancillary staff dealing with gravely ill patients each day. These doctors are well respected practitioners in the best of times. In the worst of times, they cared for truly sick individuals in a scary moment of history and inspired us all.
YOU MAKE US COMMUNITY STRONG © 2020 St. John’s Riverside Hospital All Rights Reserved
914.964.4DOC RiversideHealth.org
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN HEALTH CARE
DR. MOOYEON OH-PARK
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
DR. MOOYEON OH-PARK, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital’s senior vice president and chief medical officer, oversees Burke’s clinical operations and plays a key role in the strategic planning and expansion of Burke’s programs and rehabilitation services within the Montefiore Health System. Since joining Burke in April 2018, Dr. Oh-Park has been developing an integrated system linking high-quality patient care – including seamless transition across the continuum of care, Burke’s graduate medical education program and clinical research and innovation. At the epicenter of the pandemic, Dr. Oh-Park immediately recognized tremendous unmet needs for the physical, cognitive and psychological rehabilitation of Covid-19 survivors. Under her exceptional leadership, Burke has developed and implemented protocols and strategies to establish clinical integration with hospitals within the Montefiore Health System. Burke established a working model for addressing the rehabilitation needs of Covid-19 survivors and became an essential post-acute partner for acute care hospitals in New York city and the Hudson Valley region. In 2019, Dr. Oh-Park was invited to the Global Rehabilitation 2030 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for long-range planning for rehabilitation worldwide. She is a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Department of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of PM&R and Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine with 50 peer reviewed publications. She received 16 educational awards, including 2019-2020 Best Mentor of the Year at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. 17
Congratulations to the Westmed Physicians Recognized as
DOCTORS of DISTINCTION
Winner: Power Couple
Winner: COVID-19 Hero
DR. JENIFER JOHNSON & DR. JASON SHUKER
DR. SANDRA KESH
We are proud of your commitment to providing high quality, compassionate care to the patients we serve in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Thank you to all of those individuals and teams named on this year’s Doctors of Distinction list for going above and beyond the diagnosis.
Learn more at westmedgroup.com
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
FEMALE TRAILBLAZER
DR. SUSAN KLUGMAN
Montefiore Health System, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
DR. SUSAN KLUGMAN is the director of reproductive and medical genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at Montefiore Health System and is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has been practicing for more than 25 years and is passionate about helping patients and their families identify genetic risk factors for diseases. Dr. Klugman is also the program director for the medical genetics residency and serves on the Montefiore and Einstein cancer committee. Nationally, she is the vice president for clinical genetics for the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), representative for the American Medical Associations’ House of Delegates for ACMG, liaison to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG) Committee on Genetics. She recently completed a six-year term on the ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) Residency Review Committee for Medical Genetics and was president of the Program Directors group of the APHMG (American Professors of Human and Medical Genetics). In 2018, she was awarded ACOG’s Advocacy Fellowship and spent two weeks in Washington, D.C. discussing legislation regarding women’s health with lawmakers and their staff. She continues to do this work in New York state, focusing on postpartum issues, hereditary cancer and pregnancy loss. Additionally, she is the reproductive genetics editor for Genetics in Medicine Journal, a leading peer-reviewed publication for genetics. Dr. Klugman graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in biometry and statistics, and from New York University School of Medicine. 19
Barry S. Zingman, MD Director, Infectious Diseases, Moses Division, Montefiore Health System
Montefiore-Einstein Congratulates Barry S. Zingman, MD
On being named one of Westchester and Fairfield Counties Doctors of Distinction 2020 for his cutting-edge work in the race to understand and treat deadly infectious diseases.
Susan D. Klugman, MD Director, Reproductive and Medical Genetics, Montefiore Health System
Montefiore-Einstein Congratulates Susan D. Klugman, MD
On being named one of Westchester and Fairfield Counties Doctors of Distinction 2020 and a female trailblazer for her work in reproductive and medical genetics and prenatal screening.
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Congratulations to our Doctors of Distinction! We proudly congratulate our Health Care Heroes on winning Doctors of Distinction in the following categories: All In The Family Award: Dr. Richard Findling and Dr. Dina Katz Telehealth Award: Phelps Hospital Behavioral Health Team COVID-19 Heroes Award: Dr. Michelle Espinoza Sandra Kachelriess, RN
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
HEALTH EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
DR. RICHARD MOREL
CareMount Medical
DR. RICHARD MOREL has a comprehensive management background in all aspects of clinical, operational, financial, risk and strategic matters. He has worked for CareMount Medical since 2017 as chief physician executive responsible for managing CareMount Medical’s physician operations across six counties in New York state, as well as groupwide initiatives. Dr. Morel oversees operational management of clinical services, recruitment and retention, as well as the design and implementation of clinical and quality initiatives designed to drive improvements for patient care delivery. Additionally, he helps to manage CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC’s clinically integrated hospital and skilled nursing facility network, created to reduce re-admissions and mortality while continually improving care. Prior to serving as chief physician executive, he was the deputy chief medical officer for CareMount Medical. He also serves as the medical director of CareMount Health Solutions ACO. Prior to joining CareMount Medical, Dr. Morel was the co-medical director and vice president of WestMed in Purchase, New York, where he was responsible for overseeing physicians across the group. From 1998 to 2008, he served as medical director for Columbia Presbyterian Riverdale. Dr. Morel is board certified in internal medicine. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry. After receiving his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, he completed his postgraduate training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He also received a Master of Medical Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. 23
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
HEALTH EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
MICHAEL SPICER
Saint Joseph’s Medical Center
MICHAEL SPICER, a health care executive with more than 35 years of hospital and long-term care experience, is president and CEO of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, New York. He is the first male and first lay president of Saint Joseph’s, a Catholic health care facility founded by the Sisters of Charity in 1888. He began his career with Saint Joseph’s in 1984 serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer and was named president prior to assuming the title of CEO in 2000. He is the longest-serving hospital president in Westchester County. Spicer holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut, and an MBA in finance from St. John’s University. He is a fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and a board member of numerous community organizations, including the Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State and is secretary of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS). He will become chair elect of HANYS in January 2021 and chairman in January 2022. Spicer was instrumental in the hospital’s dramatic expansion and development over the past 20 years. Today, Saint Joseph’s includes a 194-bed acute care hospital, a 138-bed psychiatric hospital – St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester – two affordable senior housing facilities, 1,500 supportive housing apartments throughout New York City and Westchester and numerous out-patient programs and services for the residents of Westchester and the five boroughs of New York City.
