Northwell’s Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson earned its 21st “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, the most of any Suffolk Country Hospital. Leapfrog, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D” or “F” grade to general hospitals across the country based on over 30 performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
“Patient safety and raising health for everyone are the top priorities at Mather Hospital and the goal of every team member,” said Mather President Kevin McGeachy. “I applaud this continued recognition of our hospital’s achievements in patient safety by the Leapfrog Group. Mather Hospital is committed to continuous improvement in safety and patient satisfaction and exceeding expectations about the care we provide to our community.”
“Achieving an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade is a significant accomplishment for Mather Hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “It reflects enormous dedication to your patients and their families, and your whole community should be proud. I extend my congratulations to Mather Hospital, its leadership, clinicians, staff and volunteers for their tireless efforts to put patients first.”
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade stands as the only hospital ratings program focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections and injuries that kill more than 500 patients a day in the United States. This program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.
Full safety grade details and valuable tips for staying safe in the hospital are at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
From left to right: Scientific and Pedagogic Director Professor Cesaltina Ferreira Lorenzon, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine Dr. William Wertheim and Dr. Washington. Photo courtesy Stony Brook University
By Daniel Dunaief
In the midst of the pandemic, a new health effort started at Stony Brook Medicine, the medical enterprise of Stony Brook University, that is saving lives and paying other important dividends.
Dr. Sierra Washington. Photo courtesy Stony Brook University
Led by the Director of the Stony Brook Center for Global Health Dr. Sierra Washington, the university’s initiative has improved the outcomes for many people in Mozambique, particularly pregnant mothers, over the last few years.
The maternal mortality rate at Hospital Central de Maputo was 544 per 100,000 births when Washington, who was trained at Harvard Medical School and is an obstetrician/ gynecologist, joined Stony Brook. That’s about 39 times the rate in Suffolk County, which is about 14 per 100,000 live births.
For a doctor in Mozambique, “you’re losing a mother every week,” Washington said.
When mothers die, the rates of infant and child mortality increases as well.
The rate of maternal mortality by 2023 dropped to 365 per 100,000 live births.
“That’s a testament to our sustained collaboration and the work we’ve done,” Washington said, but “it’s still way too high.”
She is aiming for a 50 percent reduction within the next five years.
The benefit for pregnant mothers extends beyond one area, as residents in obstetrics and gynecology train at Hospital Central de Maputo before they are posted to other hospitals across the nation.
Stony Brook introduced numerous ways to improve outcomes for expectant mothers. Washington introduced education and skills building and created and stocked single use medication kits for quick evaluation and treatment of a hemorrhage or infection, built systems to perform emergency C sections in a timely way and built systems to resuscitate the mother.
In addition to obstetrics and gynecology, Stony Brook has brought expertise and equipment in emergency medicine and general surgery to Mozambique.
“It’s a bilateral exchange,” said Washington. “We send learners in both directions.”
Medical trainees travel to Stony Brook, where they return with ideas and implement them in Mozambique.
So far, 11 faculty and four residents, meanwhile, have traveled over 8,000 miles to the southeastern part of the African continent to Mozambique to teach.
Additionally, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stony Brook gives resident lectures every Wednesday over zoom to residents in Mozambique. Washington would like to duplicate that in emergency medicine and surgery.
“Almost everyone who comes here once wants to come back,” said Washington.
Indeed, this type of program can help recruit and retain talented medical care professionals eager to contribute to the world as global citizens.
“We definitely feature the program on interview days in departments that are engaged” in this global health effort, said Washington.
Mission
Dr. Sierra Washington (left) teaching surgery to Edite Magumber (right) at the Hospital Central de Maputo. Photo courtesy Stony Brook University
Washington explained that the mission of the program is to advance global health equity, beginning in Mozambique, by building capacity for care, education and research.
Collaborators in the two countries are working on five ongoing research projects on women’s health.
The framework she has used to build the system comes from the late Dr. Paul Farmer, who was a medical anthropologist at Harvard University.
Farmer coined the five S’s of global health, which include stuff, staff, skills, space and systems.
The stuff includes critical equipment and supplies, essential medicines, sutures, gloves and other products.
