GREATER LIVES HERE™
We make these strides forward as One Team, unified in mission and committed to excellence.
Report from leadership
Salvatore F. Sodano Chairman, Board of Directors Catholic Health
Patrick M. O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA President & CEO Catholic Health
Catholic Health’s emphasis on compassionate care is a meaningful di erentiator—both for patients and for caregivers. Our system is founded in faith and driven by mission. That means that our workforce of exceptionally talented clinicians and support sta see each of our valued patients in their totality—body, mind and spirit. The dedication of our physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians, pharmacists and support sta is evident not only to patients, but also to their families.
That “all-in” mindset stems from a shared vision of the kind of health care system we represent. Catholic Health truly is One Team—the health care system that treats everyone who turns to us like a member of our family.
That unity of purpose is what defines Catholic Health. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Catholic Health, thank you for your partnership and support.
Catholic Health is strong and getting stronger. In every aspect and along every avenue, we have made significant strides in advancing our health care system.
Over the past year, we have expanded our exceptional clinical services, grown our physician network, opened new and more convenient points of access, dramatically upgraded our facilities, and have taken our capacity to deliver Quality, Operational Excellence and a superb Patient Experience to new heights.
We stride forward as One Team, unified in mission and committed to excellence.
Health care in the U.S. is at a crossroads, currently weathering considerable headwinds across the industry, as well as intense competition within our own market. Despite the challenges, Catholic Health has achieved remarkable growth—increasing revenue, expanding our footprint, launching new residency programs to attract and cultivate our region’s brightest medical students, and earning numerous honors and recognitions along the way.
As you read through the pages of this annual report, you will see our unwavering commitment to excellence on every page. By delivering world-class medical and surgical care to friends and neighbors throughout our treasured home-town communities, we are steadily making Catholic Health the go-to health care system on Long Island.
You are a big part of our forward momentum because you stand with us in our mission to heal.
On behalf of each of our more than 17,500 health care heroes, I thank you for your continuing support.
“OpEx is more than just a catchy name for a major initiative. It’s really the lynchpin of our future success. And I can say with great confidence that all the players connected to Catholic Health are committed to succeeding. Catholic Health is truly One Team.”
–Gary Havican EVP & Chief Operating O cer, Catholic Health
One System. One Team. Committed to Excellence.
In 2024, Catholic Health’s transformation toward full “systemness” moved into high gear. We not only expanded into several new service areas, we deepened our portfolio of services within our historical footprint. In parallel, we’ve launched a major initiative to sharpen our operational processes at every level, making it easier for health care consumers to access our spectrum of clinical services. It boils down to Operational Excellence, or “OpEx” for short.
Most fundamentally, the entities that make up Catholic Health are working as One Team, all dedicated to delivering the highest quality of clinical care and the best possible consumer experience. That means more collaboration and coordination between entities and service lines, made possible by One Team of more than 17,500 health care heroes.
The core of this strategic transformation is to accommodate our consumers with greater ease at every access point of the patient journey, rooted in an unmatched level of compassion that is unique to Catholic Health. Thanks to our consistent messaging, the demand for our services is abundant. That means that our top priority is to seamlessly channel this demand through the care process while providing exceptional support, always ensuring a positive patient experience.
Expanding pathways to care
Catholic Health has made significant investments in expanding digital access to our outstanding care. We’ve introduced advanced technologies that simplify appointment scheduling and enable patients to receive
exceptional care—right from their smartphones. Your digital device is now your expressway to care. You can easily schedule an appointment at a nearby Catholic Health practice, check your test results, or send a secure message to your provider. Our physician practices also o er video visits to spare patients the drive and increase their access to care. You can do all of this on our patient portal, known as Catholic Health MyChart, or by downloading the Catholic Health app.
In 2024, Catholic Health became the first health system to launch a custom webpage for self-scheduling through MyChart. Later this year, we’ll be the first to roll out two-way conversational texting for a number of specialties. We already use text messages to confirm appointments. And we’ve enhanced our online “Find a Doctor” platform to make it easier than ever to find care close to home.
Additionally, Catholic Health is creating new “brick and mortar” access points as we expand our presence into areas where our services have been previously limited, such as eastern Su olk County. We’ve opened comprehensive Ambulatory Care hubs in Centereach and Riverhead, as well as our new Urgent Care facility in Ronkonkoma. More are coming!
Our most fundamental priority is to work together to welcome every health care consumer who turns to us. One System, One Team. Committed to Excellence.
Dr. Anthony Ardito leads Catholic Health’s Primary Care Service Line, expanding access across Long Island.
Expanding patient access. Enhancing the patient experience.
Outstanding care requires outstanding facilities. In 2024, Catholic Health made dramatic investments in its care facilities, upgrading and expanding existing sites while also preparing and launching all-new locations. It’s been a banner year of strategic growth and optimization.
Good Samaritan University Hospital
$500 million Patient Care Pavilion (scheduled to open in late 2025)
• 300,000-square-foot addition.
•75,000-square-foot 75-bay Emergency Department.
• Private Emergency Department triage stations.
St. Charles Hospital
• 16 high-tech operating rooms.
• 36 private patient rooms.
• Separate pediatrics Emergency Department.
$10 million Emergency Department Renovation
• 4,000-square-feet of increased space.
• 10 new treatment bays, nursing and charting stations, larger waiting room.
• Fast track/urgent care area.
• Separate waiting/treatment area for chemical dependency detoxification.
Mercy Hospital
$10 million Emergency Department Renovation
• 9,000-square-feet of renovated space.
• New layout and advanced triage systems to alleviate overcrowding.
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital
• Optimized medical team workstations.
• Advanced technology for diagnostics.
Emergency Department Renovation and Operating Room Expansion
• $5 million operating room expansion to accommodate complex spine procedures.
• New registration and triage suite, treatment bays and larger waiting room.