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Congratulations to Our Doctors of Distinction Honorees HEALTH CARE EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Michael J. Spicer President and CEO
COVID-19 HERO
Catherine O’Connell Hopkins Director of Community Outreach and School Health
We salute all of this year’s honorees. Visit us at saintjosephs.org
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
DR. JOHN A. SAVINO
WMCHealth
DR. JOHN A. SAVINO has served as Felicien Steichen professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery at New York Medical College (NYMC) for 17 years and as director of surgery at the Westchester Medical Center for 15 years. He previously served as program director of the general surgery residency and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, as well as chief of trauma and surgical critical care for 17 years at Westchester Medical Center. In 1996, the New York State Department of Health designated Westchester Medical Center as the only Level I Trauma Center in the Hudson Valley region. Dr. Savino served as the inaugural chief of trauma and surgical critical care at Westchester Medical Center for 17 years. Most recently, he was the senior vice president of medical operations at Westchester Medical Center. Dr. Savino was a pioneer in areas of clinical research, which focused on issues of surgical critical care and trauma. He was instrumental in securing approximately $4 million in research grants and funding for the training of surgeons. He received his training in general surgery at New York Medical College Flower Fifth Avenue and Metropolitan hospitals from 1969 through 1974. After an initial seven-year period in private practice, he returned to NYMC and Westchester Medical Center in 1981. After attaining 39 consecutive years at NYMC, Dr. Savino was awarded the status of Emeritus Professor of Surgery.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
NO LAND TOO FAR
DR. KELLY A. HUTCHESON
WMCHealth
DR. KELLY A. HUTCHESON is the director of ophthalmology for Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), responsible for the continued growth and development of the ophthalmology programs at Westchester Medical Center, Maria Ferari Children’s Hospital and MidHudson Regional. Dr. Hutcheson also serves as chair of the department of ophthalmology at New York Medical College. Prior to joining WMCHealth, she served as the chief of ophthalmology at a state of the art women’s and children’s hospital in the Middle East. She also worked in the public hospital system where she encountered patients from around the Middle East and Asia, many of whom came from backgrounds of limited access to health care. Dr. Hutcheson also attended a humanitarian trip in Nedjo, Ethiopia, in partnership with Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE), International. Previously, she developed and led the novel program, the Surgical Humanitarian Outreach Center, a philanthropically funded cost center to provide funding for surgical outreach. This program provided support and fellowship teaching of surgical and anesthesia delivery in developing countries. In 2006, Dr. Hutcheson founded a humanitarian group that became Casa De Luz, a charitable organization that provides free medical and surgical eye care to patients on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. This group partners with Island Impact on the ground to provide sustainable continuity of care for patients. The mission has since provided free eye care to thousands of adults and children. She is now the emeritus president of the organization.
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CO N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO
DR. MOOYEON OH-PARK OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, on being named to this year’s Doctors of Distinction.
Her exceptional leadership is instrumental in the advancement of Burke’s programs and services and has a positive impact on our patients, their families and our staff. Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees.
785 MAMARONECK AVENUE | WHITE PLAINS, NY 10605 | WWW.BURKE.ORG
Inpatient Programs (914) 597-2519
Outpatient Therapy (914) 597-2200
Outpatient Physicians (914) 597-2332
COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION MEDICINE PROGRAMS FOR: Stroke Cardiac & Pulmonary Disease Orthopedic Injuries
Brain Injury Neurological Conditions Amputations
Spinal Cord Injury Musculoskeletal Disorders COVID-19 Recovery
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
NO LAND TOO FAR
DR. ANDREW SWIDERSKI
Open Door Family Medical Center
DR. ANDREW SWIDERSKI has always had an interest in international and immigrant medicine. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked with nutrition programs providing emergency relief in Mauritania, South Sudan, Malawi and Mozambique. He appreciated the vulnerability of children to the effects of drought and civil unrest – issues which have become even more pervasive since then. Above all, he learned that long-term impact in those settings can only occur if local, existing infrastructure and skills can be strengthened, rather than a band aid approach to international assistance. Since graduating from the University of Rochester, New York, medical school and completing pediatric specialty training there, he has continued to provide primary health care to immigrants in this country. After 11 years of working in community health centers in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the Westchester County native has returned home to provide care to the underserved at Open Door’s Ossining, New York, health center. He thrives in such a setting that offers comprehensive services to a diverse patient population. He is an enthusiastic preceptor for medical students and pediatric doctors in training and finds Open Door to be an optimal setting for teaching. Dr. Swiderski is committed to his patients and feels like they are his extended family. His career goal is to continue trying to improve health care that is respectful, fosters trust and open communication and keeps patients in charge of their own health by emphasizing lifestyle choices and preventive medicine.
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HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
POWER COUPLE
DR. JENIFER JOHNSON
Westmed Medical Group
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DR. JENNIFER JOHNSON is board certified in family medicine. She graduated summa cum laude from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a minor in theology and pre-medicine. Additionally, she was awarded the Saint Louis University Dean’s Scholarship and was a National Merit Scholar for the university. Dr. Johnson received her medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Tufts University School of Medicine in family medicine. Her special interests within medicine include office procedures and women’s health. As a family doctor, she is interested in understanding her patients as whole individuals, in the context of their families and environments. She joined Westmed Medical Group in 2005 as an urgent care doctor and transitioned to internal medicine practice at Westmed’s Rye location in 2014. Dr. Johnson is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
DR. JASON SHUKER
Westmed Medical Group
HONOREES
DR. JASON SHUKER is associate medical director of immediate and urgent care managing all seven of Westmed’s urgent care and immediate care centers. In addition to practicing medicine at Westmed’s urgent care locations, he also manages clinical staffing and recently implemented all of the clinical changes and protocol related to Covid-19 for these establishments. Additionally, Dr. Shuker oversees Westmed’s urgent care virtual visit (telemedicine) program. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, with a Bachelor of Science degree in anatomical sciences and cellular biology, he completed a Master of Arts degree in medical science at Boston University School of Medicine and received his medical degree from the same institution after which he completed his residency training at Tufts University Family Medicine Residency in Malden, Massachusetts, and he is certified in advanced cardiac life support. Dr. Shuker joined Westmed in 2005 and is a board-certified family physician.