“These are the things Americans take for granted when they walk through the door” at a hospital or a medical practice, Washington said.
The Global Health Equity program currently has one other full-time staff member besides Washington who is an administrator.
She would like to recruit and retain a field director in emergency medicine and surgery in the next calendar year.
Additionally, Stony Brook Health would like to add expertise in nursing, pediatrics and anesthesiology, which she considers part of phase two.
The third phase involves bringing in the kinds of systems that help make hospitals run effectively in areas such as biomedical engineering, computer science and environmental science.
These experts could help ensure that a blood pressure cuff is functioning, that the ultrasound works, the lights turn on, and outlets provide power.
Africa is where people “send second-hand medical equipment that goes to die,” Washington explained. “Without properly trained and equipped maintenance departments and without industry service contracts, there is no way to repair most equipment.”
Financial reality
The Mozambique effort has been operating on what Washington described as a “shoestring budget” of around $100,000 per year.
The system leans on grant money, the good will of the hospital center, and on private donors.
Washington would like to raise $1 million over the next year, which, she suggested, would pay dividends in the health of the population.
Additional funding would help Washington develop a tool kit to reduce maternal mortality for the country.
During their eight week visits, Stony Brook’s visiting residents have stayed with Washington when they travel to Mozambique because the university cannot afford faculty/ resident housing.
“We would love to have an eponymous donation to be able to have a Stony Brook campus here, which would include short term housing, flexible learning space and meeting space,” she explained in an email.
Since the program inception, Stony Brook has raised about $500,000 in cash or in kind. The program currently has a balance of $165,000 that will last for one more year.
Washington is passionate about and committed to the effort, which she describe as “her life’s work.”
Physician researcher and educator Dr. Joe Verghese joins the RSOM
Joe Verghese, MBBS, MD, MS, has been named Chair of the Department of Neurology at the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University. Appointed by Peter Igarashi, MD, Knapp Dean of the RSOM, Dr. Verghese is a nationally recognized expert in the areas of gait and cognition in aging. His appointment began on October 14.
Dr. Verghese comes to the RSOM after more than two decades at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Most recently, he served as Professor of Neurology & Medicine and was Einstein’s inaugural Chief of the Division of Cognitive & Motor Aging in the Department of Neurology. In addition to being the Murray D. Gross Memorial Faculty Scholar in Gerontology at Einstein and a former Chief of Geriatrics for Montefiore Medical Center’s Department of Medicine, he was also the Founding Director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for the Aging Brain, an interdisciplinary clinical dementia and cognitive assessment center named as a Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s disease by the New York State Department of Health in 2016.
“Our aging society has a great need for medical experts who will advance preventive and treatment strategies for age-related illnesses, and the selection of Dr. Verghese as our new Neurology Chair ensures that this area of medicine will thrive within the Renaissance School of Medicine,” says Dr. Igarashi. “Dr. Verghese is a leading physician researcher, innovator and educator in neurology and specifically with cognitive aging issues.”
Dr. Verghese’s work has helped characterize non-cognitive features in prodromal stages of dementia, such as gait, and define Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome, a pre-dementia syndrome that provides an easy and clinically assessable way to identify older adults at high risk for dementia.
Much of Dr. Verghese’s career has centered on a broad range of investigation involving issues around aging and dementia. Early on he studied the epidemiology of dementia, particularly around pre-dementia syndromes and risk factors. Then he moved toward research of gait disorders, frailty and falling, but also investigated cognitive processes and brain substrates by way of a number of methods such as epidemiological, biological, experimental, clinical translation, and interventional research approaches.
“By harnessing the expertise of our exceptional Neurology team at Stony Brook, I believe we can deepen our understanding of neurological disorders, train the next generation of neurologists, and significantly enhance treatment outcomes for our patients on Long Island and beyond,” says Dr. Verghese. “My primary goal as Chair is to cultivate a collaborative environment that not only fosters innovative research and comprehensive patient care but also prioritizes education. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Igarashi for this opportunity.”
Dr. Verghese graduated from St. John’s Medical College in Bangalore, India, and completed postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Neurology in the United Kingdom. He completed a Neurology residency at Einstein in 1998, followed by a fellowship training there in Neurophysiology and in Aging & Dementia.
