A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
A scene from last year's Northwell Health Walk in Port Jefferson. Photo from Mather Hospital
Annual event benefits the Fortunato Breast Health Center
Join Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson on Sunday, May 18 for the annual Northwell Walk to Raise Health to support the Fortunato Breast Health Center.
Presented by Four Leaf Federal Credit Union, the Walk brings together family, friends and team members for a five-mile walk through the scenic villages of Port Jefferson and Belle Terre. The day includes music, raffles, photo props, a walker warm up session, and the return of the popular Pink Your Pooch contest for the best “pinked” pup! Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. and the Walk steps off at 10 a.m.
Sponsored by New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, King Quality Roofing and Siding, Riverhead Toyota, and CSDNET the Northwell Walk to Raise Health at Port Jefferson raises awareness of the need for regular breast cancer screenings starting at age 40. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers according to the American Cancer Society It accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%, or a 1 in 8 chance.
The event will be held simultaneously with other walks in Riverhead, Jones Beach, Staten Island and Westchester County. Last year’s Northwell Health Walk was attended by more than 6,000 people who came together across five Northwell Health Walk locations to raise more than $1.14 million for local hospital programs and services.
According to Northwell’s website, the Walk began 15 years ago as the “Every Woman Matters Walk,” inspired by the vision of philanthropists Iris and Saul Katz. Since its inception, the Northwell Health Walk has raised more than $8 million and supports Northwell’s Outpacing the Impossible campaign, a comprehensive $1.4 billion fundraising effort that supports Northwell’s promise to the people it serves.
The campaign’s objectives include improving hospitals and clinical programs, accelerating research and funding endowment.
On May 18, walk for a family member or friend fighting breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor, or in memory of someone whose life was cut short by this disease. Form a team with family, friends, or co-workers, join a team or walk as an individual, or sponsor a team or walker. Help raise funds for the Walk and collect Walk Fundraising Rewards. Participants can begin earning rewards by raising just $100! All rewards will be waiting for you at the Walk. To register, visit www.northwellhealthwalk.com.
Pictured from left, Zach Matuk, RN; Megan Burrows, RN; Natasha Thomas, LiveOnNY; Ed Schafer, heart transplant recipient; Karen Cummings, LiveOnNY; Chris Nelson, Interim President, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; Chris Boukas, St. Catherine’s Chief Operating Officer; Mary Ellen McCrossen, St. Catherine’s Community Relations Manager and kidney donor; Laurie Yuditsky, St. Catherine’s Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety; Leslie Callahan, St. Catherine’s Office Manager, Plant Operations. Photo courtesy of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital
Pictured from left, Karen Cummings, LiveOnNY Senior Manager, Government and Community Affairs; Ed Schafer, heart transplant recipient; and Natasha Thomas, LiveOnNY Hospital Services Specialist. Photo courtesy of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital
In honor of April’s Organ Donation Awareness Month, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, in collaboration with LiveOnNY, hosted a special flag-raising ceremony on April 2.
Heart transplant recipient Ed Schafer was present at the ceremony to share his story and also discussed the memorable moment when he met his donor family. He explained how it was an unforgettable moment when the donor’s mother asked to feel Ed’s heart beating. It was at that moment, she knew her son’s heart lived on, in Ed. Ed’s donor was only 32 years old when he passed away.
Pictured from left, Zach Matuk, RN; Megan Burrows, RN; Natasha Thomas, LiveOnNY; Ed Schafer, heart transplant recipient; Karen Cummings, LiveOnNY; Chris Nelson, Interim President, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; Chris Boukas, St. Catherine’s Chief Operating Officer; Mary Ellen McCrossen, St. Catherine’s Community Relations Manager and kidney donor; Laurie Yuditsky, St. Catherine’s Vice President, Quality and Patient Safety; Leslie Callahan, St. Catherine’s Office Manager, Plant Operations. To register as an organ donor, go to LiveOnNY.org.