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HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE
EBRAHIM AFSHINNEKOO
New York Medical College
EBRAHIM AFSHINNEKOO graduated summa cum laude from the Macaulay Honors College at Queens College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental science and biochemistry. He is currently a fourth-year medical student at New York Medical College and a senior research Fellow in the Mason Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine. He has made significant contributions in multiple fields of research, including metagenomics and microbiome, precision medicine, clinical genomics and bioinformatics and has published more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in several notable journals, including Science, Cell, Nature Medicine, Nature Biotechnology and Nature Communications. His work has been featured by hundreds of media outlets worldwide, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, TIME, WIRED, The New Yorker, National Geographic, BBC, NPR and CBS. In 2015, Ebrahim co-founded MetaSUB, a 501c3 nonprofit organization and research consortium dedicated to building genetic profiles of cities around the globe to improve their design, functionality and positively impact the health of their populations. Ebrahim served as founding executive director and currently serves as clinical director for the consortium. He is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and has received several awards, including the City University of New York Jonas E. Salk award and the United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health award. He is passionate about clinical practice and taking care of patients, medical education, mentoring students, biomedical and clinical research and global health. Ebrahim hopes to pursue a career in ophthalmology. 35
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www.BlossomFlower.com 914.237.2511
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
SUPPORT STAFF
DR. DANIEL BOXER
Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital
DR. DANIEL BOXER is a board-certified, fellowship-trained hematologist/oncologist with 15 years of experience as a physician. He is also board certified in internal medicine and has been an attending physician at Norwalk Hospital in the C. Anthony and Jean Whittingham Cancer Center since 2017. He was involved with launching the first-of-its-kind cancer care collaboration between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and Norwalk Hospital. Dr. Boxer is also on MSK’s medical staff. He approaches cancer care as a collective effort with the care team, patient and the patient’s family. For his patients with cancer he knows it’s essential to involve their families so his patients have all of the support they need to help them fight the disease. Passionate about teaching medical residents, his students have been recognizing his dedication to teaching since 2008, when he earned his first award for excellence in teaching at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Since then, he’s been the recipient of several awards for his teaching capabilities, including most recently the Norwalk Hospital Medicine Attending of the Year in 2019 and 2020. Dr. Boxer completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at New York University in New York City and a medical residency and internship in internal medicine at Georgetown University Hospital. He earned a medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Dr. Boxer is currently a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 37
HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
SUPPORT STAFF
BRIAN FULLERTON
Northern Westchester Hospital
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BRIAN FULLERTON has worked as a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) for nearly 15 years. He received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in mass media communications in 2001. He then decided to follow his family’s calling into the health care field, by pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy. He graduated from Westchester Community College in 2006 at the top of his class and was immediately hired at Montefiore Medical Center where he worked as an RRT until December 2018, after which he took a full-time position with Northwell Health Northern Westchester Hospital. Fullerton also works as a per diem therapist at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. He has worked with all patient populations from neonatal to geriatric, helping those with difficulty breathing or those that were unable to breath at all. He has always been an advocate for his patients and their families and takes extra time to answer questions, educate on proper breathing techniques, pushes his patients forward, offers training to other health care professionals and is calm and focused in emergency situations. Fullerton always makes time for his patients, whether it’s to address a concern or to simply be someone they can converse with. His work has resulted in improved outcomes for his patients and he sets an exemplary level of professionalism and clearly demonstrates a love and dedication to the profession. He lives in the town of Somers with his wife, Allison, and their daughter, Ciara.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
TEAM
THE FLANZER CENTER FOR EMERGENCIES AND CRITICAL CARE
White Plains Hospital
THE FLANZER CENTER FOR EMERGENCIES AND CRITICAL CARE AT WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL is the busiest emergency department (ED) in Westchester County, seeing upward of 65,000 patients every year. It is led by the passionate and experienced leadership team of Rafael E. Torres, M.D., director of emergency medicine; Dean J. Straff, M.D., associate director; Erica Dusseldorp, RN; Ertha Small-Nicolas, RN; Crystel Lewis, RN; Tiffany Collins, RN; Erik Larsen, M.D.; Farrukh Jafri, M.D.; Matthew Colantoni, M.D.; and Jeff Chianfagna, PA. In response to Covid-19, these leaders worked together as a cohesive unit to find solutions and formulate a plan to protect the Westchester community. From mid-March to late April, the ED team treated and tested more Covid-19 patients than any other hospital in the region – all while facing a daily surge of patients requiring advanced medical treatment for this new disease. To date, the White Plains Hospital Emergency Department team has treated more than 1,500 patients for Covid-19.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
TEAM
THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND WELLNESS
Stamford Hospital
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THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE AND WELLNESS AT STAMFORD HOSPITAL has seen more than 100,000 of the area’s most challenging and complex patients since it opened in 2008. It has four full-time attending physicians who are fellowship trained in integrative medicine and one fellow who’s engaged in a highly competitive two-year fellowship seeing thousands of patients and learning to use nutrition, acupuncture, Botox, trigger-point injections, botanicals, hypnosis and other mind/ body techniques to help treat patients with chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, pelvic pain and anxiety in addition to a myriad of other health conditions. The physicians work as a team along with the front desk, seeing patients together in one of the largest integrative medicine centers in the country. The team also publishes and presents multiple clinical studies annually in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences as well as teaching residents and medical students as faculty at Columbia University.
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HONOREES
TEAM
WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES TEAM
NewYorkPresbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
DR. MEERA GARCIA leads the Women’s Health Services team at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital where she serves as division chief of obstetrics and gynecology as well as regional director of Women’s Health Services, NewYorkPresbyterian Medical Group. After assuming her role as chief and regional director, Dr. Garcia assembled a team of doctors, midwives and nurse practitioners from various backgrounds to bring a diversity of experience along with compassion and empathy to treat women in all stages of life. The team includes: Dr. Pavan Ananth, who specializes in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgery; Dr. Matthew Cantor, who specializes in family-planning services; Dr. Meedlen Charles, who specializes in hysteroscopic surgery; Dr. Lisa McLeod, who specializes in holistic manipulation for pain and labor management; Joanne Mazzio, a licensed mid-wife and nurse practitioner; and Mara Rosato, a licensed midwife. NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s maternity program is an extension of Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a national leader in maternity care. This relationship brings the world-class services and expertise of NewYorkPresbyterian’s academic medical center right to the community in northern Westchester. Key to NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s success is its robotic surgery program for select patients who need abdominal or gynecologic surgeries. This fall, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital will open a new state-of-the-art maternity center that welcomes moms, their partners and family so that they can play a larger role in this special experience. 41
HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
TELEHEALTH
THE INNOVATION TEAM
