Northwell names top doc to lead oncology programs

Northwell Health has appointed Dr. Richard D. Carvajal, an internationally recognized clinician and researcher in melanoma and early-phase drug development, as deputy physicianin-chief and director of medical oncology at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute.

He also was named the R. J. Zuckerberg chair in Medical Oncology. Carvajal’s expertise includes the development of novel therapies for patients with melanoma and other cancers, with the goals of controlling and curing these diseases.

Prior to joining Northwell, Carvajal led the Developmental Therapeutics Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and then served as director of Experimental Therapeutics and director of the Melanoma Service at Columbia University Irving

Medical Center, as well as co-lead of the Precision Oncology and Systems Biology Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.

At the Northwell Cancer Institute, Carvajal will oversee medical oncology across Northwell’s cancer network, the largest in New York State, collaborating with the cancer institute’s other two deputy physician-in-chiefs who specialize in surgical and radiation oncology.

In this team structure, deputy physician-in-chiefs lead all cancer programs in their oncologic specialty, integrating and expanding the health system’s services with regional and hospital cancer leaders across New York City, Long Island and Westchester.

He also will help lead efforts for Northwell’s Cancer Institute to achieve National Cancer Insti- tute designation as a Consortium with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

“Dr. Carvajal is an innovator in clinical care, immunotherapy and leading-edge research in the field of melanoma and other cancers,” said Dr. Richard Barakat, physician-in-chief and director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, and senior vice president of the health system’s service line. “We are very fortunate to have such an esteemed medical oncologist and cancer researcher join the Cancer Institute’s leadership team. Our colleagues are looking forward to closely working with Dr. Carvajal to help design new clinical trials and treatment options more quickly to help patients fighting not only melanoma but other complex cancers.”

At Northwell, Carvajal will see patients at the R. J. Zucker- berg Cancer Center in Lake Success and Northwell’s Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. He also will participate in clinical research at Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, with which Northwell has a strategic affiliation.

Carvajal will hold an academic title of professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at

Hofstra/Northwell.

Carvajal received his medical degree from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and completed his fellowship in medical oncology/hematology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Carvajal’s research has been supported by the National Cancer Institute, the Food and Drug Administration, the Conquer Cancer Foundation, the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program.

He has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, books and book chapters. Carvajal serves on the editorial board of six cancer journals and is an ad hoc reviewer for nearly 65 prestigious oncology and medical journals. He has received several awards in recog- nition of his work, including the Louise and Allston Boyer Young Investigator Award and the Melanoma Research Foundation CURE OM Vision of Hope Award.

In addition, Carvajal has served as the co-chair of the International Rare Cancer Initiative Uveal Melanoma working group, a joint initiative between the National Cancer Institute, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, and the Cancer Research UK to enhance international collaboration in the conduct of clinical trials for uveal melanoma (arising from the eye).

With more than 400 physicians, Northwell Health Cancer Institute treats more than 19,000 cancer patients annually, more than any other provider in New York State. For an oncology appointment, please call 855-8588550.

Jerry Balentine has been appointed provost at New York Institute of Technology, adding to his existing role as executive vice president. He had been serving as interim provost since March 2022. Reporting to New York Tech President Henry C. “Hank” Foley, Balentine will continue to evaluate new opportunities for university growth and expansion, especially in the area of faculty research, as well as oversee strategic resource allocation, among other responsibilities.

“Since he assumed the role of interim provost nearly a year ago, Dr. Balentine has proven to be an effective, resourceful, and collaborative academic leader, dedicated to students, faculty, and staff, as well as to New York Tech’s strategic vision,” Foley said.

Balentine first joined the university in 1992, as an adjunct faculty member at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In 2009, he was named chair of the emergency medicine di- vision within the Department of Clinical Specialties and in 2010, was appointed faculty associate in the Center for Global Health. In 2014, he became vice president for medical affairs and global health, later taking on the role of dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

During that time, NYITCOM grew its research output in several areas and added the university’s first Ph.D. program, a combined doctor of osteopathic medicine /doctor of philosophy degree in biological and medical sciences.

Most recently, he served as interim provost, chief operating officer, and executive vice president.

Foley appointed Balentine as co-chair of New York Tech’s long-term strategic planning initiative in 2018, setting in motion a planning process to develop a Strategic Three-Year Action Plan to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the university.

Balentine’s career has included serving as chief medical officer and executive vice presi- dent of St. Barnabas Hospital and Healthcare System in the Bronx, and as a hospital medical director, emergency department director, and residency director.

“I am honored and excited to continue my work at New York Tech and work with our faculty, staff, and students to build on our tradition of education, innovation, and research,” Balentine said.

A graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Balentine completed his internship at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Philadelphia and his emergency medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he also served as chief resident.

He earned his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md.

FCA names Carla DeFrancisco, VP, chief financial officer

FCA, a leading health and human services not-for-profit organization on Long Island, recently named Carla DeFrancisco, CPA, vice president and chief financial officer.

FCA President and CEO Jeffrey L. Reynolds, made the announcement on behalf of the organization.

“FCA is extremely fortunate to welcome a financial professional of Carla’s caliber to our management team,” said Reynolds. “Her expertise will help guide and support our current and future initiatives as we strive to meet the evolving challenges of Long Island’s underserved communities. Equal to Carla’s skills is her dedication to our mission.”

In her role as vice president and chief financial officer, DeFrancisco will oversee all aspects of FCA’s finances, from budgeting and financial planning to preparing reports for the board of trustees. She will also develop policies and procedures as necessary to improve operations.

Her 25 years of experience in non-profit and government accounting includes close to two decades as CFO at the Syosset-based child welfare agency MercyFirst.

Prior to that she was a partner at the regional accounting firm Israeloff Trattner, in charge of the firm’s governmental and non-profit practice as well as the firm’s quality control.DeFrancisco has worked as a strategic partner with internal and external stakeholders and has collaborated with governmental entities in establishing accounting protocols for financial reporting.

Throughout her career, she has worked in partnership with other CFOs to advocate for sufficient funding to support the missions of not-for-profit organizations.

“FCA is on a trajectory of growth to serve a broader population,” said DeFrancisco. “This requires vigilant oversight of a complex process working with various government entities, private funders and foundations, each with its own specifications that need to be managed. I believe peo- ple who are underserved deserve opportunities that give them the tools to be able to thrive.”

DeFrancisco earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from C.W. Post Center of Long Island University and is a New York State Certified Public Accountant.

She is a member of the Nassau Chapter, New York Society of CPAs and the AICPA. A long-time resident of Long Island currently residing in Smithtown, DeFrancisco considers it a privilege to have joined FCA.

In addition to helping FCA grow, in her spare time, DeFrancisco enjoys spending time with her family and nurturing the gardens around their home.