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center
Ambulatory Cardiovascular Treatment and Imaging Center
• Commenced creation of state-ofthe-art ambulatory cardiovascular treatment and imaging center at 2200 Northern Boulevard in East Hills.
• Relocating outpatient physician cardiovascular services and testing to a new 33,000-square-foot facility tethered to Catholic Health’s flagship hospital in nearby Roslyn.
Ambulatory & Urgent Care growth
Ambulatory & Urgent Care at Centereach added new practices, including Timothy Carter, MD, of St. Francis Heart Center providing advanced aortic care.
Ambulatory Care at Riverhead added new practices, including Thomas Pappas, MD, of St. Francis Heart Center providing advanced interventional cardiology.
Urgent Care at Ronkonkoma opened, situated within the Station Yards complex.
Catholic Health EMS
Catholic Health Emergency Medical Service (EMS) now partners with regional fire departments and EMS agencies across our footprint to increase access to care in emergency and non-emergency situations.
In 2024, more than 4,000 local residents benefited. Catholic Health EMS also o ers education, community outreach and clinical support at events such as the Su olk County Marathon.
More outpatient locations coming in 2025!
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center Chairman of Pediatric Cardiology Sean Levchuck, MD, and 11-year-old Brilliant Phillipah from Uganda. Brilliant was brought to St. Francis as part of Catholic Health’s ongoing partnership with Gift of Life International. Dr. Levchuck performed a minimally invasive procedure to correct her heart defect.
“As part of our mission-based commitment to care, Catholic Health brings its services out to the communities it serves. Our free screening programs and food insecurity protocols are designed to identify health issues before they can spiral. Our expert clinicians work as One Team united in its health care mission.”
–Christine Jensen, MS
Bioethics,
BSN,
RN Assistant Vice President, Bioethics, Formation, and Consultation Mission Integration
A mission to heal. A calling to care.
In all we do for our valued patients, Catholic Health is guided by, and inspired by, our foundational mission to bring Christ’s healing love to all we encounter. In every interaction—with patients, their families and with each other—we draw upon our deep understanding that we are all children of a loving God.
Serving our communities
Beyond the exceptional clinical care we give to our patients, Catholic Health also gives to our communities. In 2024, our commitment to our overarching mission resulted in a number of major milestones.
2024 achievements
As a result of Catholic Health’s commitment to its mission:
• Nearly 8,000 individuals received free health screenings through our mobile outreach buses.
• More than 1,600 individuals were screened at our “Healthy Sundays” events.
• We cared for 1,200 patients at our twin Bishop McHugh Health Centers, most of them uninsured.
• Partnered with Smile Farms to open a second cooperative food garden at Mercy Hospital, supporting mental health initiatives while combating food insecurity on Long Island.
• Hosted two special events at The Cradle of Aviation promoting the value of STEM skills and careers in health care, aerospace, science and engineering to more than 1,110 Catholic elementary and high school students.
• Continued longtime partnership with Gift of Life International to provide lifesaving cardiac procedures at no charge to seven children from developing countries at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center.
Sponsoring community events and institutions
• Co-sponsored the Village of Hempstead’s Annual Turkey Distribution with Harris Beach, providing 600 turkeys to residents in need.
• Continued our seasonal sponsorship of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.
• Title sponsor of the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
• Perennial sponsor of the annual Oyster Bay Oyster Fest.
• Co-sponsored and marched in NYC’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
• Launched a Telehealth Clinic Pilot Program in partnership with St. Brigid’s Parish in Westbury to assist both insured and uninsured low-income families. Evaluating 4–8 patients weekly via telehealth, patients are directed to appropriate follow-up care as needed. Plans are in place to expand program to other parishes proximate to St. Brigid’s Parish.
• U.S. military veterans received free dental care at “Give Veterans a Smile” Day at the Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic at St. Charles Hospital.
• Served as Medal of Honor Title Sponsor for the Su olk County Marathon, raising money to support local veteran organizations.
Catholic Health employees volunteer with Long Island Cares to combat food insecurity.
Care by the numbers
Catholic Health is the only comprehensive health care system shaped by the spirit of Long Island. Founded in faith, rooted in mission and tethered to our communities, Catholic Health is a highly integrated health care delivery system. We deliver exceptional medical and surgical services, which are always infused with a healthy dose of compassion and respect for human dignity.
Financial performance
Total assets $4.5 billion
Net revenue $3.4 billion
Third largest employer on Long Island with more than 17,500 employees
6 Acute care hospitals— more than 1,900 certified hospital beds
•St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, Roslyn
• Mercy Hospital, Rockville Centre
•St. Charles Hospital, Port Je erson
•St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, Smithtown
• St. Joseph Hospital, Bethpage
•Good Samaritan University Hospital, West Islip
3,400+ 4 14 Catholic Health Physician Partners Cancer Institute locations Outpatient rehabilitation locations
22 Multispecialty ambulatory care locations Home Health service Good Shepherd Hospice Payor mix
Catholic Health volumes in 2024
85,992 Hospital admissions
4,820 Newborn deliveries
349,134 Home care visits
65,872 Ambulatory surgeries
23,625 Inpatient surgeries
Catholic Health volumes in 2023:
501,958 Ambulatory outpatient visits
239,166 Emergency Department visits
160,557 Hospice days of care
141,435 Rehabilitation visits
Catholic Health enhances the economy and community
Data presented here reflects the total economic and community benefit provided by Catholic Health’s six hospitals, as compiled by the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) from a variety of federal and state sources.
$5.478 billion
Economic activity
Generated by our hospitals through jobs and the purchase of goods and services is part of the 10.3% of the state’s entire gross domestic product generated by all New York hospitals.
26,000
Jobs generated
Hospitals and health systems generate many jobs and are top ten private sector employers in every region of New York State. The Catholic Health system is no exception.