White Plains Hospital
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THE WPH INNOVATION TEAM, the leaders behind the launch of White Plains Hospital’s telehealth platform, WPH Connect, is comprised of a cross-functional group with diverse experiences and educational backgrounds, both clinical and administrative. It includes: Jonathan Bandel, vice president, strategy and innovation; Zsolt Kulcsar, DO, associate medical director of digital health and strategic ventures; Matthew Shafiroff, M.D., chief medical information officer; James Peacock, M.D., special medical advisor to the president and CEO; Robert Largey, senior director, strategic ventures; and Jason Silverstein, director, innovation and transformation. Innovation at White Plains Hospital has been a major driver of care delivery, helping to find unique ways for patients to access high-quality care. The launch and implementation of its virtual health platform, WPH Connect is a premier example of this ingenuity. As the pandemic hit and quickly spread across Westchester, it became clear that in order to continue to provide care to its patients, the White Plains Hospital’s ambulatory network of approximately 250 clinicians would need to deliver care virtually for the foreseeable future. In less than 10 days, all 250 of these clinicians were trained and delivering virtual consultations and follow-up appointments on WPH Connect. As a result of these efforts, between March 12 and Aug. 4, more than 25,000 successful virtual visits had been completed.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
TELEHEALTH
PHELPS OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
PHELPS HOSPITAL: “We could not limit our nomination to one person. It takes an entire service. The mission at Phelps Hospital has always been to keep our community safe and well by providing the highest quality of comprehensive care. At Phelps, we understand that during tough times, everyone needs support from someone who cares.” PHELPS OUTPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES provide psychological and resource support through a range of mental health and substance-use disorder services under the leadership team of Eileen Egan, executive director; Mary McDermott, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer; Robbins Gottlock, vice president and associate medical director; Dr. Yelena Zack, director of psychiatric services; Dr. LM Russakoff, medical director of psychiatry; and Theresa Yanarella, administrative director of outpatient behavioral health. Along with the assistance of our administrative support team, the following programs comprise the Phelps Outpatient Behavioral Health Services.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
TELEHEALTH
AMERICARES FREE CLINICS
Americares Inc
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AMERICARES FREE CLINICS provide quality health care to lowincome, uninsured patients in a setting where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. At four locations in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Americares Free Clinics bring together skilled volunteers and donated services to provide comprehensive care to adults, free of charge. When the coronavirus pandemic reached Fairfield County, Americares Free Clinics made a rapid shift to telehealth and, during just the first six months, conducted more than 3,800 telehealth consults. Weekly telehealth check-ins help patients take medicine on time and correctly, and patients can meet doctors anytime, anywhere – transportation and work schedules are no longer an impediment to care. Americares Free Clinics transition to telehealth was led by Executive Director Karen Gottlieb and Director of Clinical Operations Janet Yon and implemented by staff and volunteers across all four locations. At the Bob Macauley Americares Free Clinic of Norwalk, key team members include Director Veronica Sullivan, volunteer provider Dr. Howard Eison and Medical Director Dr. Ari Perkins. The telehealth team from the Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free Clinic of Danbury includes Director Dina Valenti, provider Mary Beth Fessler, provider Patricia Dunn and Medical Director Dr. Patrick Broderick. At the Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinic of Bridgeport, key team members include Director Jennifer DaSilva, provider Gisela Lamour, volunteer provider Dr. Monica Lockwood and Medical Director Dr. John Machledt. The Americares Free Clinic of Stamford telehealth team includes Director Muguette Maignan, provider Dr. Nicolas Palacios, volunteer provider Dr. Katy Close and Medical Director Dr. Craig Olin.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
URGENT CARE CENTER
DR. ANU PANI
Immediate Medical Care MD
DR. ANU PANI has 20 years of experience in urgent care and family medicine. She is board certified in family medicine and has dedicated her practice to the compassionate and thorough care of patients with a focus on families. Since opening Immediate Medical Care MD she has received an award from the local community for her heroic work during the coronavirus pandemic. The award states: “The Ossining Hispanic Parents Committee pays a well-deserved tribute of recognition to Dr. Anupama Pani, declaring her a Hero in the Covid-19 Pandemic. Working at Immediate Medical Care MD in Ossining, she has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and charisma, risking her own health. Today we publicly acknowledge her hard work and care provided to the Ossining community, especially to our Hispanic families. She became an angel to many of us who felt hopeless, without attention and rejected by many doctors. She not only provided Covid testing but also examined us personally; at the same time, she gave us medicine to alleviate symptoms and pneumonia, thus saving many lives. The hours in her office do not matter. She works long, late nights. Nobody was rejected at the center, contrary to other places that told us there is not enough tests or if you have symptoms, stay home and take Tylenol. She was the only one that made us feel like we were not alone. She is exceptional and continues to work with great dedication. Congratulations to the quality of a person she is, we are eternally grateful. Thank you, Dr. Pani and her team for their hard work and commitment to the Ossining Hispanic Community.� Dr. Pani cares for every patient with dedication, empathy and professionalism 45
HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
COVID-19 HERO
DR. SHERLITA AMLER
Westchester County Government
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DR. SHERLITA AMLER has served as Westchester’s commissioner of health since 2011 and previously held a similar position in Putnam County. A former CDC (Center for Disease Control) medical officer, she has been leading the county’s public health response to Covid-19 since the beginning of 2020, before the first cases were identified in New York. In preparation of Covid-19’s emergence in Westchester, Dr. Amler worked to ensure that her staff had the proper personal protective (PPE) equipment, were fit-tested to enable them to wear N-95 masks, and that they understood the appropriate way to utilize equipment and felt comfortable in the procedures to obtain nasal swabs for the virus. As soon as Westchester’s first Covid-19 case was confirmed March 3 (only the second case in New York) a case investigation was immediately initiated and close contacts were identified. That same day, Westchester’s public health nurses began visiting private homes to test the contacts. Hundreds of people were tested. None of the nurses became ill as a result of this public health response. In addition to case investigation and contact tracing, Dr. Amler’s team implemented and monitored compliance with isolation and quarantine orders for cases and contacts as the virus spread throughout the region. She directed health department staff to assist facilities involved in cluster outbreaks by providing on-site testing when needed as well as technical assistance in environmental protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Dr. Amler also worked closely with Westchester’s Emergency Operation Center, which oversaw the distribution of PPE to health care facilities and other high-priority locations. She personally responded to emails and telephone calls from concerned residents often providing her personal cellphone number in the process. Dr. Amler consistently emphasized practical, common-sense protective measures that every person could take to prevent exposure of themselves, their families and loved ones. Her leadership over many months of the Covid-19 emergency has emphasized a calm, practical and empathetic approach that respects individual rights and concerns and promotes optimal strategies to protect public health.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
COVID-19 HERO
DR. DONALD CHEN
WMCHealth
DR. DONALD CHEN is the hospital epidemiologist at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), as well as WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital and MidHudson Regional Hospital. Dr. Chen leads the department of infection prevention and control in its mission of prevention of health care-associated infections. He received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed his residency training in internal medicine and fellowship training in infectious diseases at New York University Medical Center, followed by research training in genetic epidemiology of parasitic diseases. His current areas of focus include genomic epidemiology of drugresistant organisms in health care settings and participation in a drug trial for the treatment of Covid-19.