The author of more than 300 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and chapters, Dr. Verghese has secured more than $200 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has continually received NIH funding for his research since 2002 and is currently the Principal Investigator on five active NIH grants.
Dr. Verghese is a member and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Geriatrics Society, the Gerontological Neurological Association, and the American Neurological Association. He has received numerous accolades during this career, including the Beeson Award from the National Institute on Aging, the Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award from the American Geriatrics Society, and the Joseph T. Freeman Award from the Gerontological Society of America.
Having mentored more than 100 trainees and junior faculty over his time at Einstein, Dr. Verghese is the only faculty member to receive the Einstein Clinical Research Training Program’s Mentor of the Year Award twice.
Chris Books. Photo courtesy of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital
Chris Boukas, RN, MBA, FACHE, has been named Chief Operating Officer at Catholic Health’s St. Catherine of Siena Hospital. Boukas has over 20 years of experience in healthcare administration and nursing.
In his new role, Boukas will oversee the hospital’s operational and administrative functions; design and implement business strategies; set comprehensive goals for performance and growth across all clinical service lines; and continue to ensure patient safety and patient satisfaction.
“We are delighted to have Chris as part of St. Catherine’s executive leadership team,” said St. Catherine of Siena Hospital President Declan Doyle. “With extensive experience in hospital operations, system integration, regulatory compliance and emergency management, Chris has proven his steadfast leadership and strategic planning skills. As St. Catherine’s COO, Chris will further enhance our hospital’s mission in providing the highest quality of care to our patients.”
Prior to joining Catholic Health, Boukas served as Northwell Health’s Senior Director, Operations, where he oversaw various departments, as well as provided administrative and clinical oversight at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. In this role, he achieved the highest level of performance in operating units, as well as established and managed plans to ensure productivity, operational and financial performance.
During his long-standing career, Boukas also held numerous other roles as Northwell Health’s Senior Administrative Director of the Division of Endocrinology and Rheumatology; Assistant Director of Nursing at Huntington Hospital; Regional Director, Operations at Advantage Care Physicians at its campuses in Brooklyn and Long Island; Northwell’s Senior Administrative Manager, Operations and Ambulatory Services and Assistant Director of Nursing; and Manager at Forest Hills Hospital’s Emergency Department.
Earning his Master of Business Administration from Hofstra University, Boukas also received a business certification at Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Ithaca, NY.In addition, Chris earned two Bachelor of Science degrees –one in Nursing at the University of Maryland and another in Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Delaware. He is a member of numerous professional organizations, including a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, as well as a member of the Emergency Nurses Association.
A top source for consumers searching for doctors and hospitals, Healthgrades continued to recognize several departments and clinical efforts within Huntington Hospital, while adding others.
Healthgrades named Huntington Hospital one of the 100 best hospitals for Coronary Intervention for the fourth year in a row.
An affiliate of Northwell Health, Huntington Hospital also was ranked fourth in critical care in the state and, among other recognition, received five star distinction for Cranial Neurosurgery, earned the 2025 Pulmonary Care Excellence Award, and was named among the top 10 percent in the nation for overall pulmonary services.
“Healthgrades is one of the more recognizable accolades that hospitals can achieve,” said Dr. Nick Fitterman, Executive Director of Huntington Hospital.
The hospital has hung two banners and plans to celebrate the distinctions with staff on Nov. 6th.
“People want to play for a winner,” said Fitterman. “It really does make the team members, the doctors, nurses and support staff all feel better, knowing that they’re in health care, they’re compassionate people. To see the recognition makes them feel proud.”
Through ongoing and growing recognition of the expertise and services available to patients, word has spread about the quality of care people receive at Huntington Hospital.
“Our doctors that run the Emergency Room are seeing more people from zip codes outside of our usual primary and secondary catchment area as the reputation of the hospital is spreading,” said Fitterman. “I like to think that it’s because of excellent care” as well as people telling friends and family about their experiences.
Patients outside the normal coverage area mostly live to the east and south on Long Island.
Healthgrades also gave ongoing high rankings to the coronary interventional procedures for four years in a row, provided a five-star rating for treatment of stroke for two years in a row, and named the hospital a five-star provider for treatment of pneumonia for seven years in a year.