$969 million
Tax dollars generated
Catholic Health generates significant tax dollars and stimulates the economies of local communities in which it serves.
$316 million Community benefits and investments
Adhering to our charitable mission, Catholic Health hospitals cover the cost of care provided to people in need; subsidize care and services to low-income, elderly and under-served communities; and continuously invest in many community health initiatives.
Catholic Health hospitals rely on state and federal funding
52 percent
Reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare
This percentage of Catholic Health’s patient service revenue comes from Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, which do not cover the cost of care. This underpayment is driven by large volumes of inpatient and outpatient services provided to individuals covered by these public insurance programs.
“The rehab programs and services we’ve established at St. Charles Hospital are accessible across our Catholic Health footprint, restoring patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Catholic Health works as One Team.”
–Laura Beck
Vice President, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Charles Hospital Winner, Catholic Health’s 2024 Patrick J. Scollard Award
Honored for excellence
National Winner: Press Ganey 2025 HRO of the Year
Catholic Health closed the year by earning one of the most prestigious awards in health care—Press Ganey’s 2025 HRO Foundation Award. The high honor caps a system-wide journey commenced in 2015 to work collaboratively toward becoming a national leader in the adoption of—and performance of—High-Reliability Organization (HRO) principles for safety and quality.
“Catholic Health’s commitment to High Reliability reflects both training and empowerment. Our employees are encouraged to challenge and double-check clinical decisions to add multiple layers of safety to our patient care. That truly makes us One Team in our dedication to excellence.”
– Chhavi Katyal, MD Senior Vice President & System Chief Quality/Chief Patient Experience O cer
U.S. News & World Report’s 2024–25 Best Hospital Rankings
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center was once again ranked one of the top hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is nationally ranked in no less than eight adult specialties, upholding its 2023–24 record. These include Heart & Vascular; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; Gastroenterology & GI Surgery; Neurology & Neurosurgery; Diabetes & Endocrinology; Pulmonology & Lung Surgery; and Urology. St. Francis was also rated among the top 10 hospitals in New York State, as well as the New York Metropolitan Area.
Good Samaritan University Hospital earned high performance ratings for COPD and heart failure.
St. Catherine of Siena Hospital earned high performance ratings for congestive heart failure, kidney failure and pneumonia.
St. Charles Hospital earned high performance ratings for hip replacement and knee replacement.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center received its fifth consecutive 5-Star rating for overall quality from CMS. St. Charles Hospital received a 4-Star rating.
Magnet® recognition for Nursing Excellence
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center and Good Samaritan University Hospital have each been recognized for excellence in nursing care, an honor less than 10% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned. St. Francis is the only hospital in Nassau County to be so designated four times. Good Samaritan is the only hospital on the south shore of Su olk County to earn this distinction.
Leapfrog Group’s Safety Grades
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center and St. Charles Hospital have each earned “A” Grades for Safety by the Leapfrog Group in Washington, DC (Fall 2024). St. Francis has now earned 23 “A” Grades, the most of any hospital in New York State. St. Francis has also been named to Leapfrog’s list of Top Hospitals in the nation for the past three years.
Lantern Award for Emergency Nursing
The Emergency Departments of both St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center and Mercy Hospital each earned the prestigious Lantern Award for nursing excellence in Emergency Medicine.
The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval
Good Samaritan University Hospital received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval ® for Spine Surgery Certification.
Stroke Honors
HeartCARE Center
National Distinction of Excellence
All six Catholic Health hospitals are recognized for excellence in stroke care by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association in using Get with the Guidelines ®, an evidence-based program to improve patient care and outcomes. Achievement awards were provided to St. Charles Hospital as a Gold Plus facility, with St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, Good Samaritan University Hospital, Mercy Hospital, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and St. Joseph Hospital each receiving Stroke Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite. Additionally, all six Catholic Health hospitals made the Association’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. Good Samaritan and St. Francis also received the Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Advanced Therapy and Target Award—Mercy and St. Francis received the Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus.
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center received The American College of Cardiology (ACC) HeartCARE Center National Distinction of Excellence designation in both 2023 and 2024.
One Team delivering innovation in cardiovascular care
St. Francis Heart Center has expanded far beyond its original base in Roslyn. As part of our One System strategy, Catholic Health has brought its nationally recognized cardiovascular services to Good Samaritan, Mercy, St. Catherine and St. Joseph hospitals, as well as our numerous and ever-expanding Ambulatory Care sites across Long Island.
We’ve placed some of our most highly recognized cardiologists at new access points in Su olk County to bring St. Francis Heart Center’s exceptional care to all Long Islanders.
Thomas Pappas, MD, Director of the St. Francis Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, now o ers Preventive Cardiology services at our Ambulatory Care at Riverhead.
Allen Jeremias, MD, Director of Interventional Cardiology, is now performing precision angioplasties at both St. Francis Hospital and the St. Francis Heart Center Catheterization Lab at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown.
Timothy Carter, MD, Director of Aortic Surgery, has brought his Aortic Care Clinic to our Ambulatory Care at Centereach.
19,460 Cardiac catheterizations
6,160 Angioplasties
1,879 Open heart surgeries
748 TAVRs
2,766 Electrophysiology procedures
868 AICDs
958 Pacemakers
2024 achievements
St. Francis Heart Center raised the bar for cardiovascular care, both at Catholic Health’s flagship hospital in Roslyn and across its Long Island footprint:
• Ranked one of the Best Hospitals in the nation for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Designated as an ACC HeartCARE Center—the only hospital in the region that includes New York City, Long Island and Westchester.
• Awarded three stars, the highest rating for patient safety and real-world outcomes related to transcatheter valve replacement (TAVR) and repair procedures, by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) in collaboration with the American College of Cardiologists (ACC).
• Maintained HeartCARE Center™ designation awarded by the American College of Cardiology (ACC), its highest quality designation.