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HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
COVID-19 HERO
GEORGE W. CONTRERAS
New York Medical College
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GEORGE W. CONTRERAS is assistant professor, Institute of Public Health, and assistant director of the Center for Disaster Medicine at New York Medical College. He possesses nearly 30 years of experience in the fields of emergency medical services (EMS), disaster management, mental and public health, higher education, international disaster response, health care administration and consulting. Prior to his current NYMC positions, he served as tenured associate professor and director of Allied Health at Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York. He holds appointments as adjunct professor at Metropolitan College of New York, adjunct associate professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and adjunct faculty at the University of Malaga and the School of Medicine at Universidad CES in Medellin, Colombia. Professor Contreras has actively participated in various disasters in New York City and abroad, including the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks where he worked as a paramedic at Ground Zero. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, he continues to work as a paramedic in New York City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master of Public Health in Community Health Education degree, and a Master of Science degree in health services administration with honors. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in health policy and management at New York Medical College.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
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COVID-19 HERO
CATHERINE O’CONNELL HOPKINS
Saint Joseph’s Medical Center
CATHERINE O’CONNELL HOPKINS graduated from Iona College where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry followed by a Master of Science degree from Pace University. Professionally, O’Connell Hopkins worked as a family nurse practitioner in New York City and the Bronx for several years before affiliating with Pace University where in collaboration with Saint Joseph’s Medical Center she established a primary care clinic within the Homeless Services Network (HSN) in Yonkers. It’s been more than 27 years since she joined Saint Joseph’s Hospital and she’s never looked back. She is the director of community outreach and school health and manages school-based clinics in four elementary Yonkers Public Schools. These school-based clinics provide primary care services to students at no cost to the child’s family. O’Connell Hopkins also provides outreach services to those residing in southwest Yonkers and surrounding areas, providing flu vaccines, organizing health fairs, delivering educational information and participating in various community-based organizations that focus on the health of the city of Yonkers and its surrounding communities. When the Yonkers Public Schools closed due to Covid-19, she continued her mission to care for the members of the community in the epicenter of the pandemic in Westchester County. Saint Joseph’s Medical Center erected a testing tent in the parking lot and O’Connell Hopkins along with other nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and aides, began triaging people for Covid-19 and testing them, if symptoms suggested a probable infection. She did Monday through Friday in the “Covid tent” and then on weekends worked as the nursing supervisor for the hospital. The long days continued until the numbers of Covid patients decreased and most of the staff were able to resume their usual responsibilities. 49
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
COVID-19 HERO
DR. MICHELLE ESPINOZA
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health
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DR. MICHELLE ESPINOZA is a palliative and hospice medicine specialist who focuses on the improvement of the quality of life of patients and their families through advanced symptom management, assistance with communication and coordination of medical care and end-of-life care. She earned her medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, an international program she attended with her husband, Dr. Andres Espinoza, and completed a pre-internship program at New York Medical College. She also completed her family medicine residency and palliative and hospice medicine fellowship training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens serving as chief resident during her residency and awarded a Hearst Foundation Fellowship grant. After her fellowship training, she remained at Jamaica Hospital as an academic faculty attending training palliative and hospice medicine fellows, family and internal medicine residents and medical students. Her interest in improving patient physician communication helped her to develop a communication training curriculum for resident physicians of multiple specialties. Dr. Espinoza also has a special interest in spirituality in end-of-life care. She started seeing patients at Phelps Memorial Hospital as a palliative care consultant at the end of August 2017. As a palliative medicine specialist, she focuses on advanced symptom management and personalized, culturally sensitive physical, emotional and psychosocial needs of patients suffering with chronic, advanced and life limiting illnesses such as cancer, COPD, CHF, Alzheimer’s, kidney disease, stroke, interstitial lung disease, ALS, MS, AIDS and liver cirrhosis. The types of symptoms she treats include cancer-related pain, depression, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and any other symptoms that may be causing a person distress.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
COVID-19 HERO
SANDRA KACHELRIESS
Phelps Memorial Hospital
SANDRA KACHELRIESS graduated from Kings County Hospital Nursing School in 1967 and began her nursing career in its medical intensive care unit, one of the first ICUs in the United States. She remained there for two years. Throughout her long career in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and South Carolina, she worked in intensive care, telemetry, post-anesthesia care and neuro units and for nine years she was the clinical director of a large cardiology practice on Hilton Head Island. It was there that Kachelriess established and managed a 350-patient Coumadin clinic, the first in Beaufort County. She was also responsible for interrogating and managing patients with implanted pacemakers. After leaving cardiology she decided to return to bedside nursing, her favorite type of nursing, in the ICU at Beaufort Memorial. In May 2009, she became the first-ever recipient of the “Daisy Award” at that hospital and was also nominated for the “Palmetto Gold Award.” Returning to New York, she secured a job at Phelps Memorial ICU in Sleepy Hollow. While with working there full time for the last 10 years, she has precepted students from Pace, Mercy and Dominican colleges, collected hundreds of pounds of food for local food drives and bravely faced the grueling Covid-19 pandemic challenges.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
COVID-19 HERO
DR. SANDRA KESH
Westmed Medical Group
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DR. SANDRA KESH, deputy medical director and infectious disease specialist, received her medical degree from the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, where she was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the New YorkPresbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, followed by a year of research in the infectious disease division at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and a fellowship in infectious diseases and international medicine at the New YorkPresbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Kesh is board certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has served as director of population health for Westmed since 2017 and deputy medical director for the practice since 2018. She also serves on the medical board of White Plains Hospital and is on staff at both that hospital and Greenwich Hospital. Dr. Kesh has been listed in the Top Doctors editions of U.S. News & World Report and New York magazine.
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HONOREES
COVID-19 HERO
DR. NIGEL KNOX
Westchester Medical Center
DR. NIGEL KNOX, a board-certified anesthesiologist and painmanagement physician, is an assistant professor for the department of anesthesiology at Westchester Medical Center (WMC). Dr. Knox was previously practicing as a registered respiratory therapist before he returned for further medical training and attended medical school at St. George’s University, prior to performing his anesthesiology residency at New York Medical College (NYMC). After serving as chief resident, he completed fellowship in pain management at Johns Hopkins and then returned to NYMC as an assistant professor with the department of anesthesiology at WMC, participating in roles involving patient care, resident education and outpatient training programs. As an attending physician Dr. Knox has directed his practice toward interventional pain methods with an individualized approach to his patients. During the recent Covid pandemic, he was part of a Covid hypoxic response team. This team was responsible for directing and supporting the care of coronavirus patients with respiratory distress. This experience was very gratifying for him as he was able to draw on the many phases of his life training. Dr. Knox and his wife Patricia, a pediatric nurse at WMC, have three young children, Brian, Kiera and Callen.