Dr. Hesham Atwa, St. Charles Chief of General and Robotic Surgery with his patient Larry Hemmerich in front of the daVinci Surgical System during a celebration on March 18. Photo courtesy of St. Charles Hospital
Dr. Hesham Atwa, St. Charles Chief of General and Robotic Surgery, conducts a demonstration of the daVinci Surgical System during a celebration on March 18. Photo courtesy of St. Charles Hospital
Patient Larry Hemmerich and Dr. Hesham Atwa, St. Charles Chief of General and Robotic Surgery next to the daVinci Surgical System during a celebration on March 18. Photo courtesy of St. Charles Hospital
Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson announced last week a significant milestone of performing 3,500 robotic surgeries since the program started at the hospital in 2019.
Most recently, St. Charles was awarded prestigious accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic and Hernia Surgery. The two accreditations recognize St. Charles Hospital’s commitment to the delivery of high quality, safe patient care. Achieving the status of an accredited Center of Excellence means that St. Charles Hospital has met both nationally and internationally recognized standards.
“This outstanding milestone of completing 3,500 robotic surgeries, as well as having received prestigious recognition from the SRC, is a true testament to St. Charles’ highly-skilled surgeons trained in minimally-invasive robotic surgery, allowing for much smaller incisions, shorter hospital stay, minimal blood loss and less need for pain medication,” said St. Charles Hospital President James O’Connor.
“Using the da Vinci® and Xi™ systems, we offer robotic-assisted surgeries in various surgical specialties, including bariatric, colorectal, general, gynecological, thoracic and urologic surgery. Residents of Port Jefferson and surrounding areas can have confidence in receiving top-notch care, enabling them to regain their quality of life,” he said.
Larry Hemmerich, 52, a Smithtown, resident and senior investigator with New York State Police, was suffering from a debilitating hernia, as well as diastasis, commonly known as abdominal separation. He was referred to Hesham Atwa, MD, a renowned robotic surgeon at St. Charles Hospital, who performed Mr. Hemmerich’s surgery this past December.
Mr. Hemmerich expressed his gratitude saying, “I couldn’t be happier with the care I received from Dr. Atwa and his team. The entire St. Charles Hospital staff were amazing. Thanks to the successful robotic surgery, my recovery process was faster, without any complications. I have regained my mobility and have been able to resume my daily routine.”
For more information about St. Charles’ robotic surgery and hernia repair program, call 631-474-6797.
APDA Long Island Information and Referral Centers supports area Parkinson’s community in April and year-round.
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, and the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) will commemorate the month with a “Did You Know?” campaign that will educate the public about Parkinson’s disease (PD) – highlighting everything from statistics and symptoms to personal stories and ways to get involved – while also helping those affected by PD feel empowered with the resources and support they need.
Through a nationwide network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers, APDA works every day to provide the support, education, and research that will help everyone impacted by PD live life to the fullest. The APDA I&R Centers at St Charles Hospital and Catholic Health Ambulatory Center Commack supports people living with PD throughout Long Island NY and beyond, as well as their care partners and loved ones by helping them assemble the resources, support, and medical expertise they need to feel more empowered, connected, and optimistic.
Throughout Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month (and always), the APDA I&R Centers at St Charles Hospital and Catholic Health Ambulatory Center Commack have a variety of programs and events planned, with many ways for people to get involved. April’s activities include an in person PD Educational Lecture at St Charles Hospital, a Lunch and Learn, Support Groups for both PWP and their Care partners and family members and much more. Additionally, throughout the month, APDA will share educational information and resources on all APDA social media channels using #DidYouKnow.
With approximately one million people living with PD in the United States –65,000 of which are in New York State – and 90,000 new diagnoses every year, it is critical to engage, inform, and support the PD community and raise public awareness about the disease. Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on this issue.
“With a new diagnosis every six minutes, nearly 7,200 people in this country will learn they have PD in April alone,” said Julie Garofalo, RN, APDA I& R Centers Coordinator at St. Charles Hospital and Catholic Health Ambulatory Center in Commack. “Here on Long Island, we are the boots on the ground. From support groups and exercise classes to educational events and access to PD experts, the APDA Long Island I&R Centers are here for every member of our local PD community, working tirelessly to help make their journey more positive.”