• Became the first hospital in the world to utilize a new TAVR platform called Evolut FX+, and one of a limited number of centers nationally to utilize the new device.
• Became the first in the nation to implant Dual-Chamber Leadless Pacemakers.
• Became the first center in the U.S. to utilize AGENT™, the newly approved drug eluting intracoronary balloon.
• Developed the first cardiac Photon Counting CT program in the U.S., published in JACC.
• Conducted the first imaging workshop devoted to electrosurgery at the Optimizing Peripheral and Cardiac Intervention (OPTI) NY conference.
• Our cardiac imaging physicians have been appointed to leadership positions in numerous cardiac imaging societies.
• Deepened our a liation with NewYork-Presbyterian, extending leading heart transplant programs to Long Island, providing patients access to the very best pre- and post-transplant continuum of care at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center.
A world leader in cardiovascular research
Under the leadership of Ziad Ali, MD, DPhil, St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center’s DeMatteis Cardiovascular Institute (DCVI) saw significant growth in publications including more than 140 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), Circulation and European Heart Journal.
Faculty members of the DCVI act as Principal Investigators and/or Steering Committee members of multiple international multi-center randomized trials. St. Francis was the highest enrolling site in six multicenter studies.
Our groundbreaking study assessing the e ectiveness of advanced Cardiac CT imaging technology, the state-of-the-art photon counting CT scanner, was published in JACC and presented at Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) in October 2024. The first author of this publication, Koshiro Sakai, MD, PhD, completed a year-long residency at St. Francis Hospital as our inaugural Guerci Interventional research fellow.
The DCVI interventional faculty performed more first-in-human and early feasibility trials than any other hospital in United States.
“We’re not simply the #1 Center of Excellence on Long Island or even just New York State. We’re nationally recognized. And, in my view, we are #1 in the world for cardiovascular imaging and physiology or structural heart care. We’re bringing the most advanced cardiac treatments to Long Islanders well ahead of other health care systems.”
–Richard Shlofmitz, MD Chairman, Cardiovascular Services, Catholic Health Chairman of Cardiology,
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center
Chairman of Radiation Oncology
Johnny Kao, MD, leads Catholic Health’s use of advanced technologies to perform minimally invasive cancer procedures.
“No two cancer patients are the same. We customize a treatment strategy to the needs of each individual, and we infuse our evidence-based clinical care with a very healthy dose of genuine love and compassion. That’s the Catholic Health way.”
–Bhoomi Mehrotra, MD Chairman, Cancer Services
Expanding the boundaries of cancer care
Advanced cancer care doesn’t limit itself to standard treatments and protocols—it seeks to innovate newer and more e ective approaches beyond the current standard of care. Catholic Health Cancer Institute is doing just that. Through our a liation with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Catholic Health is giving cancer patients on Long Island access to novel therapies that are pushing the boundaries and creating new avenues of care treatments. One new trial is focused on combining immunotherapy with targeted therapies, all aimed at putting even advanced cancers into remission.
Beyond new therapies, Catholic Health tends to both the physical and emotional aspects of the disease. Our multidisciplinary approach to cancer means that clinical teams, including nurse navigators, work alongside our social support and pastoral care sta to treat our valued patients in their entirety—the body, mind and soul. This individualized level of care makes the patient journey as personal and comfortable as possible, all anchored in compassion and respect.
Clinical research at Catholic Health Catholic Health is exploring new frontiers in cancer treatment. Our a liation with Roswell Park, one of the nation’s leading cancer research centers, gives Long Islanders exclusive access to the newest and most innovative treatments available only through clinical trials.
Our partnership with Roswell Park convenes physicians, hospitals and care teams across New York State to create a community-based network focused on improving cancer care.
2024 achievements
Catholic Health expanded its cancer services across a number of areas:
• 15 open oncology trials.
• Catholic Health Cancer Institute grew in incremental volume over the last year, with 500 new patients and almost 2,200 new infusions.
• Restructured our Navigation Program to align support series and resources for our patients.
• Introduced new theranostic treatments in radiation oncology at St. Francis Cancer Institute.
• Recruited four new oncologists to our cancer team at Good Samaritan University Hospital: Manjari Pandey, MD, Tony Cheung, MD, Md Shadiqul Hoque, MD, and Meytal S. Fabrikant, MD.
• Recruited Dr. Cheung to our cancer team at Mercy Hospital.
• Implemented Cardio-Oncology and Cancer Rehabilitation Services with Syed Saad Mahmood, MD, and Jonas Sokolof, DO.
• Relocated St. Joseph Cancer Institute practice to 4900 Hempstead Turnpike, Suite 203 in Farmingdale to enhance the patient experience.
• Established an Oncology Nurse Navigator program at Mercy Cancer Institute.
• Achieved National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) re-accreditation for Mercy Hospital’s Cancer Institute.
• Achieved Commission on Cancer re-accreditation for Good Samaritan’s Cancer Institute.
A system-wide center of excellence in neuroscience
Catholic Health is deepening and expanding our Neuroscience Service Line. In 2024, Dr. Kimon Bekelis, Chairman of Neurosciences at Good Samaritan University Hospital, was appointed Chairman of Catholic Health’s system-wide Neuroscience Service Line. He is working with neurologic and neurointerventional experts across our Catholic Health network to implement the capabilities and standards that have made his Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island such a highly recognized success at Good Samaritan University Hospital.
The best possible care for stroke
At all Catholic Health hospitals, our specialists respond when patients present with urgent cerebrovascular disease, such as a brain aneurysm or stroke. When seconds count, we deliver the fastest, most accurate and most e ective treatment.
Catholic Health also has the expertise to treat brain tumors, spine disorders and a variety of neuromuscular and neurovascular disorders with minimally invasive procedures as well as complex surgeries. Additionally, our neuroscience team helps patients who require diagnosis and treatment for blood vessel malfunction, or any abnormality that can occur in the brain, spinal cord and neck. Made up of neurosurgeons, neurologists and neurointerventional specialists, Catholic Health stands tall in the field of neuroscience on Long Island.