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NOMINATE TODAY
Fairfield County
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 6 Visit westfaironline.com/40under40/
VIRTUAL EVENT:
JANUARY 28, 2020 WestfairOnline
NOMINATE A CANDIDATE (PERHAPS YOURSELF) WHO IS:
• Over 25 and under 40 years of age • A dynamic industry leader who’s part of the county’s business growth • Working in Fairfield County and has not previously won this competition
For more information or sponsorship inquiries, contact Barbara Hanlon at bhanlon@westfairinc.com or 914-358-0766. For event information, contact Faime Muriqi at fmuriqi@westfairinc.com.
PRESENTED BY:
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SILVER SPONSOR:
BRONZE SPONSOR:
HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
COVID-19 HERO
JENNIFER TAN
United Hebrew of New Rochelle
JENNIFER TAN, Chief Nursing Officer at United Hebrew of New Rochelle, oversees a staff of 300 nurses and daily resident care at United Hebrew’s skilled nursing facility. In this role, she is focused on delivering personalized, high-quality care to the nearly 300 seniors who reside at the nursing home, recognized as a five-star facility by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Tan also oversees quality improvement and nursing staff training, and has created professional development opportunities and care plans that meet the distinct needs of United Hebrew’s nursing staff and residents. Most recently, she led the development and transition of United Hebrew’s short-term rehabilitation unit into a COVID Treatment and Recovery unit, including its physical set-up, staffing, and procedures for patient care. She has overseen the discharge of 70+ patients from the COVID Treatment & Recovery unit back to their rooms or homes in the community. The new clinical safety measures she directed and implemented will continue to serve United Hebrew well into the future. Tan has over 25 years of experience as a registered nurse. After moving to the United States from Singapore in 2002, she worked as a staff nurse at St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care, then served as the associate director of nursing at the Isabella Geriatric Center in Manhattan. Prior to those positions, she worked as a staff nurse at Singapore National University Hospital. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mariano Marcos State University in the Philippines and has earned certifications in infection prevention and clinical pathways protocols, among others. She resides in Yonkers with her family. 55
HONOREES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
TEAM COVID: ST. JOHN’S RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL
DR. RAJENDRA RAMPERSAUD
DR. JOSEPH BRILL
DR. ROBERT DEMATTEO DR. RADHIKA HARIHARAN
DR. MICHAEL DIGIORNO
DR. MARK SILBERMAN
DR. RAFAELE MILIZIA
DR. PAUL SASSO
DR. STEVEN BARRY
DR. PAUL ANTONECCHIA
DR. JONATHAN BAUMAN
DR. RICHARD WU
DR. ANTHONY DARMIENTO
DR. RAJENDRA RAMPERSAUD is currently the chief of medicine and intensive care at St. John’s Riverside Hospital. He is triple board certified in critical care medicine, pulmonary disease and sleep medicine. In addition, Dr. Rampersaud also leads the Sleep Center at St. John’s Riverside Hospital. During the height of the Covid-19 surge, he was identified as the pharmaceutical lead for the hospital. His efforts to make advancements since Covid include driving St. John’s participation in the Mayo Clinic’s largest plasma program of its kind in the US. After attending medical school, Dr. Rampersaud did his residency and fellowship at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City. DR. JOSEPH BRILL is a well-known board-certified pulmonologist in the lower Westchester community with more than 39 years of experience in the medical field. He has more experience with obstructive lung disease than most pulmonary specialists. Dr. Brill performed his residency, internship and fellowship at Mount Sinai Services/City Hospital in New York City. DR. ROBERT DEMATTEO is a practicing pulmonary disease specialist in Yonkers. He has served the community for more than 36 years. His knowledge and experience have helped thousands of patients stay healthy and breathe easier. Dr. DeMatteo prides himself in the prevention and early diagnosis of lung disease and is committed to providing his patients with cutting-edge diagnostic technology and treatment modalities. After graduating from medical school, he completed his residency and internship at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Mount Sinai. He is also in practice with the St. John’s Medical Group and is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease. DR. RICHARD B. WU is a pulmonologist in Yonkers and is affiliated with multiple hospitals. He has been in practice for more than 10 years. He is double board certified in critical care medicine and pulmonary disease. Dr. Wu is widely published. After attending New York Medical College, he completed his residency, internship and fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center. 56
DR. MICHAEL DIGIORNO is the current chief of nephrology at St. John’s Riverside Hospital, the director of the Joshi Center for Comprehensive Renal Care in Yonkers and medical director of the St. John’s Medical Group practice. In addition to these responsibilities at St. John’s, Dr. DiGiorno played a critical role in developing the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) education program for residents and medical students. He involved the LECOM students with intense Covid patient-care training during the surge and after it. Dr. DiGiorno is board certified in nephrology. He completed his residency and was chief resident at Maimonides Medical Center. His fellowship was completed at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. DR. PAUL ANTONECCHIA is chief medical officer at St. John’s Riverside Hospital responsible for overseeing medical operations at St. John’s and ensuring the quality of care rendered to patients. He is skilled in performance improvement, health informatics, medical education and hyperbaric medicine. In addition to his primary role, Dr. Antonecchia is also the program director of the residency program at St. John’s. He holds a medical degree from New York Medical College as well as an MBA in business administration and management. DR. MARK SILBERMAN’S extensive experience provides interns with an ideal environment for advanced training. He completed his residency and fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center and is uniquely qualified with quadruple board certifications, including pulmonary disease medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, and critical care medicine. The emergency departments at St. John’s Riverside Hospital’s Dobbs Ferry and Andrus Pavilions are managed under Dr. Silberman’s direction as chief of emergency medicine. DR. RAFFAELE MILIZIA currently serves as the medical director of emergency medicine at St. John’s Riverside Hospital. He is board certified in emergency medicine. A Yonkers native, he was born and raised a short distance from St. John’s Riverside Hospital. He completed his emergency medicine residency at New York Presbyterian and joined the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College as an assistant professor and emergency department attending physician. Dr. Milizia worked previously at New York Presbyterian Hospital and has expertise in emergency medicine, trauma and acute care. He brings big-city experience with the added benefit of personalized care you expect from a community hospital like St. John’s. DR. PAUL SASSO is the medical site director of the emergency department at St. John’s Riverside Hospital Andrus Pavilion. He is published in multiple articles and leads the emergency department by streamlining processes and improving the patient experience for all the patients who come in for care. Dr. Sasso is board certified in emergency medicine. He completed his residency at New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center. DR. RADHIKA HARIHARAN is an infectious disease specialist in Yonkers and has more than 32 years of experience in the medical field. She is board certified in infectious diseases. Her expertise in infectious diseases was critical to patients at St. John’s Riverside Hospital as the hospital navigated through the Covid surge. Dr. Hariharan completed her residency at Temple University Hospital and her fellowship at the University of Chicago Hospital. DR. STEVEN BARRY is an infectious disease specialist in Yonkers and has more than 33 years of experience in the medical field. He is board certified in infectious diseases. Throughout the surge, Dr. Barry’s leadership at St. John’s Riverside Hospital was critical to helping both staff and patients steer through the crisis. He completed his residency at Mount Vernon Hospital and his fellowship at Long Island College Hospital. DR. ANTHONY R. DARMIENTO is a board-certified internal medicine physician in Yonkers. He is the lead hospitalist for St. John’s Riverside Hospital. Specially trained hospitalists often care for patients while they are in the hospital. Dr. Darmiento collaborates seamlessly between the patient and their physicians as well as the health care personnel at the hospital. He completed his residency at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. DR. JONATHAN BAUMAN is chief of anesthesia. Among his peers, he has the reputation as being the “best anesthesiologist.” He is often the first choice of physicians and surgeons. With his extensive experience and knowledge, Dr. Bauman assures patient comfort before, during and after surgery, especially with those who may be sensitive to anesthesia. He received his medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and earned his residency in anesthesiology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center New York and he is board certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. 57
JUDGES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
DR. STEPHANIE KAZANTSEV
DR. STEPHANIE KAZANTSEV received her M.D. from the University of Chicago, followed by the completion of her dermatology residency. She is a board-certified dermatologist focusing on medical and surgical dermatology. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College and received a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of California San Diego. Kazantsev is an advocate for excellency in medical education striving to enhance the education of future generations of physicians, for which she has received multiple teaching awards. She has served on educational leadership and curriculum development committees, published multiple articles and presented her research at national conferences.