Beyond Long Island, APDA offers extensive virtual programming and a robust resource library – with many resources available in Spanish and Mandarin/Simplified Chinese – to ensure that all members of the PD community have access to high-quality information and services no matter where they live and to help them to feel connected to the community even from a distance. From popular webinar series like Dr. Gilbert Hosts, Unlocking Strength Within, and Let’s Keep Moving with APDA to a variety of virtual exercise and movement classes, there is something for everyone.
Support from the public is crucial, and Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month is an especially meaningful time to take action to help those coping with this progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. People can support by raising awareness of PD and/or by making a donation @ www.apdaparkinson.org that will enable APDA to continue their critical work and fund research that will lead to better treatments and ultimately, a cure. Every effort makes a difference.
The APDA Long Island I&R Centers at St Charles Hospital and Catholic Health Ambulatory Center Commack offers a wide range of Parkinson’s disease programs, resources, education, and support. To learn more, visit www.apdaparkinson.org/ny or [email protected] or call 631-862-3560
About the American Parkinson Disease Association:
The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease (PD) and works tirelessly to assist the more than one million people with PD in the United States live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $282 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and end this disease. To join in the fight against Parkinson’s disease and to learn more about the support APDA provides nationally through a network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers, as well as a national Research Program and Centers for Advanced Research, please visit us at www.apdaparkinson.org.
Heather Zinkin, MD, next to the Varian Ethos HyperSight for radiation cancer therapy machine at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Greenlawn. Photo credit: Northwell Health
Northwell Cancer Institute’s radiation therapy centers in Greenlawn and Lake Success are the first on Long Island to offer state-of-the-art Varian Ethos™ radiation therapy with HyperSight™ imaging technology. This cutting-edge technology delivers advanced external beam radiation therapy treatments, which boosts precision and effectiveness for patients undergoing radiation therapy for numerous cancers.
HyperSight provides high-quality, daily pre-treatment imaging in a single six-second breath hold, improving the ability for radiation oncologists to see and target a tumor. Ethos offers a new treatment called adaptive radiation therapy, which allows for real-time adjustments based on tumor response and daily changes in normal anatomy, optimizing accuracy, reducing exposure to healthy tissue, and minimizing side effects. The technology minimizes side effects by leveraging artificial intelligence and the fastest on-table imaging in the field to enhance accuracy and patient comfort.
“With the introduction of the new technology, we’re offering patients access to the most modern and fastest imaging and treatment technology available anywhere in the world,” said Heather Zinkin, MD, chief of radiation oncology at Huntington Hospital. “Patients benefit from the convenience of consulting with their radiation oncologist, undergoing planning, and receiving treatment all in one location close to home, ensuring a seamless, personal and efficient care experience.”
As part of a $4 million investment, the Greenlawn center has also undergone significant renovations and expansion. Enhancements include a second treatment vault, modern waiting area, updated restrooms, expanded changing rooms, and additional exam rooms and office space. The improvements provide a more comfortable and accommodating environment for patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Additionally, the Greenlawn center has introduced a new CT simulator, offering patients the latest and fastest imaging technology available. This simulator enhances the treatment planning process by providing highly detailed images that guide radiation oncologists and medical physicists in developing customized treatment protocols. It also has 4- dimension (4D) capability to track tumor motion. At the R.J. Zuckerberg Cancer Center in Lake Success, the Ethos and HyperSight technology enhances one of the largest radiation therapy centers in the region offering an extensive array of internal and external radiation therapy treatments and technology. The total investment there cost $5.1 million.
“Northwell’s Radiation Medicine Department has a long history of investing in the latest radiation therapy technology. We were the first in New York State to offer HyperSight at Lenox Hill Hospital and are thrilled to now offer extraordinary imaging and treatment technology on Long Island,” said Louis Potters, MD, SVP and deputy physician-in-chief, Northwell Health Cancer Institute. “In addition to being extremely precise, this new technology enhances patient comfort by getting patients in and out quickly, with an average on-table time of just 10 minutes or less.”