1,873 patients were treated for stroke-related symptoms
209 patients were given clot-dissolving thrombolytic medication
2,081 neuro biplane cases
“Door-to-needle” time cases under 60 minutes:
96.43% Catholic Health average 89.58% NYS average
The time from the arrival of a stroke patient in emergency to initiation of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) drug therapy.
2024 achievements
Catholic Health significantly enhanced its portfolio of neurosciences services:
• Established a new Neuroscience Department at Good Samaritan University Hospital.
• Earned more than $3 million in grants and $3 million in philanthropy to expand our Neuroscience services at Good Samaritan.
• Expanding programs at St. Francis Hospital, hiring two new neurosurgeons, two neurointerventionalists and two neurointensivists.
• Established a neuro ICU at St. Francis supported by two neurointensivists and one neuro hospitalist.
• Good Samaritan earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Spine Surgery.
• Catholic Health hired five new neurologists to expand Ambulatory Care access in Bethpage, Centereach and Rockville Centre.
• Established a new home infusion program.
• Catholic Health is launching an infusion program to treat early-onset Alzheimer’s and Dementia at a number of our hospitals and facilities.
The most advanced technologies support excellence at Catholic Health’s Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center.
“It’s not enough to have one or two hospitals be centers of excellence in neuroscience. We have made Catholic Health a center of excellence system-wide in Stroke Care, so that wherever you live on Long Island, you are guaranteed the best possible care driven by world-class physicians, the highest standards and the most advanced supporting technologies.”
–Kimon Bekelis, MD, FAANS, FAHA, FACS Chairman, Neuroscience Services, Catholic Health Chairman, Department of Neurosciences, Good Samaritan University Hospital
Delivering excellence in musculoskeletal care
Catholic Health’s orthopedic team is highly skilled in the diagnosis and treatments of all musculoskeletal conditions. Our commitment to progressive orthopedic care is always delivered with unmatched consideration for our patients’ physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
In 2024, Catholic Health appointed surgeon Frank DiMaio, MD, MBA, as inaugural Chairman of our new Musculoskeletal Service Line. The move brings integrated system-wide coordination with our expert subspecialty orthopedic surgeons and pain management centers across Catholic Health’s footprint.
“Our expertise in robotic assisted joint replacement and outpatient surgery is producing faster recoveries while solving complex orthopedic issues,” said Dr. DiMaio. “Our expert surgeons can often minimize or bypass the need for hospitalization.”
In 2024, Catholic Health welcomed Long Island Spine Specialists, PC (LISS) to its Physician Partners network. With multiple practice sites, LISS treats spine disorders throughout our service area, performing procedures at both St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and Good Samaritan University Hospital, with future expansion planned across all hospital campuses.
2024 achievements
• Established a new Spine Center of Excellence at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital.
• Added more than a dozen orthopedic practice locations at Catholic Health’s expanding network of Ambulatory Care sites.
• Recruited 11 providers in Orthopedics, Spine and Pain Management.
• St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center was again ranked one of the best hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report
• St. Charles Hospital rated High Performing in Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement by U.S. News & World Report.
• St. Charles received Joint Commission Advanced Certification for its Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement Programs.
• Good Samaritan University Hospital received Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® for Spine Surgery Certification.
• Good Samaritan is the only Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center on the south shore of Long Island.
9,021 total orthopedic procedures, inclusive of:
3,064 joint replacements
352 revisions
1,379 orthopedic spine procedures
Long Island Spine Specialists Laurence Mermelstein, MD, (left) and Thomas Dowling, Jr., MD, (right) bring their expertise in advanced spinal surgery to Catholic Health.
Chairman of Surgical Services
Gary Gecelter, MD, (left), performs advanced surgical procedures using the latest technologies.
Surgical services
unified as One Team
The past twelve months brought the emergence of a true system approach to surgical services across Catholic Health. Prime practices have joined our Medical Group, bringing a number of additional outstanding surgeons to our integrated health care system. Under the leadership of Gary Gecelter, MD, Director of Surgical Services and Chairman of General Surgery at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, Catholic Health has created a system-wide strategy to govern, strengthen and expand surgical oncology, robotic surgery and functional surgical gastroenterology services across all six of our hospitals.
In 2024, Catholic Health developed a system-wide robotic steering committee to unify robotic policies and expand access to this minimally invasive surgical protocol. We have also recruited a substantial number of surgeons to Catholic Health’s Su olk market under the chairmanship of Pratibha Vemulapalli, MD, a recognized expert in complex bariatric surgery based at Good Samaritan University Hospital.
We’ve also developed a burgeoning program in “Third Space” Endosurgery. This technology deploys devices that are able to operate within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to treat functional conditions related to GI motility. By opening a window in the lining
of the esophagus, surgeons can deliver an endoscope between the lining and the muscle. This is a major breakthrough in the surgical treatment of patients with abnormal GI function based upon conditions such as achalasia. Catholic Health’s expertise in Third Space surgery is nationally recognized. Indeed, year after year, St. Francis Hospital is ranked one of the Best Hospitals in the nation for Gastroenterology & GI Surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
“Our surgical services are in the vanguard in the early use of the most advanced procedures and newest supporting technologies,” said Dr. Gecelter, who bears service line responsibility for the recruitment of new surgeons. “In 2025, we will onboard a System Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology to keep pace with the growing referral base of lung cancer cases resulting from Catholic Health’s system-wide lung screening program. We remain ‘best of breed’ in the management of gastrointestinal malignancy and have an outstanding reputation for colorectal surgery with multidisciplinary tumor boards. We also have a very strong presence in endocrine surgery, as well as the management of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal tumors.”