Huntington earned five stars for its treatment of sepsis for the third consecutive year.
‘We don’t set out to achieve any recognition,” said Fitterman. “The core ideology that I espouse to all team members is that excellence in clinical care is the best business strategy. Provide the best care possible and all this other stuff will fall into place.”
While Huntington received a top five percent recognition for cardiac interventions, which includes stents for people who have heart attacks and pacemakers for those whose conduction system is not working well, the hospital recently completed a $5 million renovation of its cardiac catheterization lab.
The lab, which will have a ceremonial opening in the next few weeks, will implement “some of the most advanced technology,” said Fitterman.
Amid predictions about extended hospital stays as the population ages, Fitterman suggested that Huntington Hospital was focused on improving the way it treats diseases to get patients out of the hospital and return them to their normal lives in a timely fashion.
In addition to enhancements in cardiac care, Huntington Hospital has added new neurosurgeons to the staff and has invested in a Zeiss microscope that has a three dimensional display.
“You’d think you’re seeing a Star Wars movie,” said Fitterman.
Huntington Hospital taps into the Northwell Health network, helping patients benefit from specialists spread throughout the system.
Hospital staff can consult with tumor boards that include hematologists, oncologists, and radiation oncologists spread throughout the Northwell network.
To help patients manage the stresses and strains that come from giving up control when they spend time in a hospital, Huntington converted several years ago to a dining service that allows people to order their meals according to their own schedule.
Patients can call any time of day to place an order. Food is then delivered to their room within 40 minutes, with no set breakfast, lunch and dinner times.
“Food is health,” said Fitterman. “If they were getting the same tasteless food that hospitals are renowned for serving, they would not be contributing to a healthy, therapeutic environment.”
For meetings, the hospital rarely orders from outside caterers, choosing food from the hospital kitchen.
The hospital has restructured the workflow to prevent any additional costs for the round-the-clock service.
Fitterman calls the chicken quesadillas “outstanding,” while he said some patients have come back to the cafeteria after they are discharged because of the popularity of the salmon.
Fitterman added that he is always looking out for ways to improve the experience for patient and their families.
“When I walk the halls, I’m still looking at things we can do better,” he said.
Huntington Hospital's Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29. Photo from Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital's Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29. Photo from Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital's Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29. Photo from Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital's Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29. Photo from Huntington Hospital
Huntington Hospital's Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29. Photo from Huntington Hospital
By Jennifer Donatelli
Are you or someone you know caring for a loved one?
In honor of National Caregiver Month, Huntington Hospital hosted its first-ever Caregiver Retreat on Oct. 29 to highlight the critical role support systems play for those caring for ill or disabled loved ones. Nearly one in four households is involved in caregiving for someone age 50 and older.
The event provided resources to ease the stress caregivers face, helping them navigate the complex healthcare system while creating a platform for sharing experiences with others. It emphasized the importance of self-care when another person depends on you.
Hundreds of caregivers attended the daylong event, participating in support and educational groups that provided tools to manage stressful situations.
Caregivers could also attend a Community Caregivers Resource Fair, guided meditation, and receive goody bags filled with giveaways. Most importantly, they were with others who had given up a part of their lives to be caregivers.
Barbara Roiland is one of many caregivers who attend weekly support groups and take advantage of Huntington Hospital’s programs. For the past 10 years, the Huntington resident has been the primary caregiver for her husband, Gary, who is suffering from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a debilitating brain disease.
Once an active couple who loved sailing, the diagnosis forced them to sell their sailboat, and Gary has since lost his ability to walk unaided and speak clearly. Barbara, with no medical background, has taken on the full-time role of his caregiver — a role that’s become overwhelming, isolating, and emotionally draining.
The support groups not only provide Barbara with emotional support but also help her navigate the medical complexities she faces daily, allowing her to keep Gary as healthy as possible at home.
“The diagnosis was devastating — our whole life has changed,” Barbara said. “I’m constantly worried about him falling or coughing.”
Barbara said that being able to ask medical questions and get support from others going through the same experience has been invaluable. “I don’t know what I’d do without it,” she said.