For many local health care workers, the pandemic transitioned from triggering uneasiness about reports of a respiratory illness coming out of China to a significant threat to area residents.
Dr. Susan Donelan, Photo from Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville
Health care workers were in an all-out scramble to save lives even as information about the disease, its course and treatment, changed.
Five years after the start of a world-altering pandemic, infectious disease experts and emergency medicine specialists shared a range of thoughts about their initial reactions and concerns about this illness as well as insights about lessons learned and readiness to manage through future significant health threats.
Dr. Susan Donelan, Medical Director of Healthcare Epidemiology at Stony Brook Medicine, remembers raising questions about this virus towards late December of 2019. People urged her to go home and have a nice Christmas.
When Hospital CEO Carol Gomes called her on a Sunday and told Donelan she had an hour to get back to her, she recognized the approaching storm.
“I remember saying, ‘It’s a Sunday and she needs me in an hour,’” Donelan recalled. “We’re in it.”
Indeed, over the following months and, as it turned out, years, doctors dealt with numerous unknowns amid a fluid situation that threatened the population and, in particular those who were immunocompromised, had diabetes or respiratory or cardiac issues.
“People forget how bad things were,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. “So many people were dying” that hospitals needed to figure out where to put the deceased.
Residents also lined up to get the scarce tests for the presence of the virus and often waited days or longer for a result.
Fluid situation
Health care professionals were reacting to a fluid situation in which best practices in terms of treatment and prevention changed even as the virus was mutating.
“It seems like a blur, going back and thinking about those moments,” said Dr. Jennifer Goebel, emergency room doctor at Huntington Hospital. “It was very surreal, taking care of a disease process you knew nothing about and attempting to be the expert when we were still learning.”
Federal, state and county health officials were unsure of the best guidance for a range of safety measures, including the use of masks.
Additionally, health care experts struggled with the level of contagion based on different environments.
“I don’t think anyone really knew about the continuum that could occur depending on the ambient circumstances,” said Donelan. “I think we probably could have done a better job of letting the public know that our communications would evolve as our knowledge evolved.”
Sharing safety messages
During the worst of the pandemic, health care professionals struggled to share messages that would help people make informed decisions about protecting themselves, their families and their communities.
Dr. Sharon Nachman. Photo frm SBU
“Trust in public health was completely undermined,” said Dr. Sharon Nachman, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital “That hurt all of us.”
Nachman also listened to health care professionals on national TV who were discussing the health crisis. These pundits were sharing information that included far too many inaccessible words and concepts.
“Smart professionals were talking” but people weren’t understanding them, she said.
Additionally, the echo chamber of social media distorted messages, often questioning the developing science and best practices, suggesting conspiracy theories as well as treatments that were either unproven or ineffective.
Having local professionals from area hospitals made a difference on Long Island, Nachman said.
Whenever Nachman went to ShopRite, people who knew she was a part of their community saw her and asked questions.
“When it’s someone local from Northwell, Stony Brook, NYU Winthrop or others, [local communication] really works better,” she said.
Goebel added that she continues to share her medical knowledge not only with patients, but also with family members who have come to the hospital to provide support.
Hospitals, for their part, learned their lesson about stocking personal protective equipment.
“People have learned their lessons” at hospitals, said Pigott. “We need a more adequate stock of PPE.”
Health care provider PTSD
During the worst of the pandemic, one in five doctors who responded to an American Medical Association poll in 2022 said it was likely they would leave their practice within two years.
Dr. Jennifer Goebel. File photo from Northwell Health
“It was so staggering to hear some of these numbers,” said Goebel. Doctors go through over a decade of training. Seeing so many people leave was difficult.
Health care workers struggled, and continue to struggle, with memories and experiences in the midst of a crisis that killed millions around the world.
“I remember going to room nine, intubating a patient and being called to bed 12 and intubating another patient, within a matter of minutes,” said Goebel.