Primary care for a lifetime of optimal health
Primary care is where the path to wellness starts. That’s why Catholic Health has made a strategic commitment to attracting more and more Primary Care practices to our growing network of Physician Partners. By having a first contact for general health matters, annual check-ups and vaccinations, Primary Care providers serve as a patient’s long-term partner, navigating them through times of illness and preempting health crises.
“The dramatic growth in Catholic Health’s Primary Care service line is greatly benefiting Long Islanders,” said Anthony P. Ardito, MD, Chairman, Primary Care Services and Chief Medical O cer, Catholic Health Physician Partners IPA. “We’re not only expanding access to care, but also providing an exceptional patient experience as we deliver better patient outcomes.”
2024 achievements
Catholic Health made its major gains in continuing expansion of Primary Care services:
• 334,000 ambulatory visits for Primary Care.
• Employed primary care network increased to 131 providers in 2024, more than double what it was in 2019.
• Total primary care network now more than 650 providers.
• Hired 10 Primary Care subspecialists.
• Increased new patient volume by 12% in 2024, up from 4% in 2019.
• Optimized physician schedules and extended practice hours in three Ambulatory Care hubs and two large practices.
• Launched new Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine residency programs at St. Joseph Hospital.
• Expanding access to four additional locations in 2025.
“We all perform di erent roles and responsibilities that contribute to the overall excellence of our services. But the glue that connects us all is keeping the patient’s safety top of mind. You’re there to ensure that the patient is well taken care of in every way, so we’re all part of that team commitment.”
– Sarah Gasparro Environmental Services, Good Samaritan University Hospital Winner of
Catholic Health’s 2024 Pinnacle Patient Safety Award
Catholic Health Primary Care physicians partner with patients for personalized, long-term health.
Integrative Medicine focused on root causes
For generations, health care has been a decidedly reactive science. You go to a doctor once a health issue surfaces. But what if it worked the other way? You see a doctor regularly to prevent disease from developing in the first place. How much healthier would we all be?
Integrative Medicine is functional medicine
That is our goal for “functional medicine,” or what Catholic Health terms Integrative Medicine. It’s a new kind of medical approach that is poised to transform Primary Care. Integrative Medicine identifies the root causes of disease or potential disease, then creates a care plan for long-term health. This integrative approach takes a careful look at lifestyle choices, work habits, diet, exercise, sleep patterns, general happiness—or lack thereof—and how it a ects health. And being a faith-based health system, we also incorporate a spiritual dimension to disease management, building on the patient’s sense of self-worth.
By the time a patient shows clinical evidence of disease, they most likely have had years of predisposing factors which have driven the disease’s progression. Catholic Health is working to change the paradigm by adopting a much more holistic approach, predicated on finding those root causes.
The Integrative Medicine team at Catholic Health Ambulatory Care at East Hills treats diseases before they spiral using innovative preventive care techniques.
Fact: Poor health choices contribute to 85% of diseases. Catholic Health seeks to get ahead of the disease curve by first identifying the potential for disease, then mitigating the typical progression. Our goal is to treat the cause of the disease and not just its symptoms.
In 2024, we launched our first Catholic Health Integrative Medicine practice at 2200 Northern Boulevard in East Hills, the same complex where we have many other Catholic Health services. Our plan is to expand the concept to our many Catholic Health Ambulatory Care hubs. Primary Care can build healthier communities by focusing on the foundational building blocks within each patient’s specific health portfolio. We use evidence-based modalities and principles to achieve this. It’s all part of Catholic Health’s overall vision to move from “sick care” to preemptive “well care.”
Changing the game in Primary Care.
Advancing women’s health
Catholic Health’s commitment to Women’s Health is a top priority for our team of experts. We are advancing our women’s health services to ensure women’s unique health needs are met with exceptional care and compassion.
Ensuring healthy hearts for childbearing moms
Catholic Health developed The Women’s Heart Wellness Program at Good Samaritan University Hospital to provide holistic care for women before, during and after pregnancy. Reflecting the vision of John J. Vullo, DO, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Good Samaritan, The Women’s Heart Wellness Program brings together two nationally ranked specialties—those of St. Francis Heart Center and Good Samaritan’s superb OB/GYN program—to provide partnered cardio-obstetrical care for women of childbearing age, who may be at risk for heart disease.
Ensuring breast health
2024 achievements
• Expanded the Labor and Delivery units at Good Samaritan University Hospital and St. Charles Hospital.
Breast Health is also a major concern of Catholic Health. Jana Deitch, MD, Director of Breast Health at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, is one of our region’s most widely recognized leaders in minimally invasive breast surgery. Building upon her leadership, Catholic Health has expanded this vital specialty by placing highly-trained breast surgeons at our Cancer Institutes at Good Samaritan, St. Joseph and Mercy hospitals. Catholic Health also increased access to women’s breast imaging services, o ering timely appointments to patients at the location of their convenience.
Ensuring exceptional maternity and gynecologic care
Mercy, St. Charles and Good Samaritan University hospitals each provide outstanding care for mother and child using the most advanced support technologies.
Our expert physicians and surgeons provide all women with the best in gynecologic care. Many specialize in menopausal, gynecologic and pelvic health care. Our minimally invasive gynecology surgeons perform the most complex procedures, achieving optimal outcomes with faster, easier patient recoveries.
• Grew from four physicians in 2022 to 24 in 2024, including 14 OB/GYN, four Maternal Fetal Medicine, two Gynecologic Oncologists, two Gynecological Urologists and two Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeons.
• More than 4,800 deliveries and 590 gynecologic oncology procedures.
• Initiated a Women’s Surgical Center of Excellence at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in collaboration with our Women’s Center in Commack.
• Expanded Maternal Fetal Medicine program.
• Developed adolescent gynecology in collaboration with our Obstetrics and Pediatrics programs.