Northport resident Mary Ellen Mendelsohn has also found solace and guidance through the hospital’s caregiver programs. Mary Ellen’s husband, Andy, was diagnosed with prostate cancer several years ago. Despite treatment, the cancer returned, and since 2019, Andy has been in and out of the hospital, now reliant on a wheelchair due to the toll of his illness.
Mendelsohn shared how essential the hospital’s caregiver support has been in managing Andy’s frequent hospitalizations and medical needs.
“The caregivers have been a huge help,” Mendelsohn explained. “They check in every week or two, and those calls make a difference. They answer my questions, and that support has been vital. I miss spending time with my granddaughter, but having that extra help gives me some peace of mind.”
According to Mendelsohn, one nurse went out of her way to show her how to properly irrigate Andy’s catheter, a critical task given his susceptibility to UTIs. From ordering her husband’s supplies to refilling his medications, Mary Ellen has taken on most of his care, but she emphasizes how much it helps to know she’s not alone.
Two years ago, Huntington Hospital completed the Reichert Family Caregiver Center. The 550-square-foot space, located in the main lobby of the hospital, was designed to offer extra care outside the hospital. The center provides a space for caregivers to sit and talk with trained caregiver coaches who can offer resources as they manage the day-to-day demands of caring for a sick loved one.
Nick Fitterman, executive director of Huntington Hospital, said, “This center will be a destination for caregivers in our community to find resources and respite when they need assistance.”
Trained volunteer coaches and a social worker meet with family caregivers one-on-one to provide emotional support, discuss their concerns and needs, and guide them to community resources, said Kacey Farber, LMSW, program manager.
The Reichert Family Caregiver Center is staffed by a social worker and trained volunteer coaches. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It includes a quiet room with a recliner chair, a small meeting room, and a room with three chairs and a computer.
With the goal of bringing smiles to patients and families who are facing Halloween in the hospital, Stony Brook Medicine hosted Halloween events to make the holiday extra special. The March of Dimes made costumes for NICU patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The Stony Brook Cancer Center held its first-ever Trick or Treat and Halloween extraBOOganza with a parade.
Northwell’s Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson announced on Oct. 24 that it has achieved numerous accolades for clinical excellence from Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. Mather Hospital’s distinctions include:
America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award™
America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention Award™
Four Specialty Excellence Awards, placing the hospital among the nation’s top 10% for Critical Care, Gastrointestinal Care, Coronary Intervention and Pulmonary Care
Five-star rated for seven services: Coronary Intervention Procedures, Treatment of Heart Attack, Treatment of Stroke, Treatment of Pneumonia, Treatment of GI Bleed, Treatment of Respiratory Failure and Sepsis
A Five-Star Distinction in Outpatient Total Knee Replacement
According to Healthgrades, Mather Hospital was also ranked third in New York for Critical Care and secondin New York for Pulmonary Care. These achievements place Mather Hospital in the upper echelon of hospitals for these specialties nationwide and reflect the organization’s commitment to consistently delivercare that exceeds expectations.
“Healthgrades’ latest rankings for Mather Hospital reflect our ongoing commitment to the highest quality patient care,” said Hospital President Kevin McGeachy. “Led by our Magnet-recognized nursing staff, every member of the Mather team is focused on safety and quality and treating our patients like family. Northwell’s investment in our new Emergency Department, scheduled to open in 2025, is an example of that commitment.”
Previously Healthgrades ranked Mather Hospital in one of America’s best 250 Hospitals nationwideand top in the country for overall patient experience for the past three years.
As part of its 2025 hospital assessment, Healthgrades evaluated risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for more than 30 of the most common conditions and procedures at approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide to determine the top performers in specialty care. The Healthgrades objective performance measures help consumers find and select a hospital that excels in providing the care they need.
As variation in performance among hospitals continues to grow, it is increasingly important for consumers to seek care at top-rated programs. Healthgrades’ 2025 analysis revealed that if all hospitals as a group performed similarly to five-star hospitals during the 2021-2023 study period, on average, 224,958 lives could potentially have been saved and 141,692 complications could potentially have been avoided.*From 2021-2023, patients treated at hospitals receiving the America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Pulmonary Care Award had, on average, a 58.3% lower risk of dying than if they were treated in a hospital that did not receive the award.*
“Healthgrades commends Mather Hospital for their clear commitment to delivering consistently superior patient outcomes in critical service areas, including Pulmonary Care, Coronary Intervention, Gastrointestinal Care and Critical Care,” said Brad Bowman, MD, chief medical officer and head of data science at Healthgrades. “Mather Hospital’s leadership, expertise, and unwavering dedication to clinical excellence set a high mark for specialty care in New York and nationwide.”