JANINE MILLER
JANINE MILLER joined the Westchester County Medical Society (WCMC) and the Westchester Academy of Medicine as the executive director in March 2015. Previously she held positions at Columbia University where over the course of five years she was an assistant to the director and administrator of the Lamont-Doherty Center for Climate and Life and was an administrator from 2007 to 2010 at the Bronx County Medical Society. At WCMS Miller is in charge of overseeing the day-today operations and functions of the administrative office and of the more than 1,000 members. Her roles encompass all of the society functions, including administrative, legislative, meeting organization and overseeing the CME accrediting body through the Academy of Medicine. She works very closely with the WCMS physician Board of Directors and Executive Committee to achieve the goals of the society and academy and has built relationships with community leaders and organizations to further the interests and priorities of the WCMS, its members and New York state physicians. Miller works closely with the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY), New York-based county medical societies, New York specialty societies and business partners in all advocacy efforts to strengthen organized medicine and enhance the value of membership.
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JUDGES
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
DR. CAMELIA LAWRENCE
DR. CAMELIA LAWRENCE Is a board-certified surgeon specializing in benign and malignant breast disease. She has fellowship training in advanced breast cancer surgery and earned her bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine. After completing her residency at New York Medical College she entered her fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. She currently serves as director of breast surgery for the Hospital of Central Connecticut and Midstate Medical Center, responsible for further developing their breast programs. She also serves as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, where she works with medical students and surgical residents, nurturing her personal interest in teaching the future generation. Lawrence holds membership in the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the American Society of Surgical Oncologists and coauthored a book chapter titled “Benign Breast Diseases.” topics related to breast health, including findings related to health disparities in breast cancer. Commitment to public service has earned Lawrence numerous prestigious awards.
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PRESENTED BY
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
WESTFAIR COMMUNICATIONS INC., a privately held firm firm based in White Plains, publishes tab¬loid-sized business newspapers online and in print: the West¬chester County Business Journal and the Fairfield County (Con¬necticut) Business Journal and award-winning WAG magazine, a glossy monthly publication judged to be the “Best Magazine in New York State” for the past five years. The Business Journals are more than 50 years old and are the only weekly countywide business publications. They were founded by former Westchester resi¬dent David Moore, a grandson of celebrated New York publisher Joseph Pulitzer, and John Smith, a former Wall Street Journal editor. In keeping with its founders’ principles, the journals focus only on the local business community with news and in¬formation that are helpful to businesspeople and profiles on entrepreneurs and professionals, which are inspirational to the readers. The papers have gained credibility and respect in the region for their information, integrity, relevance and usefulness to readers. WAG, a lifestyle magazine with unique upscale con¬tent, has become a popular and successful must-read for the savvy residents of Westchester and Fairfield counties. The com¬pany also sponsors interactive programs for its readers, some of which are joint-ventured with other businesses or community organizations. These programs cover a variety of subjects and take different forms, including seminars, expos, conferences, roundtable discussions and debates. For more information, visit westfaironline.com, wagmag.com or call 914-694-3600.
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WEEKLY WagMagazine
WestfairOnline
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE LEADERS
WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. Centers of Excellence include the Center for Cancer Care, The William & Sylvia Silberstein Neonatal & Maternity Center and The Ruth and Jerome A. Siegel Stroke Center. The hospital’s Flanzer Emergency Department is the busiest in Westchester County, with more than 64,000 patient visits a year. White Plains Hospital performs lifesaving emergency and elective angioplasty in its Joan and Alan Herfort, M.D., Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Marie Promuto Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, New Rochelle, Somers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and earned its recognition as a Top Performer for Key Quality Measures® in 2015 and 2013. The hospital received Magnet® designation in 2012 and 2016 from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020, White Plains Hospital received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®. It is a three-time recipient of an “A” Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group, for spring 2019, fall 2019 and spring 2020, and has been consistently named Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. http://www. wphospital.org
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HEALTH CARE LEADERS
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
UNITED HEBREW OF NEW ROCHELLE. Seniors enjoy life to the fullest and are given support through all the stages of aging. Its gracious, vibrant, nonsectarian campus allows seniors to age in place because their evolving health care needs are addressed each day. The rich array of supportive health care services includes: independent senior living, assisted living, long-term skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation staffed by Burke Rehabilitation therapists, memory care for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias and home health care. Seniors relish their freedom to spend time as they please, whether participating in robust social, arts, cultural and fitness programs or enjoying a stroll in one of the beautiful courtyards. Amenities enjoyed by United Hebrew residents include maintenance-free living on 7.5 acres overlooking Long Island Sound; daily activities to suit a variety of tastes, from musical entertainment and Mah-Jongg to history lectures, exercise, book club and arts and crafts; and annual traditions such as summer barbecues, Grandparents Day, holiday celebrations, birthdays and more. Excellent medical care and enhanced licensure enable extra health care needs to be met with a full spectrum of clinical support. United Hebrew has an amazing staff, with one of the lowest staff turnover rates in New York state. This means residents enjoy unparalleled consistency of care. What’s more, United Hebrew has received national accolades for its superior care. Over the past 100 years, United Hebrew has become a model for providing expert and compassionate senior care throughout the metropolitan area. Its campus community is a home, where all residents are treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE PARTNER
WEBSTER BANK is a leading regional bank with $32.7 billion in assets. For more than 80 years, Webster Bank continues to be a community-minded, values-guided bank focused on helping customers achieve their financial goals. Putting people first, Webster bankers take the time to understand what matters most to its customers, responding with personalized solutions and acting with responsibility, respect, ethical behavior, citizenship and teamwork. Its vision is to be among the highest-performing mid-sized banks in the country. The key to its success is its team and its inclusive and diverse workplace, which fosters consistent high performance, enabling Webster bankers to be their best in serving their customers and communities. Webster bankers serve more than 3 million customers through consumer and commercial banking and its HSA Bank division, one of the nation’s largest providers of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The bankers take personal responsibility for meeting customers’ needs, respect the dignity of every individual, earn trust through ethical behavior, give of ourselves in the communities in which they serve and work together to achieve outstanding results. These values represent The Webster Way – they are at the forefront of everything the bank does and which differentiates it in the market. Values sustains and advances Webster’s mission of helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their financial goals.