• Good Samaritan was designated a Baby Friendly hospital by Baby Friendly USA.
• Expanded the Women’s Health Wellness Program to our Commack campus with plans to expand to Mercy Hospital in 2025.
Breast surgeon Marlene Mancuso, MD, combines compassionate care and high expertise at the Catholic Health Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Hospital.
Moving beyond basic pediatric care
Catholic Health is highly experienced at handling routine pediatric care, but parents and caregivers can be assured that subspecialists in all areas of pediatric care stand at the ready to meet any medical need. These include physicians with advanced training in pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, hematology, nephrology, neurology and other disciplines related to specific organs or diseases. There are also distinct treatments for children with allergies, sleep or weight issues. Surgery and hospitalization is also a distinct form of health care for children.
Comprehensive care for children
Good Samaritan University Hospital is Catholic Health’s most comprehensive children’s hospital. With a Pediatric ICU, Neonatal ICU and dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department, Good Samaritan’s sta —under the leadership of Catherine Caronia, MD, Chairman of Pediatrics—is highly trained to deliver expert care and attention for young patients. In fact, Good Samaritan is the only Verified Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Su olk County. Little wonder Good Samaritan University Hospital was o cially designated a children’s hospital within a hospital by the Children’s Hospital Association.
Mercy Hospital and St. Charles Hospital both have Neonatal ICUs; the latter also has a Pediatric Care Unit and a Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit, which services our entire Catholic Health system.
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center has an outstanding Pediatric Cardiology program.
Mercy Hospital’s Family Care Center and outpatient practice manages the health needs of women and children, including those who are under-insured.
And we are expanding our general pediatric and pediatricspecialty services across our growing network of Ambulatory Care sites.
2024 achievements
• Good Samaritan was o cially designated a children’s hospital by the Children’s Hospital Association.
• Established general pediatric services at four new locations and onboarded two specialty physicians and seven pediatricians.
• Initiated a new Epilepsy program.
• Expanded Mercy Hospital’s Pediatric Specialty Center.
• Pediatric Specialty Center achieved designation as a Pediatric Diabetes Education Center.
• Developed new programs for Adolescent Gynecology and Pediatric Gynecologic Oncology.
“The high medical and surgical expertise we bring to distinct patient groups is always coupled with a great deal of human compassion. It’s what sets Catholic Health apart.”
– Patricia E. Daye, FACHE Vice President, Primary Care, Women’s Health & Pediatric Services
Training our next generation of exceptional health care providers
Catholic Health has a very robust Graduate Medical Education Program, which attracts numerous medical graduates from across our region. They choose Catholic Health because our residency programs have a stellar reputation across a number of medical specialties, many involving complex care and treatment. Residents who complete their training with us have a number of worthwhile career paths to consider across our six hospitals and hundreds of employed practices. We expect to have close to 150 graduate students in our programs in 2025, with greater numbers each new year going forward.
Good Samaritan University Hospital has long o ered fully accredited residency training programs in
emergency medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and podiatric surgery, as well as fellowship training programs in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and pediatric emergency medicine. In 2024, Catholic Health expanded its medical training programs, adding general surgery, and psychiatry. In February 2025, our maternal fetal medicine fellowship training program received accreditation and we continue to develop additional programs to foster education across our system.
Trainees engage with patients after careful evaluation by our team of seasoned physicians and are mentored under the supervision of our senior medical sta .
Attending physicians mentor resident physicians as they complete their graduate training. Many stay on with Catholic Health after they complete their medical/surgical education.
“Catholic Health’s residency and fellowship programs are very popular with graduates looking to practice on Long Island. We o er programs across several specialties and are fortunate that upon completion, many of our graduates choose to continue their professional career within the Catholic Health system. Our culture and approach to patient care make them want to continue to be part of our team.”
–Catherine Caronia, MD, MBA Senior Vice President, Academic A airs and Chief Academic O cer System Chairperson, Pediatrics
Delivering care to at-risk populations
Catholic Health delivers exceptional health care where it is needed—that includes communities that are demonstrably underserved. Our community outreach and health equity initiatives are leveling the field, giving more Long Islanders an opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Economic and social factors can present obstacles to good health. Catholic Health is working to change that by eliminating preventable or correctable health disparities.
“Catholic Health made great strides on its health equity journey in 2024,” said Chief Public & Community Health O cer Lawrence Eisenstein, MD, MPH, FACP. “We look forward to furthering our health equity journey in 2025 in partnership with our patients, and in active collaboration with our community partners.”
Food security is health security Catholic Health’s Food is Care program addresses the issue of food insecurity head-on. Every patient who enters any of our emergency rooms or Ambulatory Care sites is screened for signs of food insecurity. Those identified are provided assistance in enrolling in no-cost nutritional support programs and leave our premises with a food-to-go bag.
Screening is the key
Our ongoing Healthy Sundays program sends highly experienced Catholic Health clinicians to convenient locations, such as parishes, synagogues, mosques and more, to conduct free screenings and provide health education.
Our Mobile Clinical Units are “exam rooms on wheels” where Catholic Health clinicians test blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels and body mass index, and provide free vaccines. When we detect potential health issues, we guide the patient to e ective treatment.
To reinforce our outreach e orts, Catholic Health has assembled a Speakers Bureau representing more than 26 languages to place our bilingual clinical leaders at community events.
2024 Community Outreach programs:
• Healthy Sundays events screened 1,650+ patients free of charge.
• Community Outreach buses performed nearly 8,000 screenings across Nassau and Su olk.
• Dentists handled 1,600+ unique patient visits at the Stephen B. Gold Dental Clinic for Medicaid and special needs patients.
• Bishop McHugh Health Centers treated 1,200+ patients, most of whom were uninsured.
• Family Care Center at Mercy Hospital handled approximately 13,011 visits from pregnant women and children.
• The health care system’s charity care write-o is in excess of $96.1 million.