Consumers can visit healthgrades.comto learn more about how Healthgrades measures hospital quality and access a patient-friendly overview of how we rate and why hospital quality matters.
*Statistics are based on Healthgrades analysis of MedPAR data for years 2021 through 2023 and represent three-year estimates for Medicare patients only. Click here to view the complete 2025 Specialty Awards and Ratings Methodology.
Bariatric surgeons at Mather Hospital were on hand to celebrate the occasion. Photo from Northwell Health
Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson recently marked a new milestone: surgeons performing the hospital’s 10,000th bariatric surgery. The hospital offers gastric bypass, revisional surgery, gastric band and sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss.
The 10,000th surgery, a sleeve gastrectomy, was performed by Arif Ahmad, MD, Director of the Center of Excellence in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery™. The procedure involves removing part of the stomach to help reduce food intake. The Center of Excellence provides support for patients before and after weight loss surgery. In addition to Dr. Ahmad, the team includes nurses and registered dietitians. A support group allows patients to share experiences and help keep them on track to achieve their weight loss goals.
Dr. Arif Ahmad – Bariatric Surgeon at Northwell Health
More than 250 Long Islanders gathered at Stony Brook University on Sunday to participate in Anthony’s Red Shoe FUNd Run in support of the widespread fundraising effort for the $30 million Ronald McDonald House, which is set to be built next to Stony Brook University Hospital.
Lisa Muratori, a professor at the Stony Brook University School of Health Professions, led the event, which was held in honor of her nephew Anthony Petrocelli, who passed away in 2019, at 16 years old, after fighting ewing sarcoma for two years. Dr. Muratori’s family relied upon the Ronald McDonald House room in the children’s hospital during his time spent in the hospital, and they got involved with the charity after his passing with hopes that the hospital would expand from its current two rooms to a larger entity.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro chapter plans to open the 60,000-square-foot building, containing 30 suites, by the end of 2026, with the house’s official groundbreaking event occurring this past May. The first of its kind in Suffolk County, the house will host the families of those being cared for in the children’s hospital free of charge, with amenities like daily meals, laundry facilities, full pantries, and a gym provided during their stays.
“The Ronald McDonald House isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a place where families can find comfort, hope, and a sense of normalcy during incredibly difficult hard times,” Stacy Gropack, Dean of the School of Health Professions said before the race.
Lisa Muratori and Family. Photo by Matt Tisdell
“Whether you’re running, walking, cheering or volunteering, we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Every step you take brings us closer to making sure that we can achieve the goals of the Ronald McDonald House and getting one on campus.”
Participants either ran in the 5k race or walked in a one-mile lap around the campus, with entry to the race costing $40 for the 5k, $30 for the one-mile and $20 for Stony Brook students. All in attendance were eligible for post-run raffles, with prizes ranging from T-shirts to gift cards, and were able to grab breakfast and lunch from food trucks surrounding the Student Activity Center for free.
Felipe Garcia, a 42-year-old long-distance runner from Port Jefferson Station, won first place in the 5k race with a time of 19 minutes and 30 seconds. He and his housemate, Lennie Nemerovsky, a 69-year-old retired pharmacist, previously attended the Head of the Harbor race held in April by the Ronald McDonald House Charities in St. James.
Stacy Gropack speaks at the event. Photo by Matt Tisdell
“We try to support the good intentions of the school to build a place for the parents of sick children to have a place to stay,” Nemerovsky said.
Muratori was pleased with the turnout and looks forward to the upcoming construction of the Ronald McDonald House. “We had a huge number of people, we raised a lot of money and everyone had a great time, we couldn’t be happier,” Muratori said after the race. “
We’re going to break ground and should be open by the end of 2026, so Suffolk County, take a look, we’re going to have a great big Ronald McDonald House right here on the Stony Brook campus.”
Matt Tisdell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
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