As the director of wellness in the Emergency Medicine Service Line, Goebel has created new initiatives to help reduce burnout and provide support.
She developed a peer to peer pilot program that started in September in which new physicians, physician’s assistants and nurse practitioners were matched with a more experienced professional from day one.
The effort is designed to help new staff navigate the health system and address any questions or concerns.
“We’re looking to put these processes in place” throughout Northwell, Goebel said.
Remote medicine
While remote medical choices, such as telehealth, predated the pandemic, these options have become increasingly common, particularly for residents who might struggle to get to a medical visit.
“Because people were forced to use it, with practice, they got better at it,” said Pigott.
Many organizations invested more in telehealth, which also reduces the burden on Emergency Departments.
Teleheatlh has its “risks and benefits,” said Goebel, as it can keep patients who might be vulnerable out of an environment where they might otherwise be exposed to other pathogens.
Goebel appreciates the importance of a visit with a doctor, who can differentiate between an ear ache and a potential indication of shingles.
Fortunately, for many people, Covid has become a much more manageable infection.
Pigott contracted Covid in September. He took Paxlovid, which helped knock out the symptoms within three days.
Pigott is also grateful for vaccines, which provided a dramatic reduction in mortality during the worst of the pandemic, particularly for people who are over 65.
The vaccine was “saving lives,” said Pigott. “There was real evidence that these are doing their jobs and are working out.”
Clare Whitney, Assistant Professor of Nursing. Photo by Jeanne Neville, Stony Brook Medicine
Clare Whitney, PhD, MBE, RN, Assistant Professor in the Stony Brook University School of Nursing, has been selected as a 2025 Macy Faculty Scholar, a national program that identifies and develops early-career nursing and medicine educators to become more effective leaders.
Dr. Whitney is Stony Brook’s first Macy Faculty Scholar, and she is one of five educators nationwide to make up this distinguished class of 2025. Macy Scholars develop a project and have access to professional development programs, formal mentoring, and educational opportunities. The program begins on July 1.
Dr. Whitney’s Macy Faculty Scholars project is centered around the Alda Healthcare Experience for Nursing (AHE-N), an interprofessional communication skills training designed for nurses. She will work to develop, implement, and evaluate the AHE-N, which aims to advance sustainable solutions for burnout prevention while enhancing interprofessional collaboration for student nurses.
Her nursing research at Stony Brook is focused on reducing burnout and improving the well-being of healthcare professionals. She established an interdisciplinary research program that addresses pressing relational and ethical issues for the healthcare workforce.
“This is an exciting honor and a meaningful recognition of my passion for advancing nursing education,” says Dr. Whitney. “As I continue to grow in my career, this will allow me to collaborate with and receive mentorship from other educators and leaders, strengthening my ability to educate the next generation of nurses and hopefully make a lasting difference in the profession.”
“We are proud to have Dr. Whitney selected as a Macy Faculty Scholar,” says School of Nursing Dean Patricia Bruckenthal. “Given her expertise in bioethics and health communication science, she will no doubt make an impact on promoting collaboration among health professionals and preparing future nurse leaders to deliver ethical patient-centered care in our complex healthcare environment.”
At Stony Brook, Dr. Whitney is also an affiliated faculty member in the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics in the Renaissance School of Medicine.
“As an early career faculty member, Dr. Whitney has an impressive body of scholarship related to addressing relational and ethical issues among health professionals,” adds Dr. Holly J. Humphrey, President of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, the organization that sponsors the program.
Huntington Hospital. Photo courtesy Northwell Health
The facilities are among the top 5% of hospitals nationwide for preventing harm in patients
Northwell Health hospitals have been recognized once again by Healthgrades as 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Awards™ recipients. Huntington Hospital received the award for the seventh consecutive year (2019-2025) and named among the top 5% of short-term acute-care hospitals nationwide for patient safety for the sixth straight year (2020-2025). Long Island Jewish Medical Center, which includes Long Island Jewish Valley Stream and Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, earned the award for the second consecutive year (2024-2025) and was also named among the top 5% of hospitals for patient safety for both years.