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HEALTH CARE PARTNER
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
OPEN DOOR FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER’S mission has remained consistent since it opened in 1972: to provide high-quality health care that is affordable, accessible and efficient. From prevention and wellness programs, to the treatment of diseases, Open Door keeps the families of Westchester, Putnam and Ulster counties healthy and strong, regardless of their ability to pay. A pioneer Federally Qualified Health Center, Open Door provides more than 300,000 patient visits annually, serving nearly 60,000 individual patients who might not otherwise have access to services. Open Door offers integrated services and takes a holistic approach to building healthier communities. Primary care, dental care, behavioral health care, clinical nutrition, wellness programs and chronic disease management are the foundation of Open Door’s clinical programs. For more than 48 years, Open Door has developed a proven model of costeffective, preventive care for patients that benefits the entire community. Open Door operates centers in Brewster, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, Ossining, Port Chester and Sleepy Hollow, in addition to eight school-based health centers in the Port Chester and Ossining school districts. Open Door is accredited by the Joint Commission, recognized by the National Committee on Quality Assurance as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized as the leading Health Disparities Reducer in New York state by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). Open Door achieves clinical results that consistently surpass national benchmarks for patient outcomes related to diabetes management, blood pressure control and asthma, among others.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE PARTNER
BURKE REHABILITATION HOSPITAL which opened in 1915, is a 150-bed acute rehabilitation hospital located on a picturesque 61- acre campus in White Plains and is Westchester County’s only hospital entirely dedicated to rehabilitation medicine. Burke is a member of the Montefiore Health System and is accredited by The Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Burke provides intensive inpatient rehabilitation for a broad range of medical conditions, including treating patients who have suffered a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputation, fracture, cardiac and pulmonary disease and neurological conditions. The hospital’s interdisciplinary care teams, led by board-certified physicians, treat each patient with a personalized care plan based on their individual needs and goals. Burke provides physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as recreation therapy, education, nutrition and neuropsychological services. Burke’s expert outpatient therapy services are offered at several locations throughout Westchester and the Bronx. These conveniently located outpatient sites offer physical, occupational, speech and other specialty therapies, providing the same excellent care Burke is known for close to home. The outpatient physician practice on Burke’s main campus allows former inpatients or members of the community seeking outpatient medical services to be evaluated and treated by specialized board-certified physicians. Diagnosis and treatment are available for patients who experience complications related to injury, illness, surgery or chronic conditions. The hospital is dedicated to training the next generation of rehabilitation professionals and is home to a nationally recognized ACGME-accredited physical medical and rehabilitation residency program, a brain injury medicine fellowship and a sports medicine fellowship, all affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Burke also offers educational programming to members of the community as well as a robust adaptive sports program. For more information, visit www.burke.org
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HEALTH CARE PARTNER
2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
NEWYORK-PRESBYTERIAN HUDSON VALLEY HOSPITAL is a fully accred-
ited not-for-profit 128-bed hospital offering a wide range of inpatient services and ambulatory care. It is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in New York state for 19 consecutive years, according to U.S. News and World Report. NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital’s medical staff is committed to providing compassionate care specifically tailored to meet each patient’s unique needs. The hospital’s physicians specialize in providing advanced care in more than 60 specialties.
THE WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER HEALTH NETWORK (WMCHEALTH)
is a 1,700-bed healthcare system headquartered in Valhalla, New York with 10 hospitals on eight campuses spanning 6,200 square miles of the Hudson Valley. WMCHealth employs more than 12,000 people and has nearly 3,000 attending physicians. From Level 1, Level 2 and Pediatric Trauma Centers, the region’s only acute care children’s hospital, an academic medical center, several community hospitals, dozens of specialized institutes and centers, skilled nursing, assisted living facilities, homecare services and one of the largest mental health systems in New York State, today WMCHealth is the pre-eminent provider of integrated healthcare in the Hudson Valley. Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of WMCHealth, is the premier provider of advanced medical care in New York’s Hudson Valley region. The 415-bed academic hospital provides local residents with acute care services – Level I trauma and burn care, organ transplants a Comprehensive Stroke Center and more - found nowhere else in the region. Westchester Medical Center is the primary referral facility for other hospitals in the Hudson Valley and serves as a lifeline for more than 2.4 million people. For more information about Westchester Medical Center and all of the hospitals in the WMCHealth Network, visit WMCHealth.org.
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2020 DOCTORS OF DISTINCTION
HEALTH CARE PARTNER
GREENWICH HOSPITAL, founded in 1903, has been a member of Yale New Ha-
ven Health since 1998 and is an academic affiliate of the Yale School of Medicine. It is a progressive, 206-bed regional medical center and teaching institution serving residents of Fairfield and Westchester counties. The hospital has garnered a national reputation for patient safety, clinical excellence and customer service, combining the latest technological advances with skilled, compassionate physicians and health care professionals who deliver the highest level of patient care. For a fifth consecutive year, Greenwich Hospital has earned Healthgrades 2019 Outstanding Patient Experience Award, placing the organization among the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience. Greenwich Hospital’s patients have access to a comprehensive range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. The hospital offers medical innovations from robotic surgery to sophisticated diagnostic imaging to national clinical trials. The hospital is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet Hospital, the highest honor of nursing excellence. The completely renovated emergency department now has Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital pediatric specialists to care for the smallest patients any time of day or night. Yale New Haven’s Smilow Cancer Hospital on the Greenwich Hospital campus is across from the main hospital and offers high-quality advanced cancer care close to home. Satellite facilities include the Rye Brook walk-in clinic in New York; the outpatient surgical and primary care center at 500 West Putnam and the Helmsley Ambulatory Surgical Center, both in Greenwich; and the Long Ridge Medical Center and Greenwich Hospital Diagnostic Center, both in Stamford.
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