One Team: powered by generosity
From upgrading our Emergency Departments to expanding our facilities to lifting up our exceptional nursing professionals, Catholic Health’s philanthropic supporters are indispensable pillars of our health system.
The support we receive from our donors comes from the heart, often out of gratitude for care received or in memory of a loved one. The financial contributions to our clinical work inspire all of us and serve as a reminder that we are not alone in our vocation. We gratefully thank the many members of our Long Island community who choose to be part of our mission of delivering exceptional care rendered in the Catholic tradition. Our supporters may come from other faiths or backgrounds, yet they step forward to serve as Catholic Health’s partners, ambassadors and problem solvers as we focus ourselves on innovating new and ever more e ective ways of bringing greater care to Long Islanders.
In 2024, Catholic Health reached new heights in its fundraising success, with exceptional gifts made to every one of our hospitals. We celebrate these gifts of gratitude and are thankful for the confidence and encouragement we receive with each donation, large or small.
It is an enduring characteristic which has always set Catholic Health apart from other health care systems: to see giving as its own reward. We are so blessed and humbled by the generosity of our many donors. We thank them and all our friends within Long Island’s vibrant community. You help us to help so many.
Donors support excellence
Catholic Health donors made 43,617 individual gifts in 2024. Every gift is a vote of confidence in our dedicated care teams. Our supporters enable Catholic Health to give our very best—to every patient, every time. Highlights from the 2024 fundraising year include:
$5 million from the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation to endow The Peter & Jeri Dejana Chair in Clinical Leadership at St. Francis Hospital.
$3 million from the DeMatteis Family Foundation to create the DeMatteis Family Imaging Suite at the St. Francis Ambulatory Cardiovascular Care Center at 2200 Northern Boulevard in East Hills.
$3 million from the Del Vecchio Family Foundation to name the Pediatric Emergency Department at Good Samaritan University Hospital and expand access to outpatient cardiac imaging at the St. Francis Hospital outpatient center in Greenvale.
$3 million from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to ensure health care access for the vulnerable and underserved, to fund workforce development initiatives, and to support patientcentered programs aimed at improving the quality of care and outcomes across Catholic Health.
$1 million from Rocco Trotta to support Phase I of Mercy Hospital’s Emergency Room expansion.
$500,000 from the Kundic family in support of St. Charles Hospital’s Emergency Room expansion.
Honoring the legacy of Nancy DeMatteis at the 2024 St. Francis Hospital Foundation 50th Anniversary Golf Classic.
Catholic Health employees helped raise more than $100,000 for cancer research through the Empire State Ride Long Island.
“The magnificent support of our donors and supporters makes them every bit a part of our Catholic Health organization as our doctors, nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians. We are united in purpose—dedicated to providing health care at the highest level throughout Long Island. We are indeed One Team.”
–Peggy Maher Chief Development O cer, Catholic Health
Keeping the patient at the center of all we do. Our brand evolution
Four years ago, Catholic Health launched a boldly defining brand campaign to communicate to health care consumers that each and every one of our hospitals and practices relate to each other; all are part of one comprehensive and wholly integrated health care system—on Long Island, of Long Island.
LONG LIVE
LONG LIVE
Our driving theme, reflecting Catholic Health’s wide range of clinical services, and unifying mission, has been Long Live Long Island™.
In January of 2025, Catholic Health unveiled a new iteration of its brand identity. It reflects four years of dramatic growth—in our physician network’s ever expanding Ambulatory Care sites, and our many digital channels, which o er fingertip access to online scheduling, test results, prescriptions, as well as immediate dialogue with providers. It all brings Catholic Health to a watershed moment on its journey toward becoming Long Island’s premier health care system.
The new campaign builds on our dominant Long Live Long Island theme, yet recognizes that each Long Islander has unique consumer needs and preferences. Most noticeably, we are delivering the message that Catholic Health is in sync with its consumers, each one a priority to themselves and to us, with special emphasis on emerging digital advancements.
As our newest TV commercial puts it:
You have options.
But at Catholic Health, we’d like to remind you to choose you first. Because we did, too.
Long Live You. And Long Live Long Island.
Our health care system is built for the people of Long Island—because we are Long Island.
“The Patient Experienceboils down to truly tuning in to their individual needs and concerns. All of us in direct patient care need to show we’re on their side. That makes for a certain amount of bonding— both between ourselves and the patient, and between ourselves as clinicians and patient care professionals. It is a One Team approach.”
– Kathleen Lackey Nursing Assistant, St. Joseph Hospital Winner of Catholic Health’s 2024 Pinnacle Engaged Caregiver
Award
Catholic Health’s team gets its message out by marching in NYC’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Catholic Health Officers and Board of Directors/Trustees
Board of Directors
Salvatore Sodano
Chairperson
Thomas Christman
Vice Chair
Regina Piscazzi
Secretary
Robert Zuccaro
Treasurer
Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO
President & CEO
Jerry Balentine, DO
Peter Dagher
Geoffrey de Lesseps
Debra DelVecchio
Reverend Lee Descoteaux
Hon. Vito DeStefano
Reverend Jason Grisafi
Joseph F. Kuehn, Jr.
Joseph Mattone, Jr., Esq.
Reverend John McCartney
Susan O’Hara, RN
Peter Quick
John Romanelli, MD
Ronald Shindel
Andrew Zucaro
Corporate Members
Most Reverend John Barres
Reverend Lee Descoteaux
Reverend Eric Fasano
Sister Mary Lou Kelly, CIJ
Sister Noreen Murray, FMM
Most Reverend Luis Romero
Sister Catherine Sheehan, DW
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr.
Reverend Msgr. James Vlaun
Most Reverend Andrzej Zglejszewski
Our Mission Statement
We, at Catholic Health, humbly join together to bring Christ’s healing mission and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church expressed in Catholic health care to our communities.