The Healthgrades recognition underscores a culture of excellence that permeates these Northwell Health hospitals, evident in their numerous other achievements.
Huntington Hospital is the only hospital on Long Island, and one of only 33 in the country, to achieve Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nursing excellence four consecutive times. Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park was recognized by Healthgrades in 2025 as fourth in New York State for stroke care and joint replacement. Long Island Jewish Valley Stream is a designated stroke center certified by the American Heart Association. It is also recognized as a Network of Excellence in hernia surgery by Surgical Review Corporation. Long Island Jewish Forest Hills is designated a Level II Perinatal Center and is an American College of Radiology-designated Lung Cancer ScreeningCenter.
Plainview Hospital, an acute care community hospital, was also a recipient of the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Awards™. As a New York State Department of Health Primary Stroke Center, Plainview Hospital is a recipient of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award.
“I continue to be proud of these hospitals who do so much to serve our communities,” said Peter Silver, MD, MBA, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Northwell. “These awards reflect our unwavering dedication to providing the highest quality and safest care possible to our patients. Our commitment to continuous improvement and a culture of safety is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire health care team.”
Healthgrades’ analysis* evaluated 4,500 hospitals nationwide from 2021-2023. The results indicated that 173,280 preventable safety events occurred among Medicare patients.
Patients treated in hospitals that received the 2025 Patient Safety Excellence Award have a significantly lower chance of experiencing one of the four leading safety indicators:
54% less likely to experience in-hospital falls resulting in fracture than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals;
55% less likely to experience a collapsed lung due to a procedure or surgery in or around the chest than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals;
69% less likely to experience pressure sores or bed sores acquired in the hospital than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals;
72% less likely to experience catheter-related bloodstream infections acquired in the hospital than patients treated at non-recipient hospitals.
“These impressive statistics underscore the real-world impact of our commitment to patient safety,” said Dr. Silver. “By minimizing preventable harm, we are not only improving patient outcomes but also enhancing their overall experience of care.”
*Statistics are calculated from Healthgrades Patient Safety Ratings and Excellence Award methodology, which is based primarily on AHRQ technical specifications (Version 2024.0.1) to MedPAR data from approximately 4,500 hospitals for years 2021 through 2023 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only.
Northwell’sMather Hospital in Port Jefferson recently announced the appointment of Angelina Ioppolo as the new administrator of its Transitional Care Unit (TCU), a short-term rehabilitation unit located in the hospital.
Ms. Ioppolo comes to the post after completing a six-month administrator-in-training program at Northwell’s Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation in Manhasset and obtaining her state administrator’s license..
“I understand there’s going to be a lot of challenges that will come my way in this new role,” she said. “I have a great support system with Carolyn (Germaine, RN, director of patient care for the TCU), Dr. Michael Fishkin (TCU medical director) and the staff at the TCU. Gerard Kaiser (executive director of the Stern facility and the Orzac Center for Rehabilitation in Valley Stream) is going to help guide me as my mentor.
She received her master’s in health administration degree from Hofstra University prior to entering the internship with Northwell. A resident of East Meadow, Ms. Ioppolo is originally from the Poconos in Pennsylvania.
Mather’s TCU provides focused care to patients who are not ready to be discharged to home or to another facility. TCU patients include recent stroke sufferers, post-surgical patients, those receiving therapy for systemic infections and those who need physical rehabilitation. The TCU was awarded a five-star rating by Medicare.
Northwell’s Mather Hospital invites the community to a free joint replacement breakfast seminar at The Bristal at Holtsville, 5535 Express Drive North, Holtsville on Saturday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Guest speakers Michael Fracchia, M.D., Chief of Orthopedics at Mather Hospital, Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group; and Filippo F. Romanelli, D.O., Orthopedic Surgeon, Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group will discuss the causes of joint pain and the medical and surgical techniques available to improve your life.
A buffet breakfast will be served. To register, visit matherhospital.org/orthoseminar. For more information, call 631-476-2723.